Fiji has gone into mourning for Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, whose death at the age of 84 has triggered genuine sorrow across all sections of the community at home and abroad.
It isn’t often that an individual’s passing can trigger such emotion but Ratu Epeili was special – a unifying figure at some of the most challenging times in the nation’s development.
He was universally respected – irrespective of people’s political leanings – and he did a great deal of good, not least as a symbol of unity and friendship to Fijians of all backgrounds and persuasions.
He also had a wonderful sense of humour. Who can ever forget him reaching into his coat pocket and producing a condom as he carried the deadly serious message of safe sex to the nation’s young people and the twinkle in his eye as he did so.
So as well as the great offices of state he occupied – diplomat, Commander of the RFMF, Speaker of the Parliament and President and Head of State – Ratu Epeli genuinely saved lives and kept people safe.
He was also famously sociable – the life and soul of any party. He was fond of grabbing the microphone and belting out a song or two. The Kenny Rogers hit, Lucille, was a particular favourite (see below). And he seemed to be genuinely colour blind and oblivious to people’s status – kind and engaging when others of high birth can often be remote and aloof.
Grubsheet first met him as a teenager when Ratu Epeli was a junior diplomat in Canberra and he entertained me to tea at the High Commission there. And of course I met him on many official occasions in Fiji, where he would always greet me with a hearty “Kemuni!”.
Like many, I am greatly saddened at the news of Ratu Epeli’s passing. He was a genuinely great man, a great patriot and someone worthy of profound respect.
As a nation, we salute him and thank him for his service.
Gone but unforgettable.
A man of exalted status with the common touch.
Ratu Epeli’s listing in Wikipedia:
The then President singing one of his favourites, the Kenny Rogers hit, Lucille, at the Royal Suva Yacht Club in 2014.
But above all, a reassuring presence and voice of unity, including this message to the nation in 2014 after the return to parliament rule.
NOTE TO READERS:
It appears that my analysis that Ratu Epeli was “universally respected” isn’t exactly accurate.
I am allowing criticism of him in the comments section in the interests of free expression but do not share these sentiments.
I think Ratu Epeli walked the tight-rope of Fijian politics as best he could. But the greatest tribute to him is the many people on social media from all walks of life who are remarking on his humility and common touch.
He is being described as the “People’s President”. And that’s how he will be remembered.
Disagree with your comments though I am respectful of your personal communication with him and personal sentiments. Nailatikau conveniently was overseas when Rambo conducted his coup at the behest of Ratu Mara and Ganilau.
Like most blue bloods who benefitted professionally by accepting government positions following both the Rabuka and Bainimarama coups, it is wonderful to see that he lived a good life and lived till a ripe old age. No doubt the benefits of the best doctors and private health care enabled him keep going down to the defence club for a tipple or a pint.
I’m not sorry he is dead. Another chief hopefully rotting in Fiji soil and providing manure for the roots above. Fertiliser is getting expensive these days.
If about the only way that I can arouse a morsel of sentiment about him is to concede he was not like the current crippled imbecile Naiqama says a lot about how low standards must fall these days to say something nice about a blue blood chief.
If Ratu Epeli only came out publicly and refuted the GCC system.
He did not.
Hope he rots in peace.
Another dalit dog barking from overseas.
He should have fronted the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and told the whole truth about “the events of 1987”, when he was commander of the RFMF.
Now that he has taken the truth with him, you never know, he may be forever restless.
I do not have a very high regard for entitled people who think that it is their birth right to forever live off taxpayers money.
A fitting tribute to a true Ratu and unifying leader. Nobody who has ever interacted with him will forget him. A jolly good man he truly was.
He was another self-serving snake with a smile. An utterly useless chief who did exactly nothing for his people except live off government money simply because he was a chief.
Another dalit dog barking from overseas.
No one will ever know how much he was involved in all coups of Fiji.
Some called him back stage crew.
Than he was the signature boy for B&K
He did nothing when Fiji was oppressed for many years.
Just fancy talk.
He should have been the first one to stand up for rights and truth
Anyway,RIP
The bit about his involvement in all coups is absolute bullshit served piping hot
Rabuka couped him when he was out of the country and left him in the wilderness. He came in from the cold when Frank gave all Fijians hope – not just us kind with pubic hair on our heads.
Ratu Epeli was a gentleman and a statesman taking after his father Ratu Edward – there will never be another like him. Certainly not from the great council of coconuts.
The picture of Ratu Epeli Nailtatikau, RFMF Commander, in Perth in 1987, when his 3rd ranked officer, Rabuka, carried out the 1st coup in the name of indigenous supremacy, still lingers in my mind.
When he was asked by reporters whether he had any prior knowledge of the coup, given also that his father-in-law was the Prime Minister at the time, he refused to look directly in the camera or give a straight answer! Whether by coincidence or design, Ratu Epeli was conveniently away, allegedly taking delivery of an Australian patrol boat.
He owed the country, which has held him in such high esteem, the truth. Now we will never know.
I do agree that he was such a down to earth and personable individual, and used his position both as a High Chief, Diplomat, Speaker, President and Politician to maximum impact.
Condolences to Adi Koila, the family and his many friends. May he RIP.
It’s unfair to criticise someone for having been born into a chiefly family. I met him on a couple of occasions and found him to be, literally, a gentle man. His taking up the cause of HIV prevention while being President by visiting schools which I witnessed personally, is especially commendable given the current crisis. RIP Good Man.
And that entitles him to look the other way about what happened in 1987.