WHILE he lived a full life, it was one fully achieved. These were the sentiments of close colleagues and friends of the late former minister Militoni Leweniqila who passed away on Friday, April 8.
Mr Leweniqila had served under the Alliance Government after winning a parliamentary seat in 1972 in the first election after independence. He was assistant minister and then a Cabinet minister in the governments of Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara and Sitiveni Rabuka. He represented Bua/Macuata.
Speaking to this newspaper Taufa Vakatale, who was the country’s first female Deputy Prime Minister, said the former minister was a very down to earth man.
“I have been asked by his family to read his eulogy at his farewell service. I remember Militoni from way back when we were in high school. I was at Adi Cakobau School, and he was at Queen Victoria School. He was senior boy there before he left for medical school.
“Militoni was a great debater, funny and generous. He would never let us pay for our meals, he made sure to pay for it even for mere colleagues. There are so many anecdotes that I can share about him but that wouldn’t be good for public consumption,” she says with a laugh.
Close colleague, Adi Finau Tabakaucoro agrees. “Mr Leweniqila hailed from Nabouono, in Macuata while his maternal links lay in Nakarabo, Vaturova,” she said.
