Marama Roko Tui Dreketi Ro Teimumu Kepa has paid a personal and formal tribute to the late former President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, describing him as a humble servant leader whose life touched many. In a social media post shared on Monday, Ro Teimumu said she was “deeply saddened” by his passing and stressed their close family ties through a shared ancestral lineage — invoking Ratu Epeli by his chiefly title, Turaga mai Naisogolaca.
Ro Teimumu’s message emphasized the personal qualities that she said defined Ratu Epeli’s public service: humility, compassion and a willingness to walk among the people. “He was a servant leader… showing us how it was done, by walking amongst us… queuing in line or even surprising many with his friendly gesture,” she wrote, pointing to small acts that, in her view, revealed the character behind his long career in national life.
Her tribute also noted the breadth of public reaction to Ratu Epeli’s death. “The passing of Ratu Epeli has indeed left many in shock and the flowing tributes on social media shows how his personality touched many lives that he came in contact with,” she said, framing the online outpouring as evidence of the former president’s reach and influence across different sectors of Fijian society.
Ro Teimumu highlighted Ratu Epeli’s record in a range of national roles, including his service as Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Speaker of Parliament and as President, and said his leadership “extended beyond Fiji,” leaving “a lasting legacy of compassion and wisdom.” Her words add a chiefly perspective to the wave of condolences that have followed his death, underlining how his leadership was seen both in formal offices and in personal interactions.
Speaking on behalf of the people of the Burebasaga confederacy, Ro Teimumu extended condolences to Ratu Epeli’s immediate family, naming his wife Adi Koila and their children Ratu Kamisese and Adi Litia. She closed her post with a prayerful wish: “May his soul find eternal rest… and may his vision continue to guide us,” a sentiment that echoes other public expressions of grief and respect.
As tributes continue to appear across social media and in statements from political and traditional leaders, Ro Teimumu’s post stands out for its combination of familial connection and formal condolence from one of Fiji’s leading chiefs. Her words underline the overlap between the country’s chiefly traditions and its modern institutions at a moment of national reflection on Ratu Epeli’s life and legacy.
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