I hope that the military will continue to support the government and Fiji as a whole.

Those were the words of Prime Minister and former Army Commander Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama as he officially handed over the Army Commander’s post to Brigadier General Mosese Tikoitoga in a church service attended by soldiers, their families and government ministers.
 
Speaking in the itaukei language, an emotional Commodore Bainimarama said President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau has signed off the government gazette that confirms the new Commander’s appointment.

Commodore Bainimarama asked the members of the RFMF to give their full support to Brigadier General Tikoitoga.

He also reminded the RFMF’s role in the constitution which states that the military shall have the overall responsibility to ensure the security, defense and wellbeing of Fiji and all Fijians.  

The outgoing Commander said he knows Brigadier General Tikoitoga  will lead the RFMF in the right direction after serving in the military for 32 years.

He reiterated that he is confident the whole of the RFMF will give their full support to Brigadier General Tikoitoga.

Commodore Bainimarama said he is now a civilian and it is not easy for him to leave the army.

He said the military has come a long way and has shown strong support to him during his leadership.

Commodore Bainimarama said over the past seven years, the military has worked together to build Fiji.
 
He said it is now time for him to resign from the Commander’s post as he has to follow the 2013 constitution which requires him to resign from the RFMF first before he goes into politics.

Commodore Bainimarama said that is the law of the land which he has followed.

From 1987 onwards, all the Army Commanders entered politics after stepping down from their posts.

Major General Rabuka who stepped down in 1992 started off the Soqosoqo Ni Vakavulewa Ni Taukei party.

He served as Prime Minister until 1999 when the SVT lost the elections.

Ratu Epeli Ganilau who served as Army Commander from 1992 to 1999 stepped down to start off his political career.

He joined the Christian Democratic Alliance Party but failed to win a parliamentary seat.

Commodore Bainimarama took up the Army Commander’s position in 1999.

He will now get ready to lead his new party to elections before September this year.   

The former Commander will have a last talanoa session with the soldiers this hour.

The towing out of the outgoing Army Commander from QEB will take place later this afternoon and it will finish off with the beating of the retreat at about 5.30pm.

More than a thousand people are attending the ceremony.

This includes members of the Territorial Forces, senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corp, representatives of international and regional organizations and senior members of the Methodist Church.


Story by: Vijay Narayan