President Bola Tinubu has congratulated elder statesman and Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, as he marks his 100th birthday on May 11, describing him as a towering figure of integrity, discipline and national service.
Tinubu, in a personally signed statement issued on Saturday, said his “joy knows no bounds” as Fasoranti attains the centenary milestone, adding that the Yoruba leader deserves “all the encomiums that will come his way” for his contributions to Nigeria.
“My joy knows no bounds as we witness Pa Reuben Fasoranti… attain the milestone age of 100 on May 11,” the President said. He described Fasoranti as “a metaphor for integrity, honesty, dedicated service to the nation and true leadership,” praising what he called the elder statesman’s “uncommon life of service” and commitment to principles.
The President noted that Fasoranti’s century-long life has been defined by uncommon sacrifice, moral discipline, and steadfast commitment to noble causes, earning him widespread respect across Nigeria. “His life is a metaphor for integrity, honesty, dedicated service to the nation and true leadership,” Tinubu added.
Tinubu highlighted Fasoranti’s educational background, noting his studies at the University College, Ibadan, now University of Ibadan, the University of Hull in the United Kingdom, and Maguire University in Sydney, Australia. He also recalled his contributions to education through teaching and school establishment, including Omolere Nursery and Primary School, Akure High School, and St. Frances’ Academy, which he founded in honour of his late wife.
On politics, Tinubu said Fasoranti “distinguished himself in all respects” as a disciple of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and one of the last surviving Awoists, adding that he served in the Action Group and later the Unity Party of Nigeria. The President noted that Fasoranti served as Commissioner for Finance in old Ondo State between 1979 and 1983, where “his integrity and financial prudence helped manage the state’s finances”.
He also praised Fasoranti’s role in pro-democracy struggles, saying he became “one of the rallying voices against military dictatorship, demanding the return of democracy to the land” during the military era.
Yoruba leaders, scholars, and stakeholders across political and cultural divides also united to honour the centenarian at a special centenary edition of the Yoruba Historical Conversation organised by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, DAWN, Commission in Ibadan. The event, themed “A Century of Witness: Yoruba Political, Cultural Leadership and the Conscience of a Nation,” drew participants from academia, socio-cultural organisations, research institutions, youth groups, and the Fasoranti family.
Speakers described the centenarian as a symbol of integrity, selfless service, and moral leadership, while calling for a more united and progressive Yoruba nation anchored on shared values and collective development.
Delivering the keynote lecture, University Distinguished Professor of History at the University of Lagos, Prof. Ayodeji Olukoju, urged a return to the character-driven leadership that defined Nigeria’s First Republic as a solution to contemporary governance challenges. He contrasted the discipline, restraint, and sense of duty that characterised leadership in the 1950s and early post-independence era with what he described as the present culture of self-interest and materialism.
Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, also celebrated Fasoranti’s legacy, praising his steadfast advocacy for democracy and education. “Pa Fasoranti embodies the Yoruba values of Omoluabi—honour, integrity, leadership, and selflessness,” Bamidele said. “He was among the pro-democracy advocates who fearlessly dared the late tyrant, Gen. Sani Abacha, to demand the restoration of civil rule… an effort that culminated in the birth of the Fourth Republic”.
Reflecting on Fasoranti’s commitment to public service, Bamidele highlighted his tenure as Commissioner for Finance under the Adekunle Ajasin administration and his establishment of Akure High School and Omolere Nursery and Primary School, describing them as pivotal to human development in Ondo State.
“As Pa Fasoranti now inches towards his centenary, we pray God Almighty will bless him with a longer life and keep him in perfect frame of mind as a symbol of unity for the entire descendants of Oduduwa,” Bamidele added.
