The truth will set you free - So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know.” The truth is what the people of Samoa need.

A lot has been set about the current political fiasco and most of it has been far from the truth. The massive amount of misinformation has led many people to not know why the power struggle continues within the government.

The first thing that needs to be cleared out is that Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party chairman and the former Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Laauli Leuatea Schmidt is not charged for driving the vehicle that hit the teenager in Vaitele in 2021. He is charged for allegedly making claims that police officers investigating the case were bribed.

He is charged with three counts of conspiracy or attempt to defeat or pervert the course of justice, one of conspiracy to commit an offence (fabricate evidence), one of harassment utilising means of electronic communication, three counts of false statement causing harm to a person's reputation and two counts of using insulting words with intent to provoke a breach of the peace.

Many people still think that the former minister is charged with allegedly killing the teenager. This is not the case and this needs to be made clear.

The social media has been rife with misinformation to the extent that Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa has been accused of treason. She has also been accused of biting the hand that fed her, meaning she turned on the person who made her prime minister.

Put yourselves in her shoes. She was put in a scenario where she had to choose between doing the right thing according to the law and the principles of good governance and bending the law in favour of the chairman of her party.

She chose the righteous path. Laauli should have done the right thing and stepped down after being charged. Police laid charges because they had enough evidence to do so. If Laauli had stepped down without making any fuss, this situation would not have arisen.

Instead, he chose to bring discord and disharmony to the nation. His decision divided people and brought instability. His failure to do the right thing has put the nation in a very precarious situation. All that was needed for Laauli to do was the right thing, step down and allow the law to take its course.

The truth is that he faces criminal charges and he is due before the court. The truth remains that the outcome of the court case will decide Laauli’s future in politics. If convicted he will be unable to contest the next election.

Everything happens for a reason. Proverbs 16:4 says that the Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.

It is very important not to be swayed by the misinformation that is being propagated about the situation we are in. The thing that people need to know is that there is a right thing to do.

The good that will come out of this situation is that it will show the true colours of our elected leaders. It will show who stands for the truth and the needs of the people. It will show which leaders chose politics as a means to benefit themselves.

As true leaders, they need to put people before themselves. They need to embrace the truth and the path of righteousness, not for themselves but for the benefit of the nation and its people.