Afenifere Leader Pa Fasoranti Dies At 100

The leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, has died at the age of 100, drawing tributes from President Bola Tinubu and Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

Aiyedatiwa announced the death of the elder statesman in a statement on Tuesday evening, describing him as a respected leader whose life centred on public service, justice and good governance.

“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,” the governor said.

Fasoranti, who celebrated his centenary on May 11, 2026, spent decades in education, politics and the struggle for democracy. His influence extended across Ondo State, Yorubaland and the wider Nigerian political landscape.

Aiyedatiwa said the late Afenifere leader offered wisdom and guidance to successive generations through his principled positions on public affairs.

“His counsel, fatherly guidance and principled stand on issues of justice and good governance will be sorely missed,” the governor said.

He expressed condolences to the Fasoranti family, the people of Akure Kingdom and residents of Ondo State on behalf of the state government.

President Tinubu also mourned Fasoranti, describing him as one of the foremost figures in the progressive political tradition associated with the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

In a statement he personally issued, the president extended his condolences to the bereaved family, the people of Akure Kingdom, the Ondo State Government and the Afenifere organisation.

“Pa Fasoranti was an icon, a beacon of principle, and one of the last great titans of Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s progressive family,” Tinubu said.

The president said Fasoranti’s life exemplified integrity, discipline and commitment to the welfare of the Yoruba people and Nigeria’s unity and progress.

Born in Uso, Ondo State, Fasoranti built a career as an educationist before rising to prominence in politics and pro-democracy activism.

He studied English and Geography at the University College, Ibadan, now the University of Ibadan. He later obtained a postgraduate diploma in Education from the University of Hull in the United Kingdom and a master’s degree in Education Administration and School Management from Maguire University in Sydney, Australia.

Fasoranti taught at Ondo Boys’ High School, his alma mater, and other schools across the Ondo-Akure axis. He also established educational institutions, including Omolere Nursery and Primary School in Akure, Akure High School and St. Frances’ Academy in Igoba, Akure.

His involvement in politics began during the First Republic, when he joined the defunct Action Group, the party led by Awolowo.

Between 1979 and 1983, Fasoranti served as commissioner for finance in the government of the late Adekunle Ajasin in the old Ondo State. His public service and political engagements helped establish his reputation as a prominent voice in the progressive movement.

Tinubu recalled Fasoranti’s role in the struggle for democracy, noting that he remained committed to his political convictions despite the risks involved.

“Baba never wavered in his belief in true federalism, social justice, and a Nigeria that works for all,” the president said.

He added that Fasoranti made significant contributions to the country and risked his life in the fight for the democracy Nigerians enjoy today.

The president also cited the late elder statesman’s disciplined lifestyle and dedication to causes he considered worthy.

“Our nation will sorely miss his voice of wisdom, moral authority, and fatherly counsel, especially now, when we need his guidance most,” Tinubu said.

Fasoranti’s death marks the passing of a prominent figure in Yoruba political leadership whose career spanned education, public administration and decades of advocacy for democratic governance.