Former FijiFirst Minister and Leader of the Government in Parliament Pio Tikoduadua has joined the National Federation Party.
In a press conference at the NFP headquarters today, Tikoduadua said that he will be applying to be a NFP candidate in the 2018 General Elections.
In 2015, Tikoduadua announced that he had an advanced form of cancer and handed his resignation.
Tikoduadua today said that he is well.
He says NFP leader professor Biman Prasad has many positive ideas about our country but it fell on deaf ears.
Tikoduadua says that NFP is formed to defend people who are vulnerable.
Tikoduadua has also revealed today that there were other reasons for his departure from the FijiFirst government.
Tikoduadua is talking about Neil Sharma.
Sharma resigned in April 2015 while Tikoduadua resigned a month later.
Fijivillage asked Tikoduadua why he did not reveal this when he resigned in 2015.
He says today was the day to reveal this information and because tomorrow is resurrection Sunday.
Tikoduadua has also said in his statement that he had contacted Biman Prasad before the 2014 election and had said that he will stand for FijiFirst but he would have gone for NFP if he didn't get the FijiFirst ticket.
We have asked Tikoduadua about his loyalty to the FijiFirst if he was contacting Biman Prasad before the 2014 election.
We also asked him why he is raising issues about the Prime Minister listening to Aiyaz Sayed‑Khaiyum and whether he is trying to get the support of the parties who are thinking the same way.
Tikoduadua says he cannot respond now as his on the ferry to Levuka and will provide a response later.
Tikoduadua says during his retirement he kept a close interest on the effects on Fijian society on the decisions made on the national front, in particular of parliament and of the executive.
He says he will defend the aspirations of both NFP and the values that were instilled in him from his youth and that have sustained him in his life.
When asked on Pio Tikoduadua’s comments, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said that Tikoduadua’s comments were rubbish.
The stand of the party is clear that it would be politically unwise to go against the party as there would be consequences and it would result in the person’s removal from the party.
NFP’s Acting President Semi Titoko says NFP is pleased that Pio Tikoduadua has joined them.
Titoko says in the next general elections, NFP will put before the people of Fiji a strong line‑up of candidates and will be making further announcements soon about new people, new policies and their vision for the future.
