The remains of the late Afenifere leader Pa Ayo Fasanmi were interred on Tuesday in his country home in Iye Ekiti, Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti as tributes poured in from eminent personalities.
Fasanmi a Second Republic senator died on July 29 at the age of 94.
The casket conveying Fasanmi’s corpse was brought to the community in a white jeep for the funeral service held at Saint John’s Anglican Church, Iye Ekiti.
Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi said Fasanmi’s contributions to the development of democracy was immeasurable, particularly his role in the formation and operation of the defunct National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) that fought the military.
The governor disclosed that his administration was already constructing a secondary school to honour the deceased for his contributions to the state before his death.
“My only regret is that he has left us before the school will be officially inaugurated for academic activities when schools finally reopen,” Fayemi said.
“His death has, therefore, robbed me of a godfather, counsellor, an advocate and a father. A good man has left us.
“We will sorely miss him but we are consoled that he was dedicated to selfless service.”
Fayemi added that Fasanmi belonged in the class of the youths of the 1950s when the nationalist movement was at its feverish peak.
He noted that the deceased got indoctrinated into nationalism struggle through the writings of the late Nnamdi Azikwe and his contemporaries.
Speaking on behalf of the south-west governors, Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu said the news of the passage of the icon was a loss to the Yoruba and Nigeria at large.
“Baba living long for 94 years was not what we are celebrating, but we are celebrating how many lives he had impacted on. He lived an impactful life.
“He was not petty but he spoke truth, lived a remarkable life and was one politician who became senator and came home to rest,” he said.
The All Progressives Congress’ national leader Bola Tinubu represented by former Lagos State deputy governor Abiodun Ogunleye said Nigerians must learn from the late politician who lived a modest and spartan lifestyle.
Tinubu described Fasanmi as a revolutionary and a politician of outstanding mien, civility and character who was worthy of being emulated.
