By Duchess Ifeoluwa
Former Governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, has described the death of the late Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti, at the age of 100 as the end of an extraordinary chapter in the political and moral history of Ondo State, Yorubaland and Nigeria.
Mimiko said the late elder statesman was more than a political leader, describing him as a custodian of a political tradition, a devoted disciple of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and an embodiment of discipline, integrity, courage and service.
In a condolence message, the former governor said Fasoranti distinguished himself as an educationist, administrator, politician, Afenifere leader and pro-democracy activist whose contributions spanned generations.
He particularly recalled the late elder statesman’s service as Commissioner for Finance under the administration of the late Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, describing it as a defining expression of his commitment to public probity and responsible governance.
Mimiko noted that Fasoranti’s subsequent leadership of the progressive movement, especially his stewardship of Afenifere until his demise, reflected his conviction that politics must be guided by principles and directed towards the welfare of the people.
According to him, Fasoranti provided wise, principled and steady guidance to Afenifere and the wider Yoruba political family, including those in the diaspora.
He said the late patriarch discharged his responsibilities with dignity and courage while remaining committed to social justice, good governance, federalism and the advancement of the Yoruba people within a united and prosperous Nigeria.
Mimiko added that personal ambition and greed were never the defining features of Fasoranti’s leadership philosophy, which, he said, was anchored in fidelity to principle and an abiding concern for the nation’s future.
The former governor said Fasoranti belonged to a generation that regarded public service as a duty rather than an avenue for private enrichment and treated political convictions as principles that should not be abandoned for convenience.
He also highlighted the elder statesman’s steadfastness during the difficult years of military rule and his commitment to democratic ideals, describing his life as a source of lessons for the country.
Mimiko, who served as governor of Ondo State from 2009 to 2017, recalled that Fasoranti endured profound personal tragedies, including the loss of his wife and a beloved daughter, with uncommon stoicism and submission to the will of God.
“For us in Ondo State, his passing is a profound loss,” he said, noting that the state had lost a father figure whose long life connected the present generation to some of the most consequential chapters of its political history.
He said Fasoranti’s generation understood the importance of strong institutions, responsible leadership and the preservation of a political culture in which the public good takes precedence over personal interests.
According to Mimiko, the late centenarian left behind more than the memories of a long and eventful life, bequeathing a standard by which leadership could be judged and challenging younger generations to approach public service with honour, courage and responsibility.
The former governor extended his condolences to the Fasoranti family, the people of Akure, the Afenifere family and all those mourning the elder statesman.
He prayed that God would grant the deceased eternal rest and comfort his family and other mourners.
