“Looking back now, I realize that Ratu Epeli Nailatikau was one of those persons whom God appoints to bridge a painful gap when it is simply too painful for opposing sides to sit with each other.”
That was the tribute from Foreign Affairs Minister Sakiasi Ditoka as he reflected on the legacy of the late Ratu Epeli Nailatikau.
In a social media post, Mr Ditoka described Ratu Epeli as a leader who stepped forward during some of Fiji’s most challenging periods to bring divided groups together.
“He understood that this work had to be done. He did not flinch from it. He rose and did it,” he said.
Mr Ditoka said Fiji’s progress has often depended on leaders willing to foster dialogue and reconciliation rather than wait for perfect solutions.
“History teaches us that civilized nations do not move forward because every old grievance is perfectly resolved… They move forward because somebody has the courage and discipline to make former enemies sit side by side long enough for normalcy to return,” he said.
He also referenced warnings from Chief Justice Salesi Temo on the risks of altering constitutional arrangements without due care.
“It would be potentially disastrous to tamper carelessly with constitutional arrangements… They are safeguards against national relapse,” Mr Ditoka said.
Reflecting on Fiji’s constitutional journey, he pointed to the role of institutions such as the Great Council of Chiefs in shaping past compromises.
“Those involved understood that a wounded nation sometimes survives not by satisfying every moral demand at once, but by making difficult accommodations in order to preserve the country,” he said.
Mr Ditoka said Ratu Epeli’s leadership was defined by his ability to act as a unifying force when tensions were high.
“Ratu Epeli understood deeply that sometimes the nation needs a bridge before it can build a road,” he said.
“He stood in the gap and made it possible for people to begin feeling comfortable, human, and normal again.”
