TD Afenifere leader Pa Reuben Fasoranti has died at 100, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa announced.
His death marked the loss of a respected elder statesman and pro-democracy advocate.
Pa Fasoranti was a committed disciple of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and embraced the progressive political philosophy associated with the former premier of the Western Region.
He was involved with the Action Group during Nigeria’s First Republic and later became associated with the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), which Awolowo founded.
Between 1979 and 1983, Fasoranti served as Commissioner for Finance in the administration of the late Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, then governor of the old Ondo State.
His public service and political activities established him as a prominent figure within the progressive political tradition in southwestern Nigeria.
Leadership of Afenifere
Fasoranti became one of the most influential figures in Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation associated with Awolowo’s ideals of progressive governance and social development.
Following the death of Pa Abraham Adesanya, Fasoranti emerged as a leading figure in the organisation and became a prominent voice on Yoruba interests and Nigeria’s political future.
Under his leadership, Afenifere continued to advocate restructuring, true federalism, good governance and a more equitable distribution of power among Nigeria’s constituent parts.
His views frequently featured in national debates about constitutional reform, regional autonomy and the future of Nigeria’s federal system.
Pro-Democracy Activism and Personal Tragedy
Fasoranti was also associated with the struggle against military dictatorship and the campaign for democratic governance in Nigeria.
His activism reportedly exposed him to personal danger, including an assassination attempt attributed to agents of the regime of the late General Sani Abacha.
In July 2019, he suffered a devastating personal loss when his daughter, Funke Olakunrin, was killed in an attack along the Ondo-Ore Expressway.
Her death generated widespread condemnation and renewed national concern over insecurity and attacks on travellers along Nigerian highways.
Despite the tragedy, Fasoranti remained a respected elder statesman whose opinions continued to feature in discussions about national unity, security, democracy and the interests of the Yoruba people.
Tributes and Legacy
News of Fasoranti’s death marks the passing of a prominent figure whose life connected Nigeria’s early post-independence political tradition with the country’s contemporary democratic era.
His legacy includes his contributions to education, his service in the old Ondo State government, his leadership of Afenifere and his longstanding advocacy for democratic governance and political restructuring.
As condolences continue to emerge, his death is expected to renew reflection on his contributions to Yoruba political development and Nigeria’s search for a more equitable federal arrangement.
