L'eyin Ayedatiwa Akure L'kan series (20)

Ayedatiwa's Centenary Pledge: Honour Pa Fasoranti with an Akure Successor

As Pa Reuben Fasoranti, the revered elder statesman and founder of Afenifere, marks his 100th birthday, Ondo State stands at a pivotal moment. This centenary is not just a celebration of a life well-lived—it's a clarion call for Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to repay the debt owed to the man who quietly shaped his gubernatorial ascent.

Fasoranti, the respected centurion from Akure, has been more than a moral compass for Yoruba politics. His endorsement during the tense succession battles of 2023–2024 lent Aiyedatiwa the Yoruba nationalist gravitas needed to navigate APC challenges and INEC hurdles. From the ruins of the Aketi era, Fasoranti's stature helped steady the ship, whispering influence in Abuja corridors and rallying Ondo elders. Without Pa Reuben's nod, Aiyedatiwa's guber ambition might have faltered amid the power vacuums of yore.

Now, with 2028 elections looming, reciprocity demands boldness. Akure, the pulsating heart of Ondo, has birthed titans like Fasoranti yet craves its turn at the Deji's Palace helm. Aiyedatiwa, himself from ilaje, can cement his legacy by anointing an Akure successor—perhaps a youth-savvy technocrat or community mobilizer from the ancient kingdom. This isn't tokenism; it's strategic equity. Ondo South has had its shine; central deserves balance to douse zoning tensions and unify the state.

Pa Fasoranti's century teaches stewardship: invest in roots, harvest unity. Governor on this milestone, it's time to promise the centurion his Akure heir. Deliver, and history will echo your name alongside his.