Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, the former President and high chief whose career spanned the military, parliamentary and chiefly spheres, died on Thursday night at the age of 85, prompting an outpouring of tributes from across Fiji. Among those remembering him was Rewa chief Ro Naulu Mataitini, who described Ratu Epeli as “a high chief of the people” and singled out the late statesman’s rare accessibility as the hallmark of his leadership.
Ro Naulu told congregation and media that Ratu Epeli remained reachable and unguarded in ways few modern leaders are. “That is what set him apart,” he said, contrasting Ratu Epeli’s style with leaders who rely on “layers of protection, tightly managed appearances, carefully scripted encounters.” Instead, Ro Naulu said, Ratu Epeli moved in everyday spaces with a quiet confidence: he “did not need to perform power. He carried it lightly.”
The Rewa chief underlined that Ratu Epeli’s openness was not merely rhetorical. He recounted a personal exchange when an opportunity to serve in South Lebanon fell through — an episode in which Ratu Epeli’s human touch and willingness to engage directly left a strong impression. Ro Naulu said that even in private conversation Ratu Epeli combined courtesy with a mischief that put people at ease, calling him known for a “mischievous wit” and “the kind of cheeky humour familiar in Fijian settings” that could disarm and connect.
Ratu Epeli’s public record of service spanned several of Fiji’s highest offices; he was both a national statesman and a prominent traditional leader, roles that can often keep incumbents distant from everyday citizens. Ro Naulu and others have emphasised that the late chief’s insistence on being present among the people — listening, joking and engaging — helped bridge those divides and shaped how many Fijians remember him.
As tributes continue, Ro Naulu’s remarks add a personal dimension to the growing remembrances of Ratu Epeli’s life: a leader equally defined by formal titles and by informal, human encounters. His accessibility, sense of humour and understated bearing were, Ro Naulu said, part of the legacy that will endure in Rewa and beyond. Details on official funeral arrangements and national commemorations have not yet been announced.
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