In this Fijian name, Josefa is the given name, Iloilovatu is the middle name and Uluivuda is the surname. However, many Fijians use their middle name as either their given name or their surname. "Ratu" is an honorific prefix, not part of the name.
(1920-12-29)29 December 1920 Vuda, Ba, Colony of Fiji
Died
6 February 2011(2011-02-06) (aged 90) Suva, Fiji
Political party
Alliance
Spouse
Salaseini Kavunono
Relations
Samisoni Tikoinasau (son-in-law) Henry Speight (grandson)
Profession
Teacher
RatuJosefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda, CF, MBE, MSD, KStJ (29 December 1920 – 6 February 2011)[1] was a Fijian politician who served as the 3rd President of Fiji from 2000 until 2009, excluding a brief period from 5 December 2006 to 4 January 2007 (see below). He held the traditional title of Tui Vuda, the paramount chief of the Vuda district in Ba Province on Fiji's northwest coast. Like many Fijian people, he rarely used his surname and was known simply as Josefa Iloilo. He announced on 28 July 2009 that he would be leaving office on 30 July.[2] At the age of 88, he was the world's oldest head of state.
On 5 December 2006, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, seized power in a coup d'état and assumed presidential powers. This followed failed attempts on Iloilo's part to mediate a solution to the long-running impasse between the military and the government of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase. However, his powers were restored by Bainimarama on 4 January 2007. Iloilo also endorsed Bainimarama's coup on the same day, in his first public address since the coup.[3] He appointed Bainimarama as Prime Minister the following day.
After Fiji's Court of Appeal had ruled that the removal of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and the appointment of Fiji's interim regime following the military coup in 2006 was unlawful, on 10 April 2009 Iloilo dismissed the judges and abrogated the country's constitution. Iloilo claimed to have the "full support" of the security forces and directed the military to take "all reasonable steps" to maintain law and order.[4]
^"The former president of Fiji, Ratu Josefa Iloilo Uluivuda, has died". radionz.co.nz. 6 February 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
^Fiji Times. Iloilo is retiring, says Bainimarama Archived 30 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 29 July 2009.
^AP (2006). Fiji army chief cedes powers. Retrieved 4 January 2007.
^Address to the Nation Archived 1 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine, President of Fiji, 10 April 2009.
many Fijian people, he rarely used his surname and was known simply as JosefaIloilo. He announced on 28 July 2009 that he would be leaving office on 30...
the military leadership was unlawful. At that point, President Ratu JosefaIloilo, whom the military had retained as the nominal head of state, formally...
Confederacies to form their own fourth confederacy under the Tui Vuda, Ratu JosefaIloilo, who died in 2011. In 1999, Momoedonu had been elected on the Fiji Labour...
removing Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase from power. He later restored Ratu JosefaIloilo as president and himself as prime minister in 2007. Bainimarama promised...
2009, he became acting president after the retirement of President JosefaIloilo. On 5 November 2009, he was sworn in as President of Fiji. George Konrote...
Uluivuda Iloilo (1952 – 20 July 2020), popularly known as Adi Kavu, was the First Lady of Fiji. She was the fourth wife of the JosefaIloilo, who was...
supreme law of Fiji from its adoption in 1997 until 2009 when President JosefaIloilo purported to abrogate it. It was also suspended for a period following...
ruled in 2009 that the military leadership was unlawful, President Ratu JosefaIloilo, whom the military had retained as the nominal Head of State, formally...
Bainimarama that had governed Fiji since the coup. However, President JosefaIloilo announced on a nationwide radio broadcast that he was abrogating the...
Agreement is signed in Northern Ireland. 2009 – President of Fiji Ratu JosefaIloilo announces the abrogation of the constitution and assumes all governance...
66. He was succeeded, both as Tui Vuda and as vice-president by Ratu JosefaIloilo. He was a civil servant before he ventured into politics, serving as...
and Queen Victoria School. He is a grandson of former Fiji president JosefaIloilo and son of former cabinet minister Samisoni Tikoinasau. George Speight...
Bainimarama reached an agreement with deposed President Ratu JosefaIloilo whereby Iloilo would be reinstated as president and Bainimarama sworn in as...
Ratu Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda (commonly known simply as Ratu JosefaIloilo), who had been Vice-President under Mara, to succeed him. Iloilo had already...
name on to his children as a surname. Ratu Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda, better known simply as "Ratu JosefaIloilo", who served as President of Fiji from 2000...
Retrieved September 24, 2011. "PASSINGS: Len Lesser, Sidney Harth, Ratu JosefaIloilo, Santi Santamaria, T.P. McKenna, Howard Lucraft". Los Angeles Times...
vice-president on 10 January 2005, following his nomination by President Ratu JosefaIloilo, and his subsequent approval by the Great Council of Chiefs on 14 December...
Samisoni Tikoinasau and the grandson of former Fiji President, Ratu JosefaIloilo. He was born in Suva, Fiji, where he attended Queen Victoria School...
Convention Centre in Lami. The Great Council re-elected President Ratu JosefaIloilo (who had recently turned 85) and Vice-President Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi...
the power was subsumed by the military. Nominal head of state Ratu JosefaIloilo abrogated the Constitution of Fiji and dismissed all Courts, after the...
Notable residents of Ba Province include Fiji's former president, Ratu JosefaIloilo and the former Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs, Ratu Ovini Bokini...
and handed power over to an interim administration headed by Ratu JosefaIloilo, as president, on 13 July. 2000 Solomon Islands coup d'état: Rebel Malaita...
immediate resignation. He was re-appointed the next day by President JosefaIloilo, following the latter's abrogation of the Constitution. "Office of the...
Fiji's former President, Ratu JosefaIloilo, who held the chiefly title of Tui Vuda, hailed from Viseisei. Ratu Iloilo died on 6 February 2011 at the...
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