By Banji Ayoola
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo led eminent Nigerians on Friday to celebrate Afenifere leader, Chief Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti, who marked his 95th birthday with the launch of an autobiography “My Life: My Legacy” in Akure the Ondo State capital.
Obasanjo, who chaired the ceremony, which held at the International Event Centre, The Dome, at the high brow Alagbaka Estate, opened the floodgate of encomiums passed on the elder-statesman, whom he described as a special gift to Yorubaland particularly and Nigeria as a whole.
Assuaging Fasoranti’s deep seated feeling of unhappiness about the frustrating socioeconomic and political circumstances prevailing in the country, which he regretted were contrary to his dreams, Obasanjo assured the Afenifere leader that he would see the Nigeria of his dream in his life time.
As a son addressing his father, he told him: “Papa Fasoranti, l feel your sense of frustration as you are getting to your departure and you are wondering that is this the Nigeria of my dream that I (Fasoranti) had laboured for?
“But I want to assure you that I have a vision of a new Nigeria, I see new understanding among Nigerians, new awareness among Nigerians, new realisations among Nigerians.
“The book you launched today is one of the legacies you’re leaving behind and the coming generation will refer to it.
“We hope for the best for Nigeria. We will continue to follow your footsteps and examples.
“My vision is that you will see the Nigerian of your dream before you depart, the Nigeria you and our founding fathers have laboured for.
“They didn’t wish for a disintegrated Nigeria but a united, progressive and united Nigeria. In your lifetime, we will achieve the Nigeria of your dream.”
Obasanjo described Pa Fasoranti as one of the few Nigerian leaders who should have been President of the country due to their integrity and brilliance.
At the occasion, Fasoranti made a public presentation and the formal launch of his autobiography titled ‘My Life, My Legacy’.
In his welcome address, the Afenifere leader expressed his wish to build a public digital library to articulate and archive critical events of Nigeria’s history; pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial, to be established in his life time.
He called on all stakeholders to ensure that the project is completed before his departure.
His prepared address was read on his behalf by the Afenifere National Secretary, Basorun Seinde Arogbofa, where Fasoranti said: “Time is no longer my friend, though, but with you, great and understanding people, time can still be bought to get the project accomplished before my time is finally out.
“I now respectfully welcome and invite you to make the project a reality. I wish you safe journey back at the end of the exercise.
“In my life adventures, l have tried to see what I could leave behind for humanity. To this extent, I have tried to invest in human beings.
“I have served the people at both local, state, and national levels and shown the way to selfless services.
“I have experimented with western education to set examples. I have also made some input into human capacity building.
“Of late, however, it occurred to me that I must have a project as a centre to harness and concretise all these; something unique, more lasting, modest, noble and useful in lifting up humanity.”
Fasoranti, served as Commissioner for Finance, in the Second Republic civilian administration of the revered Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin in Ondo State.
He said: “My story that I am leaving here for you, is, to the best of my ability, the truth. It may prick or move or even challenge you one way or the other as you read it.
“But while recommending the book to you to read, I can’t but prepare your minds for some of my worries about the State of the Nation which I invite you to share with me and find early solutions to.
“At over 94 years I am still here with you because of the grace of God and even though as an individual I am fulfilled, I regret to say that all is not well with the country, no thanks to the insecurity of life and property, worsening unemployment of abIe-bodied citizens leading to all manners of crimes, threatening famine which is a conspiracy between mother nature and the ravaging of the land by ever surging marauders and so on.
“I call on all concerned to quickly arrest all these before they tear the country apart. Beloved countrymen, this is not the Nigeria of my, nay our, dream.
“ln my life adventures, l have tried to see what I could leave behind for humanity.
“To this extent, I have tried to invest in human beings. I have served the people at both local, state, and national levels and shown the way to selfless services I have experimented with western education to set examples I have also made some input into human capacity building.
“That is the essence of my using the opportunity of the presentation of “My Life, My Legacy” to raise funds to establish “A democratic institute to inculcate and entrench desired values.”
Also speaking, All Progressives Congress National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who was represented by Osun state Governor Oyetola said the unprecedented contentment of the Afenifere national leader would remain indelible in the hearts of many Yoruba people.
He described the Afenifere leader as a formidable voice in the clamour for true federalism, fiscal federalism and the separation of powers in Nigeria.
Fasoranti, according to him, has “effectively contributed to and enriched the discourse on regional integration, nation-building and good governance, and with a benefit of hindsight, advocated for a pure federal principle as the basis for peaceful co-existence in an indivisible and united Nigeria.”
He said Fasoranti’s leadership role had inspired many others on the issue of true federalism.
He said: “Indeed, some of us have been and remain die-hard advocates of true federalism. We have striven in and out of public office for its implementation as a sine-qua-non for a peaceful, progressive and united Nigeria.
