The Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, says it obtained with deep disappointment information of the lack of Pa Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti, elder statesman, nationalist and National Leader of the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere.
The loss of life, which occurred two days in the past, was introduced by Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Ondo State Governor.
The National Publicity Secretary of ACF, Prof. Muhammad-Baba, in a press release on Thursday mentioned, “Pa Fasoranti was a well-known trailblazer as a quintessential nationalist, politician, a man of the people and as a deeply respected community leader who had served Nigeria very well as an ardent advocate of progressive politics and good governance who dedicated almost his entire life in the pursuit of these ideals.”
Pa Fasoranti spent a full century on earth and witnessed the very best that Nigeria has needed to provide whilst he had lived to remorse the nation’s missed alternatives for even higher achievements.
The discussion board acknowledged that he retained deep and admirable constancy to struggles for a greater Nigeria, to which he had visibly, trenchantly and admirably remained focussed within the seek for excellence within the nation.
“He had also remained, to the end, an indefatigable fighter in an undying quest for a better deal for his people and, nay, Nigeria.
“It will stay a telling testimony of his price as a go-to-personality that he emerged because the National Leader of Afenifere, the frontline Yoruba socio-cultural organisation,” the statement explained.
The statement said that the deceased was thus another worthy exemplar in Nigeria’s crop of principled and far-sighted leaders, from the times of the struggles for independence, through to the First Republic, the turbulent civil war years, military rule and the unending tumbling and hobbling experiment with democratic governance.
Pa Fasoranti’s life, ACF observed, has left behind shoes too big to fill and a formidable record of excellence in service to the nation and to his community, stressing that his demise is a celebration of life, not a loss to rue but one to pay tribute to. His life was one well-lived.
ACF extended condolences to his immediate and extended family, friends, the Federal Government and peoples of Nigeria, the entire Yoruba people, the numerous people he had mentored as well as other beneficiaries of his wise and avuncular counsel during his years on earth.
ACF prayed that Almighty God will grant him eternal peace.
