By Martha Taumata Faavae
The current serving Tautua Samoa Members of Parliament, Aeau Peniamina and Ili Setefano are staying loyal in their allegiance to the political party.
Both declared adamantly that they have no intentions of joining party members who have reportedly defected to new political parties.
MP Aeau is the oldest serving parliamentarian from the Falealupo electoral constituency whereas his party colleague Ili Setefano is a first term MP.
“We created the Tautua Samoa party so I don’t see why I should turn my back on it,” Aeau solemnly stated.
“I have no worries either what the people are saying about our Tautua, we are the Tautua and we do as we please.
“If there are any party members who have left the Tautua for other parties, it’s for reasons of their own but for myself personally, I cannot betray the good work we all contributed to with my other party colleagues.”
Aeau is giving all his trust in God on the future of the political party. His unwavering faith is God has all the answers and will appoint new candidates to crew the Tautua Samoa party into the general elections next year.
His MP colleague Ili Setefano is not moving an inch from the party that opened the door for him into Parliament with the support from his Leulumoega and Nofoali’i electoral constituency.
“What my constituency says goes for me and all I ask is for the blessings and the guidance of the Lord in the way forth,” Ili said.
The confirmation of allegiance by the two MPs is in response to reports of former party MPs including ex-leader Palusalue Fa’apo II joining up with other political parties.
Party leader Afualo Dr. Wood Salele asserted in an earlier comment that he is not in any panic about the report switch of loyalty by some of the former Tautua Samoa members.
“If that is what they want it’s a free world, they can do whatever they want and that goes for the former leader as well,” Afualo reacted when asked after a new three party coalition was formalised last week.
“The movement of members to new political parties is not a new trend but as far as I’m concerned I have sworn allegiance to the party and I will honour that.
“Setting up a political party is not a simple exercise and I have made a personal commitment to the Tautua Samoa so I shall continue to give it my full support.”
The Tautua Samoa was the last political party with the numbers to be recognised in Parliament before the 2016 general election results.
After enjoying a majority of 12 MPs only MPs Aeau and Sili come through for the current sitting Parliament.