Fasoranti: “We’re not mourning, we’re celebrating his life,’ son says
By Julius Alabi, Akure
The family of the late Afenifere leader and elder statesman, Pa Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti, has described his death at the age of 100 as a moment to celebrate a life of immense impact, selfless service and commitment to education, rather than one of grief.
Pa Fasoranti, a revered Yoruba leader whose influence extended across generations, died peacefully in his room on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at about 4 p.m., according to his son, the Secretary to the Ondo State Government (SSG), Taiwo Fasoranti.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Taiwo said the centenarian had lived a fulfilled life, touching countless people through his leadership, educational contributions and dedication to community development.
He said the family had been looking forward to celebrating the elder statesman’s 101st birthday after he turned 100 in May, but had accepted his death as the will of God.
“We are happy, we thank God for his life and for the impactful life he lived. I don’t count it as mourning, but I count it as a time to celebrate his longevity, his influence and his impact on the lives of Nigerians, especially the Yoruba people,” he said.
The SSG expressed gratitude to those who had supported the family, describing the late patriarch as a man whose wisdom, discipline and quiet authority left an enduring impression on those who encountered him.
Recalling his personal relationship with his father, Taiwo said one of the greatest things he would miss was the elder statesman’s ability to remain firm and composed in the face of adversity.
According to him, Pa Fasoranti was a man of few words but profound wisdom, whose counsel carried weight without the need for threats or raised voices.
He said the opportunity to spend more time with his father in the last few years had given him precious memories of their private conversations and the old man’s enduring presence at home.
“My day starts with seeing him in the morning and seeing him when I get back from the office. No matter how late it is, he will still be up waiting for me to come in,” he said.
Describing his father as firm, affirmative and disciplined, Taiwo said the late elder statesman knew how to communicate important messages in a calm but meaningful manner.
“I will remember a father who was very affirmative, very stern, but passed on his messages with little or without threat. He would communicate with you in a low voice, but the message was full of meaning. I think we will miss that in this family,” he added.
Beyond the family’s personal loss, Taiwo urged Nigerians, particularly the Yoruba people, to draw lessons from the life of the departed statesman by embracing education, selflessness and service to humanity.
He described Pa Fasoranti as an educationist to the core, noting that his passion for learning remained undiminished until the final weeks of his life.
According to him, the centenarian continued to visit one of his schools even a few weeks before his death, demonstrating his enduring commitment to education and the development of younger generations.
He said the late patriarch believed that people who benefited from society had a responsibility to give back to their communities and help others rise.
“He touched everybody. Baba was an educationist to the core. He was a leader who wanted people to give back to the community they served. He was a selfless person,” Taiwo said.
He urged the late statesman’s friends, relatives, associates and admirers to honour his memory by sponsoring the education of children who might otherwise be denied access to learning.
“Baba believed that you must be educated. Education was key to him. 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. And also be a community person. Give back to your community. That’s what I would tell them,” he said.
On plans to sustain the late patriarch’s legacy, the SSG disclosed that the family already had a foundation established when Pa Fasoranti turned 90.
He explained that the foundation had quietly provided scholarships to numerous pupils and students across Nigeria, supporting beneficiaries at both secondary school and university levels.
Taiwo said the family would ensure that the foundation continued its activities, particularly its scholarship programmes, to preserve the values the late elder statesman upheld throughout his life.
“Baba already has a foundation. We have a family foundation established when he turned 90. It has provided a lot of scholarships, quietly, to so many children, at secondary and university levels, all over the country.
“The foundation will continue to do that. We, the children, will make sure we continue to allow that to flourish in the memory of Baba,” he added.
