Terminated National Federation Party provisional candidate Hiroshi Taniguchi has broken his silence and apologised to the people of Fiji. He made the remarks during a press conference at the Coffee Hub in Nadi on Saturday night.

As of last Thursday morning, he was no longer a NFP provisional candidate after he was given his termination letter because of his controversial statement on iTaukei land, reduction of civil service staff level by 20 per cent and other issues which were contrary to party policies.

“My expression has been misinterpreted and if you feel I have hurt you, then I do apologise. I am very sorry,” he said.

Land Issues

“I am really saddened by the wrong information given. I really would like the mataqali to have more participation on any decisions regarding their lands,” he said.

“They should be given more options to be able to decide on this matter, on what they want to do with their land.”

Termination from NFP

Mr Taniguchi criticised the party for not giving him a fair chance to explain himself.

Mr Taniguchi claims that his termination by NFP was unceremoniously and he claims that Biman Prasad’s NFP is not a democratic party anyway.

“I was terminated by just Biman or one or two other members. They even didn’t give me a chance to say anything; no hearing, no summons was given by Biman,” he said.

“I thought NFP was a democratic party, so why was I not given an audience with other members for clarification?” He added that he was chosen by a selection committee of the party after some interviews.”

He said it took almost three months to be nominated as a provisional candidate by the party selection committee.He also claiming that Mr Prasad often called his wife and spoke harshly to her.

“In fact, she didn’t have anything to do with my candidacy,” he said.

“It is not our Japanese culture to reject a call from someone who`s position is higher, or older.”

“She couldn’t tell me what was going on for long. I knew it, when my wife apologetically shared it with me.

I am very sorry for her. Honestly, she has been stressed with his call and text, until I told her to delete her viber app.

“Many of my friends, including some NFP candidates, told me that he is just jealous. I was a candidate of NFP and I thought I could help in bringing about new wind with NFP.”

This is not the end of my life; this is not the end of my political career. I won’t give up! “Biman shakes Rabuka`s hand, but Biman kicks me out.

Mr Prasad! Don’t you think you are the first one who should protect your party candidates, and party members? It looks like you are the first one who kicks me out.

Future Plans

Mr Taniguchi has been in Fiji for 18 years, but officially migrated here in 2014 which is the year he became a Fijian citizen.

“I am a Fijian now. I will continue to help the people of this country as I have been doing for the past 18 years. Doesn’t matter if I have MP seat or not, I keep on doing my best to support our people and our country, and my rugby boys.”

“I want you to look at me as a Fijian because that’s who I am. If you can play rugby in Japan, I can play politics in Fiji. I have a lot of passion to take this country to new levels; I have a lot of ideas to take this country to new stages.”

I need your understanding, and I need your support.”

“To all those who have liked my ideologies, I intend to still stand in the elections. I strongly believe in improving things in Fiji with my experience and my ideas,” he said.

Attempts to get a comment from NFP leader Mr Prasad were unsuccessful by the time this edition went to press.

Story By: Waisea Nasokia

Feedback: waisean@fijisun.com.fj