By Adeyinka Adeniran
The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has announced burial plans for its late leader, the Asiwaju Yoruba, Chief Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti.
This is as the group expressed appreciation to all those who are commiserating with it on the transition of its leader, as it further assured everyone that the group is intact despite the departure of its leader.
This is as the group expressed appreciation to all those who are commiserating with it on the transition of its leader, as it further assured everyone that the group is intact despite the departure of its leader.
Afenifere national publicity secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi in a statement said the Chairman of its National Executive Committee, Oba Olu Falae, in conjunction with the family, is setting up a burial committee that will ensure a glorious farewell for the departed centenarian.
He also dismissed any issue relating to leadership challenge within the organization.
The statement noted that, Oba Falae will lead delegates from all the states in Yorubaland to pay a formal visit to the family on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
Tuesday would be the eighth day of the demise of the leader. In Yoruba cosmology, eighth day, ‘Ojo Kejo’ is symbolic.
Tuesday would be the eighth day of the demise of the leader. In Yoruba cosmology, eighth day, ‘Ojo Kejo’ is symbolic.
He addded that representatives would come to Akure from all the state branches of Afenifere viz Kogi, Kwara, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, Lagos and Ondo states.
The statement indicated that members of Afenifere worldwide are presently preoccupied with how to give their leader a glorious burial.
“Our attention presently is on how to give our leader and Asiwaju Yoruba a glorious burial that he deserves. It would be a height of irresponsibility to be talking about leadership when the remains of the respected leader have not been interred. Such is very much against Yoruba principles”, Ajayi statement read in part.
He added that at the appropriate time, everything would be laid bare for members of the public.
It would be recalled that Chief Fasoranti breathed his last on Tuesday, October 20th at the age of 100 and a few months after he celebrated his centenary birthday on May 11, 2026.
He gave the details of the funeral programmes as follows:
“Christian wake-keeping service will be held on Wednesday, December 16, 2026. Venue is the premises of Omolere Nursery and Primary School which is within the late leader’s estate in Fiwasaye area of Akure.
“Christian wake-keeping service will be held on Wednesday, December 16, 2026. Venue is the premises of Omolere Nursery and Primary School which is within the late leader’s estate in Fiwasaye area of Akure.
“Funeral service will be on Thursday December 17th at St. David’s Cathedral, Ijomu, Akure.
“Interment will follow immediately at the church’s cemetery. Guests will be entertained at the leader’s residence while the Thanksgiving service will be held on Sunday, December 20th at the same St. David’s Cathedral, Ijomu, Akure.”
Ajayi quoted Afenifere Exco Chairman, Oba Falae, as describing Papa Fasoranti as someone who would be sorely missed.
“He was a great man whose legacy of firmness, resilience, humaneness, hard work and exemplary deeds remain as a beacon for us.
“We are celebrating the leader’s life rather than grieving because he had lived a purposeful and fulfilling life”.
