Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has paid tribute to Reuben Fasoranti, the late leader of the Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere, saying the deceased left a large legacy behind. Channels Television reports that the governor described the task of following Fasoranti as a big pair of shoes to fill.
Fasoranti died at the age of 100. Punch Newspapers, in its report on his passing, described him as a loyalist of Obafemi Awolowo who led Afenifere until his death.
Tributes have come from several prominent figures. According to TheCable, President Bola Tinubu said Fasoranti told him he would become president within the older man's lifetime. Premium Times Nigeria reports that former President Olusegun Obasanjo also mourned Fasoranti, alongside Uduaghan.
The question of who leads Afenifere next has also drawn attention. Vanguard News reports that another chieftain, Falae, said the group's new leadership will emerge without a contest.
The statements reported so far focus on Fasoranti's place in Yoruba politics and his ties to the Awolowo political tradition. The coverage does not yet include details of his burial arrangements.
Watch for Afenifere's announcement on how its next leader will be chosen, and for further tributes as the group and the family respond to the loss.
