Pa Reuben Fasoranti Celebrates 100th Birthday as Yoruba Leaders Hail His Legacy

Eminent Nigerians gathered in Ibadan on Tuesday to celebrate the 100th birthday of Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, praising his selfless service to Yorubaland and the nation.

The centenary event, themed “A Centenary Of Witness: Yoruba Political Culture, Leadership And The Conscience,” was organised by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria Commission.

Speakers described Fasoranti as a custodian of Yoruba culture and a symbol of unity among Nigeria’s ethnic groups.

Afenifere chieftain Femi Okunrounmu noted that Fasoranti was among the founding fathers of the group alongside Chief Obafemi Awolowo and other notable figures. He contrasted the generation of Fasoranti, defined by service and the welfare of ordinary people, with today’s public service approach, which he said treated governance as an opportunity for personal gain.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof Kayode Adebowale, described the centenarian as a working conscience and a proud alumnus of the institution. He said Fasoranti’s name would be carved not only in marble but in the character of the nation.

Ambassador Olatokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu, Chairman of African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc, noted that Fasoranti neither demanded nor asked for anything but gave his all for the country’s growth.

In a lecture, Prof Ayodeji Olukoju of the University of Lagos called for a return to the character-driven leadership of Nigeria’s First Republic. He argued that leaders of that era governed with restraint and a sense of duty, often leaving office without enriching themselves.

DAWN Commission Director-General, Seye Oyeleye, said the gathering also marked the tenth anniversary of the Yoruba Historical Conversation series. He noted that Fasoranti had resisted successive military regimes, including surviving assassination attempts during the Abacha dictatorship, and urged attendees to reflect on their own contributions to regional development.