Frank Bainimarama’s permanent secretary recovering from cancer treatment
Pio Tikoduadua serving under Aiyaz’s deceitful influence
Another vocal military officer appointed by Frank Bainimarama to be his permanent secretary at his illegal office, a position equivalent to a CEO, has been diagnosed with serious throat cancer.
Pio Tikoduadua is understood to have just returned from China after many months of hospitalization as he under went surgery and treatment.
Pio often acted as the dictator’s mouth-piece on many sensitive and controversial matters and knew that a personality trait required of his job description was to be a smooth liar to deceive the masses.
His conscience shaped by his humble beginnings would have told him that what he was getting himself into was treachery at its highest level.
He should have known better but he chose instead to become a slave to the master of deceit, Aiyaz and his puppet Frank.
Is it surprising then to see his mortal being ravaged by cancer?
Of course not for cancer is simply the fruit of the bad choices he’s made to worship team Aiyaz/Frank that has resulted in the suffering of many innocent Fijian civilians.
Pio need to take a hard look at himself while he still has time.
Here is a story of Pio’s journey.
Being a truck driver is a highly unlikely profession most people would opt for. However, growing up in a tough life was a character building process for Pio Tikoduadua. He was raised by his single mother Senoveva Ranadi and wanted to drive a truck.
Born in the village of Nakorovou, Namalata in Tailevu on September 12, 1966, Mr Tikoduadua spent most of his life in the village.
He was raised as a child in his ancestral village of Nakorovou. Most of his kinsmen moved to Delasui which was further towards Wainibuka. Located with Navuisole which is now uninhabited after its original inhabitants relocated to Wainikitinai because Navunisole was inaccessible by road at the time.
His mother preferred to live in Wainikitinai Village where she presently resides. With all this, Mr Tikoduadua believes his originality has no graphical indicator.
“It is the people with whom I share blood ties and the environment that has shaped my character, attitude and personality. I was raised single handedly by my mother to whom I am so indebted and forever grateful as well as my late grandfather Moisese Radokana who has been my inspiration and the architect of what I am today.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my childhood and still have fond memories of it. It was tough but also rewarding and fulfilling. Growing up for me was enjoyable especially the experience of attending a Catholic boarding school from Class One to Form Six without much aid from government or the church for food and shelter.”
He said life was about trying to get a full stomach after every meal without getting caught stealing coconut from the mission plantation.
His life was shaped by his grandfather who made it his second duty to have a tavioka tavu ready for breakfast every day including Sundays.
He said this would be prepared in the family kitchen which was an open fire place inside their home.
“There was never a shortage of love, care, respect and humility. Life and living was valued. Everyone existed for each other and never for oneself.
“To close your family during meals was totally unacceptable. We had no refrigerators so you could not kill a pig and keep it all for your family for the next few weeks. Where I grew up, people shared. A family was big and happy. How we have changed.
“Life was hard being raised by a single parent. However, there was never a shortage of love.
“Growing up in the village meant every one older than you is responsible for your upbringing. In one sense it was not wholly my mother’s responsibility to raise me.
“We had no money but that was never an issue. I remember I never owned a pair of sandals or slippers until I transferred to Saint Johns College in 1983 purely because my mother could not afford it.
“She could not afford a pair of runners and I had to train with my sandals because it hurt to run on rocks whilst training during the athletics season. Pato was the norm then. I miss the former village life. I am not saying we go back to thatched houses. I miss the values, the role and the responsibility of the community at large to contribute to the shaping of the character of a child to be holistic and adaptive. I wanted to be a truck driver but this is one of those dreams that I have yet to realize.”
Education
He attended primary school at Natovi and Saint Vincent College which was Natovi Junior secondary then. Mr Tikoduadua then finished his high school education at Saint Johns College in Cawaci, Levuka. With too many memorable experiences of school life, feeling hungry for most of the time and coming home with an empty suitcase were two of his during school life.
“I remember coming home for the holidays and my mum would cry and hug me because she could count the bones on my ribs and chest from a mile out. School mates are also my life mates. I still cannot comprehend how the Vincentian Fathers managed Natovi and likewise the Marist Fathers at Saint Johns College. There is a never ending list of fees not being paid. However, we still got our education and food on our plates. I and many others are dearly indebted to them.
“During my secondary school days, growing up was defined as helping my mother meet my school fees and education expenses.
“This included collecting and selling empty beer bottles and gathering edible fern leaves like rourou (sigi ota or sigi rourou) and diving for fresh water mussels to sell at the Korovou market to pay for school expenses. Being a good Catholic was the cornerstone of my upbringing. It was sum of the inputs to my childhood and that was tough.”
The youngest of two children, Mr Tikoduadua continued his tertiary education at various institutions including the University of New South Wales, The Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies in Canberra and the Naval Post Graduate College in Monterey, California.
His life
Before joining the public service, Mr Tikoduadua was an officer of the Royal Fiji Military Forces for twenty years. He made it to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in 2006 after graduating from the Australian Defence Force Command and Staff College.
His military career has taken him to places he never thought he would ever visit including Lebanon, Egypt, East Timor and the Solomon Islands.
“I have been permanent secretary for the past twelve months and it has been nothing short of challenging and complex. I have learnt the job and am adapting with assistance of many. In simplistic terms, professional life should not hinder quality time with family. However, it is difficult at times to draw the line because I am dealing with the same person who is the PS and also a father.
“I try as much as I can to make up for lost family time in the week during the weekend.”
He is married to Sereana Cagileba and they just celebrated their tenth anniversary. For a man with diplomatic commitments to Fiji, Mr Tikoduadua is simple at heart.
He likes to stay home as much as he can despite his commitments to extended family obligations and church matters.
“My wife and children are my pillars of strength. The secret to success is my family for their unwavering support as I could not be what I am now without their love and support. In terms of personal and professional development, there is no substitute for humility and selfless service. Simply put, others before self.
“My grandfather Moisese Radokana was the perfect model for parenthood and guardianship. He was a holistic person who valued education and thrived through the fear of God. I could not be the man I am without him.”
His advice for young people is to be humble and obedient. He said there is a time for everything.
“Your time will come when you will tire of making decisions for yourself. Whilst you enjoy the luxury of some one thinking good for you, make the best of it. I know its tough,” he said.
Mr Tikoduadua has shown that anything is possible if one puts his mind to it.
Growing up without the luxuries of life, Mr Tikoduadua has learnt to be appreciative and grateful for the little things he had in life.
It has helped him realise the importance of hard work and determination to succeed in life.
With the continuous support of his mother, late grandfather and members of his community, Mr Tikoduadua has shown how one man’s struggles can lead to something far greater than he imagined. It has become something he is happy and proud of.
