The departed Afenifere Leader, Pa Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti
By Diran Iyantan
The death of Pa Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti at the venerable age of 100 is not merely the loss of an elder statesman; it is the painful departure of one of the few remaining consciences of our nation, a moral compass whose life embodied the noblest traditions of progressive politics, principled leadership and selfless service.
With Baba Fasoranti’s passage, Nigeria has lost a man whose authority was not derived from the office he occupied, the wealth he possessed or the power he wielded, but from the force of his convictions, the consistency of his principles and the moral weight of a century of purposeful living.
His departure is, therefore, not simply the end of a life; it is the closing of another living chapter in the history of the Awolowo progressive movement and the fading of one of the last great voices of an era when political conviction was a badge of honour and personal integrity was the ultimate credential of leadership.
My father’s passing last year left an immeasurable vacuum in our family and among those who knew him as a committed political leader, a custodian of Yoruba values and one of the pillars of the old Afenifere generation. In Pa Fasoranti, I continued to see a living connection to that distinguished generation of political fathers whose lives were defined by ideological consistency, courage, sacrifice and an unshakeable commitment to the collective good.
The bond between these two great men was more than an association of political contemporaries. It was a bond of shared ideals, mutual respect and a common understanding of what progressive politics ought to represent. They belonged to a generation that did not merely speak about principles; they were prepared to make personal sacrifices to defend them.
Today, I mourn him not only as a national leader but as one of the precious links to my father and the generation that shaped my political consciousness.
The old Afenifere generation was much more than a collection of political leaders. It was a school of thought, a fellowship of convictions and a tradition of public engagement that gave expression to the aspirations of the Yoruba people while contributing significantly to Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
We have lost one of the last great pillars of the old Afenifere generation, one of the few remaining repositories of its collective memory, and one of the elder voices whose very presence reminded us that politics once demanded something more profound than ambition, propaganda and the pursuit of office.
His departure should compel a sober reflection among political leaders, especially those who profess allegiance to the progressive tradition. What becomes of a political philosophy when its founding generation is gone? Who preserves its institutional memory? Who teaches the younger generation that political loyalty must be anchored in principle, that public office is a trust, and that the dignity of leadership is measured by service rather than self-importance?
To live for a century is a remarkable blessing. To live for a century and remain relevant to the political, educational and moral conversations of one’s country is an exceptional achievement.
Pa Fasoranti witnessed the transformation of Nigeria from colonial rule to independence, experienced the turbulence of successive political dispensations and lived to see the restoration and consolidation of democratic government. He remained an engaged participant in the national conversation long after many of his contemporaries had departed.
We must celebrate that life even as we mourn its conclusion. We must honour his memory not merely with tributes, but by taking seriously the principles for which he stood.
As National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in the South-West, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Fasoranti family, the people of Akure and Ondo State, the Afenifere family, the progressive political community and all Nigerians who recognise the magnitude of this loss.
I particularly commiserate with Dr Taiwo Fasoranti and other members of the immediate and extended family, who must now confront the difficult task of preserving the legacy of a father whose life and influence extended well beyond the boundaries of his household.
Baba has completed his earthly assignment. He has left behind no ordinary inheritance, but a moral responsibility for all who claim to stand within the progressive tradition.
Baba Fasoranti has gone. Another lantern of the old progressive generation has been extinguished. But the light he carried must not be allowed to die.
May his memory endure, may his sacrifices be honoured, and may the progressive ideals to which he devoted his life continue to guide our nation.
Prince Diran Iyanran is the
National Vice Chairman, South-West
All Progressives Congress (APC)
