When Pa Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti died on October 20, 2026 at the age of 100, Nigeria lost an elder statesman whose life spanned some of the country’s most defining political eras – from colonial rule and independence to military dictatorship and democratic governance.
But beyond his longevity and political stature, Fasoranti’s legacy was rooted in a set of values that those who knew him say defined his life: humility, contentment, discipline, integrity and an unwavering commitment to education and public service.
For the former national leader of Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, leadership wasn’t merely about occupying political office but serving the people, upholding principles and a lasting impact on the society.
His death has consequently prompted reflections on the life of a man whose influence extended beyond Akure, his adopted political home, to Ondo State, the Yoruba nation and Nigeria’s democratic movement.
From the classroom to public service
Born in Uso in present-day Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State on May 11, 1926, Fasoranti built a distinguished career as an educationist before becoming one of the most recognisable figures in progressive Yoruba politics.
He attended primary school in Uso and St Andrew’s Primary School, Owo before proceeding to Ondo Boys’ High School and Yaba Higher College, Lagos. He later read English and Geography at the University College, Ibadan, now University of Ibadan.
His academic pursuits took him to the University of Hull in the United Kingdom, where he obtained a postgraduate diploma in education, and Macquarie University in Australia, where he earned a master’s degree in Education Administration and School Management.
Fasoranti taught at several schools, and also served as a principal in other institutions across the old Western Region.
For Fasoranti, education wasn’t simply a profession but a means of transforming lives, a conviction that remained central to his public and private life.
Awoist convictions and political activism
Fasoranti’s political journey was shaped by the progressive ideals of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, whose political philosophy emphasised education, social welfare and accountable governance.
He participated in the activities of the Action Group during the First Republic and later became associated with the Unity Party of Nigeria during the Second Republic.
Between 1979 and 1983, he served as commissioner for finance in Ondo State.
His political career was distinguished by his association with the progressives and his commitment to the principles he believed should guide public officeholders.
During the years of military dictatorship, he became associated with the struggle against military authoritarianism under the late General Sani Abacha and was reported to have survived an assassination attempt during that period.
He subsequently emerged as one of the leading figures in Afenifere, succeeding Pa Abraham Adesanya as its leader.
From that position, he remained an influential voice in debates on restructuring, federalism, democratic governance and the future of Nigeria.
Yet, for those who knew him closely, his significance went beyond political affiliations and public pronouncements. It was also reflected in his personal conduct and the values he upheld.
‘Baba taught us to be principled’
A former Ondo State governor, Olusegun Mimiko, said Fasoranti’s life offered enduring lessons in integrity, faith and responsible leadership. According to him, the late elder statesman demonstrated that public service must be anchored in principles rather than personal ambition.
‘Baba taught us to be principled, and that public service is about principles and integrity. Baba also taught us that even in tragic situations, you must have confidence in God and have absolute and unequivocal confidence in God Almighty that he would do the best for you,’ Mimiko said.
He also highlighted Fasoranti’s commitment to his faith and the Yoruba nation, describing him as a contented and humble man whose lifestyle reflected moderation.
‘But the important thing is that Baba served God to the last. Baba served the Yoruba nation, both at home and in the diaspora. Baba was a contented man.
‘He was humble. I keep telling people to look at his premises and see humility and sophistication together,’ he said.
Mimiko added that Fasoranti’s personal appearance and lifestyle reflected an uncommon combination of simplicity and elegance.
‘Even when Baba dressed, you could see that sartorial elegance. Everything about him was moderate and great. We will miss him, but the legacies left will be the defining benchmark on which we shall strive to exit,’ the former governor said.
The Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde also reflected on the political philosophy and personal qualities of the late Afenifere leader, describing him as a man who stood for principled politics and development.
‘Baba stood for something good. He never practised the type of politics that corrupt. He was principled,’ Makinde said.
He added that Fasoranti’s life provided a model for younger generations seeking to contribute to society through public service.
‘Baba lived a life. He has shown a path for the coming generation towards service to the people and politics of development,’ he said.
Asked which of the late elder statesman’s qualities he cherished most, Makinde identified his humility, adding that many politicians of Fasoranti’s generation operated with a high degree of discipline.
Makinde further described the late statesman as highly disciplined and spartan in his personal habits, qualities he said distinguished him from many public figures.
A father of few words, but full of wisdom
For his son, Taiwo Fasoranti, the loss is deeply personal. Yet, even in grief, he said the family would remember the centenarian primarily through the life he lived and the people he influenced.
Although the family had looked forward to celebrating his 101st birthday in May 2027, he said they remained grateful for the opportunity to have shared in his long and impactful life.
‘We are happy. We thank God for the impactful life he lived. I don’t count it as mourning but a time to celebrate his longevity, influence and impact in the lives of Nigerians, especially Yoruba people,’ he said.
