The Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, says it received with deep sadness news of the loss of Pa Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti, elder statesman, nationalist and National Leader of the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere.
The death, which occurred two days ago, was announced by Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Ondo State Governor.
The National Publicity Secretary of ACF, Prof. Muhammad-Baba, in a statement on Thursday said, "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 best that Nigeria has had to offer even as he had lived to regret the nation’s missed opportunities for even greater achievements.
The forum stated that he retained deep and admirable fidelity to struggles for a better Nigeria, to which he had visibly, trenchantly and admirably remained focussed in the search for excellence in the country.
"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 remain a telling testimony of his worth as a go-to-personality that he emerged as 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.