By Staff Writer
FILE PHOTO : Fiji’s PM Sitiveni Rabuka with Va’a O Fonoti By-Election candidate and former Director General of Health, Leausa Dr. Take Naseri
A chance meeting during a recent visit by Fiji’s PM Sitiveni Rabuka and former Director General of Health, Leausa Dr. Take Naseri, is one for the candidate in the Va’a o Fonoti upcoming by-election to pause and reflect on.
The Fijian leader made a rare appearance in Apia a short while back as guest of honour at the celebration of Samoa’s Independence anniversary last June.
Leausa is among the many in the region who holds the Fijian leader in high respect, as the person who led the first ever military coup that took over the country’s duly elected leadership rule.
“I was doing university studies at the time in Fiji when the Rabuka military takeover happened and since then I’ve always been interested in his political career,” Leausa recalled after meeting up with him.
The two got together briefly at the HRPP Petesa Headquarters during a courtesy call by the Fijian leader on the former Samoan PM and opposition leader, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.
Leausa is running as an HRPP candidate and is one of three nominees contesting the Va’a o Fonoti seat in Parliament.
The political challenge is one the good doctor has accepted as a career call that is better left to Divine Will to make the final choice.
But a successful by-election outing for Leausa will set him off on a new career pathway where the next time he runs into PM Rabuka, both will be on equal footing as politicians.