Ganilau, Ratu Penaia (1918–1993)

Fijian politician, governor general 1983–87 and president 1987–93. As governor general, he took the controversial decision to dissolve parliament in May 1987 after Major General Sitiveni Rabuka launched a coup against the new pro-Indian centre-left government of Timoci Bavadra. Ganilau briefly headed an interim administration, before Rabuka launched a second coup in September 1987. In December 1987, following Fiji's exclusion from the British Commonwealth, he assumed the title of president and died in office in December 1993.

Born into a noble family, Ganilau played international rugby before beginning his political career. He worked as a colonial administrator and as a minister in the Alliance party governments of Kamisese Mara, before and after independence in 1970.

His son, Brigadier Epeli Ganilau was army chief of staff during the early 1990s.