My Father Had Covenant With God To Die At 100 — Fasoranti’s Son

Dr Taiwo Fasoranti, the eldest son of the late Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, has revealed that his father often told the family he had a covenant with God to die at the age of 100.

Taiwo, who serves as the Secretary to the Ondo State Government (SSG), made the disclosure on Tuesday night when Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa visited the family to offer his condolences at the deceased’s residence in Akure.

LEADERSHIP reports that the elder Fasoranti died on Tuesday evening at his home in Ijapo, Akure.

According to the SSG, his father had consistently reminded family members that he would depart the world upon attaining the age of 100 and had urged them not to grieve when that time came.

“Baba often told us that he had a covenant with God that whenever he got to 100, he would go. He repeatedly told us that when he died, we should not cry.

“We are not mourning, Baba; we are rejoicing.

“Baba has left us a big pair of shoes to step into, but we can only thank God for the legacy of firmness, resilience, hard work and love that he left us with,” he said.

Taiwo described his late father as a committed parent who took an active role in raising his children and overseeing their education.

He said the family would deeply miss the counsel of the late nationalist, whom he portrayed as a reserved man whose words carried considerable weight.

According to him, although his father was a man of few words, he had a distinctive way of communicating his thoughts “quietly but effectively”.

The SSG thanked Aiyedatiwa for standing with the family during the difficult period and appealed for prayers to help the children uphold the values and legacy their father left behind.

In his remarks, Aiyedatiwa described the late Afenifere leader as a man of exceptional humility, kindness and wisdom whose contributions to governance and national development would not be forgotten.

The governor noted that despite his advanced age, Fasoranti remained mentally alert and continued to influence government decisions.

“Even at that age, Baba was still influencing decisions of government. That is to tell you that he was still mentally sound,” he said.

Aiyedatiwa also praised the deceased for his contributions to education, noting that his influence had shaped generations of people, including prominent individuals in Nigeria and abroad.

He said the elder statesman’s life deserved celebration rather than sorrow, given the impact he had made during his lifetime.

“We cannot but celebrate his life and times. We are not mourning. We are just celebrating and thanking God for a life that was well lived,” he said.

The governor described Fasoranti’s life as one marked by humility, compassion, wisdom and unwavering commitment to serving humanity.

He urged the bereaved family and Nigerians at large to uphold the deceased’s virtues and build on his contributions by continuing to serve their communities and society.