Ondo State Governor, Dr Lucky Osimisan Aiyedatiwa has announced the death of Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fashiranti. He was 100 years old.
The Chairman of the Southern Governors Forum, Prince Dapo Abiodun has also paid glowing tribute to the late leader.
Aiyedatiwa’s statement reads, “With a heavy heart but with total submission to the will of God, I announce the passing of our revered elder statesman, Pa Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti, who departed this world at the glorious age of 100.
“Pa Fasoranti was a patriarch, a beacon of wisdom, integrity and selfless service whose century-long life was marked by uncommon commitment to the development of our dear State, Yorubaland and Nigeria at
“His counsel, fatherly guidance and principled stand on issues of justice and good governance will be sorely missed. He lived a fulfilled life and left indelible footprints of honour and legacy for generations to come.
In his tribute, Abiodun expressed deep sorrow over the death of elder statesman and Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, describing his passing as a monumental loss to the Yoruba nation and Nigeria as a whole.
Abiodun commiserated with Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, the Ondo Governor, Aiyedatiwa, and other prominent Yoruba leaders, as well as the family and associates of the deceased.
The governor noted that Pa Fasoranti, who recently celebrated his 100th birthday, lived a remarkable life defined by service, patriotism and an unwavering commitment to the advancement of the Yoruba people and the Nigerian nation.
He described the late elder statesman as one of the enduring voices in Nigeria’s democratic struggle, whose courage, convictions and sacrifices helped shape the country’s political development.
Abiodun said Fasoranti’s role in the struggle for democracy, particularly during the years of military rule, earned him a place among the foremost defenders of democratic governance and constitutional rule in Nigeria.
The governor noted that the deceased remained steadfast in his advocacy for justice, equity, good governance and restructuring, adding that his principled interventions in national affairs reflected a deep commitment to building a united and prosperous Nigeria.
He described Fasoranti as one of the last surviving links to a generation of nationalist-minded leaders who confronted authoritarian rule and championed democratic freedoms, stressing that his death had created a significant void in the Yoruba socio-political landscape.
Abiodun said the late Afenifere leader’s legacy would endure through the values he upheld, the causes he championed and the generations of Nigerians inspired by his commitment to democracy and national development.
He urged Afenifere, the people of Ondo State, the Yoruba nation and the deceased’s family to take solace in the remarkable life he lived and the enduring contributions he made to society.
The governor prayed that God would grant the departed elder statesman eternal rest and give his family, associates and the entire Yoruba nation the fortitude to bear the loss.
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