Speaking about what he would miss most, Taiwo described his father as a man who communicated authority and wisdom without resorting to intimidation.
‘He was a man of little words, full of wisdom,’ he said.
Recounting their relationship, he explained that seeing his father in the morning and returning to meet him at home after work had been part of his daily routine.
‘No matter how late it was, he would still be up waiting for me to come in,’ he said.
He described his father as firm and decisive, but one who conveyed his message in a calm voice.
‘I just want to thank God that I will remember a father who was very affirmative and stern but passed on his messages with little or without threat. He would communicate with you in a low voice, but the message is full of meaning. I think we would miss that in this family,’ he said.
For Taiwo, one of the most important ways to honour his father is to continue the values he promoted, particularly education and community service.
He recalled that his father remained actively involved in education until a few weeks before his death, continuing to visit one of the schools he established.
‘Baba was an educationist. He was a leader that wanted people to give back to the community they served. He was a selfless person,’ he noted.
He urged those who admired the late statesman to invest in the education of children and contribute to the development of their communities.
‘Baba believed that you must be educated. Education was key to him. So those of us who met him, his friends, family members, colleagues and admirers should look for a child and educate that child. Sow into the lives of those people. Make sure people are educated. Also be a community person. Give back to your community. That’s what I will tell them,’ he said.
Taiwo also disclosed that the family had established a foundation in his father’s name when he turned 90. The foundation, he said, had quietly provided scholarships to children at secondary and university levels across the country.
He pledged that the family would sustain the initiative as part of its commitment to preserving the late educationist’s legacy.
An exceptional generational man – Falae
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, who is Fasoranti’s brother-in-law, described him as an exceptionally rare individual whose influence extended across political, religious and community life.
Falae said he had known the late elder statesman intimately for more than 60 years and had never known him to quarrel with anyone or raise his voice at people, even during political meetings.
According to Falae, Fasoranti was also a natural mediator who was always willing to listen to conflicting parties and help them resolve their differences.
He recalled that the late statesman offered assistance to people, irrespective of whether their disputes arose from Akure community, the church or political organisations.
‘No one is perfect, but Baba was as near perfect a human being as I believe you can get in the fallen world,’ Falae said.
One of the most revealing examples of Fasoranti’s character, he explained, was his conduct as the founding principal of Iju-Itaogbolu Grammar School.
Falae recalled that the educationist admitted pupils from poor homes and allowed them to complete their secondary education on credit, giving them an opportunity to repay the cost after leaving school.
The gesture, he said, reflected a man who understood that education could change the direction of a person’s life and that financial hardship should not automatically deny a child that opportunity.
For Falae, such acts of generosity were central to the late statesman’s legacy.
‘His death has left a big void in the political, religious and social life, not only of Akure and St David’s Church or Ondo State but the Yoruba nation,’ he said.
He described Fasoranti as an exemplary figure whose character and values were increasingly difficult to find in public life.
‘He was an exemplary man; a man you are proud to know and associate with. It is not a trite statement to say that you don’t find one of his kind, even in a thousand years,’ Falae said.
Afenifere’s future
Beyond the personal loss, Fasoranti’s death has also raised questions about the future leadership of Afenifere, the organisation he led after the death of Pa Abraham Adesanya.
Falae, however, expressed confidence that the organisation would navigate the transition in line with its established traditions.
He described Afenifere as a self-regulating organisation in which leadership emerges through internal consensus rather than a struggle for position.
Recalling earlier transitions in the organisation’s leadership, Falae said the process had historically involved the recognition of individuals considered capable of sustaining its political philosophy and cohesion.
He expressed hope that the same approach would guide the emergence of Fasoranti’s successor.
A legacy beyond longevity
Fasoranti’s life wasn’t without tragedy. In July 2019, his daughter, Funke Olakunrin, was killed in an attack along the Ondo-Ore expressway, an incident that provoked widespread condemnation and renewed national debate about insecurity.
Despite the personal loss, Fasoranti remained a prominent voice in public affairs, continuing to represent the interests and aspirations of Yoruba people through Afenifere.
His 100th birthday on May 11, 2026 attracted tributes from political leaders, including President Bola Tinubu, who recognised his contributions as an elder statesman, educationist, administrator and pro-democracy activist.
The accounts of those closest to him suggest that his most enduring legacy may lie in the ordinary but consequential choices he made throughout his life: the pupils he helped educate, the disputes he helped resolve, the principles he upheld and the younger people he encouraged to serve their communities.
At 100, Fasoranti leaves behind a history intertwined with the political evolution of the Yoruba nation and Nigeria. His death closes a remarkable chapter, but the values his admirers say he embodied remain a challenge to the political class and the generations that follow.