DEFENCE Minister and former National Federation Party president Pio Tikoduadua has called on the party’s iTaukei supporters to stand strong as the next national general elections draw closer.
Speaking at the recent NFP working committee meeting in Ba, Mr Tikoduadua said it was not easy for the iTaukei to publicly support NFP.
“A lot of times, a lot of our iTaukei do not know that a lot of our turaga (chiefs) were part of this party,” said Mr Tikoduadua. “Not only did they stand strong with the party, but they stood out.
“Fijian chiefs who were with NFP were renowned at the time for standing tall even though they were standing apart in their own right, perhaps against the mainstream iTaukei politics of the time.
“So, with that spirit a lot of iTaukei today including me, should try and follow in their footsteps because for an iTaukei joining NFP is not necessarily a very easy thing because we have to lead with a legacy of how people perceive you.”
Mr Tikoduadua said NFP has always been a party that stood for the truth and the rule of law.
“When you become part of this party, you are part of a party that stands for the truth.
“This is one major principle of those iTaukei that stand with this party, they are not afraid to speak the truth, to tell the truth because the truth is not always easy to relate.
“Many people try to avoid the truth because the truth sometimes makes people feel awkward.”
He added that party leader and Finance Minister, Professor Biman Prasad and his fellow NFP Cabinet ministers, Lenora Qereqeretabua and Agni Deo Singh, would continue to work in the best interests of the public until the next general elections.
