By Ayodele Oni
The eldest son of the late Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, and Secretary to the Ondo State Government, Taiwo Fasoranti, has revealed that contrary to the usual getting home from work to meet his father, he met him dead on Tuesday.
According to him, his father had died peacefully at home at the age of 100.
Taiwo disclosed this while speaking with journalists on Tuesday, following the death of the elder statesman, describing his father’s passing as an opportunity to celebrate a remarkable life of service and lasting contributions to society.
He said the leader of the Afenifere leader died peacefully in his room at about 4.00 p.m.
According to him, he was hoping to see him when he returned home from work, only to be told in the office that his father had died.
“Baba passed on this evening, October, 20, 2026 around 4.00 p.m peacefully in his room, in his bed.
“Baba was 100 years old. He turned 100 in May. We are all looking forward to his 101st birthday, but God knows best.
“We are happy; we thank God for his life and for the impactful life he lived,” the SSG said.
Taiwo said he would not see his father’s death as a period of mourning but to “celebrate his longevity and his influence and impact in the lives of Nigerians, especially Yoruba people as well. The family is very grateful for their support.
“I will miss his demeanour. Even in the face of adversities, he was a man of few words, full of wisdom. And I thank God that in the last couple of years I have been able to see that and enjoy one-on-one conversations with him.
“I think 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 waiting for me to come in.
“I just want to thank God that I will remember a father who was very affirmative, very stern, but passed on his messages with little or no 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.”
Taiwo said his father should be celebrated in death and not mourned, describing him as an educationist to the core.
“Pa Fasoranti touched everybody. Baba was an educationist to the core. Even until a few weeks ago, he still went out of his house to one of his schools.
“He was a leader who wanted people to give back to the community they served. He was a selfless person. I think people who knew him should take a cue from that. A life of service.
“Baba believed that you must be educated. Education is key to him.
“So, those of us who met him, his friends, his family members, colleagues, 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.
“His death has left a big void in the political, religious and social life, not only of Akure and St. David’s Church or Ondo State, but all the Yoruba nation. A man you are proud to know and associate with.
“It is not a trite statement to say that you don’t find one of his kind even in a thousand years.
“People with all these attributes are extremely rare and hard to find in any society. That’s all I want to say for now,” he said.
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