Riddell Akua

{{Short description|Nauruan politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = The Honourable | name = Riddell Akua | honorific_suffix = MP | image = | constituency_MP = Anabar | parliament = Nauruan | majority = | predecessor = James Deireragea | successor = Pyon Deiye | term_start = 2003 | term_end = 2019 | office1 = | predecessor1 = | successor1 = | term_start1 = | term_end1 = | office2 = Speaker of the Parliament of Nauru | predecessor2 = David Adeang | successor2 = Russell Kun | term_start2 = June 2004 | term_end2 = 15 July 2004 | predecessor3 = Valdon Dowiyogo | successor3 = David Adeang | term_start3 = December 2007 | term_end3 = 18 March 2008 | predecessor4 = David Adeang | successor4 = Dominic Tabuna | term_start4 = 29 April 2008 | term_end4 = 13 March 2010 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|01|26|df=y}} | birth_place = Nauru | death_date = | death_place = | spouse = | party = Naoero Amo | relations = | children = | alma_mater = | occupation = | profession = | signature = | website = | footnotes = }} '''Michael Riddell Akua''' (born 26 January 1963<ref>{{cite web |title=Hon Riddel Akua MP - Member for Anabar - The Government of the Republic of Nauru |url=http://www.naurugov.nr/parliament-of-nauru/members/members-20th-parliament/hon-riddel-akua-mp-member-for-anabar.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140404195150/http://www.naurugov.nr/parliament-of-nauru/members/members-20th-parliament/hon-riddel-akua-mp-member-for-anabar.aspx |archive-date=2014-04-04 |date=4 April 2014}}</ref>) is a Nauruan politician.

==Background==

Akua has been a member of the Parliament of Nauru since 3 May 2003. From this date on he has also been an important part of the Nauru Phosphate Corporation.

He is a member of the Naoero Amo Party, and he was re-elected to parliament in 2004, 2007 and 2008.

Akua was defeated in his attempt at re-election in the 2019 election.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wahlquist|first=Calla|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/25/naurus-president-baron-waqa-reportedly-loses-seat-in-parliament|title=Nauru election: president Baron Waqa loses his seat|work=The Guardian|date=25 August 2019|accessdate=4 June 2023}}</ref>

===Speaker of the Parliament of Nauru=== He was elected the Speaker of the Parliament of Nauru from June 2004 to July 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.paclii.org/nr/legis/num_act/ltifa2004463/|title=Long Term Investment Fund (Sequesteration) Act 2004|website=www.paclii.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.naurugov.nr/media/31054/49-15.7.2004__v__first-tenth-fifteenth.pdf|title=Votes & Proceedings of the Fifteenth Parliament|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824221855/http://www.naurugov.nr/media/31054/49-15.7.2004__v__first-tenth-fifteenth.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 24, 2019|date=August 24, 2019}}</ref> He was elected again Speaker in Parliament during the first three months of Marcus Stephen's presidency, from December 2007 to March 2008.

===Resignation and coup d'état allegations===

He resigned on March 18, to prevent the Opposition, led by David Adeang and former President Rene Harris (who died of ill health several weeks later), from submitting a motion of no confidence against Stephen.<ref>[http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2008/March/03-19-07.htm "Nauru lawmakers fail in bid to unseat president"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225551/http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2008/March/03-19-07.htm |date=March 3, 2016 }}, Radio New Zealand International, March 18, 2008</ref>

He was replaced as Speaker by David Adeang.

Akua was seen as a close ally of President Marcus Stephen, whose government ceased to command the support of a majority in the Parliament of Nauru in March 2008. Akua's resignation was thus set in the context of strengthening the Executive by hindering the conduct of Parliamentary business, which, as widely acknowledged, would likely have led to the term of office of the Stephen Administration being ended by Parliament. In this sense, Akua's record as Parliamentary Speaker is seen as controversial and allegations of a coup d'état made by Akua's successor as Speaker, David Adeang, may be seen against this light.

===Reappointment as Speaker===

Following the elections of April 26, 2008, Akua was again elected to the Parliament of Nauru and appointed once more to the post of Speaker.<ref name="RNZI_39441">{{cite news |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=39441, |title=Nauru president broadens support following snap election |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530182141/http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=39441,|archive-date=30 May 2008|date=29 April 2008 |work=Radio New Zealand International |accessdate=20 July 2025}}</ref> He entered office on 29 April 2008. He resigned on 13 March 2010.

==References== {{reflist|2}} <br />

{{DEFAULTSORT:Akua, Riddell}} Category:1963 births Category:Living people Category:Speakers of the Parliament of Nauru Category:Members of the Parliament of Nauru Category:People from Anibare district Category:Nauru First politicians Category:21st-century Nauruan politicians