“On this score, I remain unshakable in my commitment to the idea and ideals of true federalism without which our nation’s unity would constantly be shaken.
“Papa and his life lessons have continued to serve as a moral guide to many of us and to the political class. Accomplished educationist, astute progressive politician, elder-statesman and die-hard Awoist, Papa has devoted his life to public service. We continue to celebrate him and his exemplary life.
“Indeed, what we celebrate about Papa is the success story of leadership by example, political consistency, total loyalty to the progressive cause, devotion to principle, integrity, courage of conviction and uncommon contentment.”
He urged the audience to “continue to hoist the flag of true federalism which our founding fathers fought for in order to leave an enduring legacy for the future generation of Nigerians. That is the path to true nationhood.”
Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum and Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi promised on behalf of himself and two other brother Governors in attendance, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and Gboyega Oyetola, that they would pool resources together to build and deliver a public digital library to the Afenifere leder as their contribution to his dream project.
Also in their separate remarks, Akeredolu and his brother Fayemi said the state governments in the southwest region would ensure the construction of the Fasoranti Democratic Institute.
The event reunited two of the major contenders in the forthcoming Ondo state governorship election, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of the APC and the PDP governorship candidate, Eyitayo Jegede, as they exchanged pleasantries to the delight of other guests at the event.
In his remarks, Akeredolu described Fasoranti as an icon of the nation who used most part of his life molding the young ones.
He said: “Many of your students are proud of you because you made an impact on their lives. You are our pride in Ondo State and in Nigeria.”
He said that “You are not only the pride of Akure Town, Ondo State but pride to Nigeria as a whole. Before your eyes, the country will change for good.”
Former governors present include those of Ogun and Kwara states, Otunba Gbenga Daniels and Chief Cornelius Adebayo and other notable Afenifere leaders including Chief Olu Falae, Prof. Banji Akintoye, Chief Supo Sonibare, Mr Yinka Odumakin, Chief Sola Ebiseni, former Ogun Deputy Governor Gbenga Kaka, and Dr Kunle Olajide among others.
Obasanjo had earlier paid homage to the Afenifere Leader, at his Akure home before the launching.
Obasanjo visited the elderstatesman and a foremost Yoruba patriot at his Fasoranti road residence where he sat on the bare floor before Fasoranti as a mark of deep respect.
He showered praises on Fasoranti as he chatted with guests. After warmly greeting the guests, he led the train to The Dome at Alagbaka about 10 minutes drive away to join other prominent Nigerians for the launch of an autobiography in Fasoranti’s honour.
The guests included Ondo State Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, his Ekiti and Osun States counterparts, Dr Kayode Fayemi and Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, People’s Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Ondo, Mr Eyitayo Jegede and Former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel among others.
Meanwhile, the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo has praised Pa Fasoranti for his exemplary leadership and invaluable lessons..
His virtual remark was made available to newsmen by his spokesman, Laolu Akande in Abuja.
Osinbajo who thanked God for preserving Fasoranti’s life stressed that his life has been that of significance.
“Papa, your birthday is first an opportunity to thank God for preserving your life for close to a century, 95 years and also that you are hale and hearty to hear and see for yourself, how truly appreciated you are.
“Truly, the Lord is to be praised!
“But perhaps, more importantly, we are gathered to celebrate a life of significance and to reflect briefly on what that might mean today.
“Papa represents a political tendency to which many of us here belong; that which was established by Papa Obafemi Awolowo, described by many as ‘progressivism’ or progressive politics,’’ the vice president said.
He recalled that Fasoranti was a part of the founding members of the Action Group and the various other iterations of that idea, the Unity Party of Nigeria and the Alliance for Democracy.
Osinbajo said the elder statesman had been at the forefront of propagating the idea, strategies and programmes, which recognised that the Nigerian person is the nation’s most important resource that his or her physical, material, mental and societal welfare, must therefore be at the centre of all policies of the government.’’
According to him, the progressive tendency placed emphasis on free education, free universal healthcare, access to land and other forms of capital to own, to manage businesses, full employment and a robust social safety net for those without work or those who cannot work.
“But Papa was not merely involved in formulating ideas and strategies, he also played a practical role of working out how these programmes were to be paid for when he served creditably as Commissioner for Finance in the government of Papa Adekunle Ajasin in the old Ondo State, Osinbajo said.
He expressed joy that there was a plan to preserve a part of the incredible legacy by the establishment of the Reuben Fasoranti Centre for the Advancement of Democracy.
The vice president noted that the project deserved the support of all, individually and collectively.
“Papa, thank you for your life of exemplary public service and for the invaluable lessons that your existence has taught, and will continue to teach.
“We pray that you will live even longer in excellent health, peace and joy while the Nigeria of your dreams will emerge.
“On behalf of the President and the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I wish you a happy 95th birthday.’’
