Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba
Gani Abiodun Ige Adams, has described the death of one of the prominent leaders
of Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Pa Ayo Fasanmi, as a great
loss to Nigeria and the Yoruba nation in particular, disclosing that the Yoruba
nation has lost one of the strong voices.
Adams,
in a statement on Thursday by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde
Aderemi, disclosed that the death of the late Fasanmi has created a big vacuum
among great leaders of Yoruba race.
"With the exit of the late Pa Ayo Fasanmi, we have lost one of our finest personalities. The death of the Yoruba leader was a great loss to Nigeria and the Yoruba race in particular. Baba was a great man with exemplary characters. He was so devoted to the cause of our race, and he stood firm during the dark era of the military. Pa Fasanmi, in his time, loomed larger than that of his peers. He was an epitome of humility, selflessness and integrity"
"He
was a strong voice of our race during the Second Republic when he served
as a Senator and House of Representatives at different times.There is no
doubt that the Yoruba nation will sorely miss his radical approach
to issues"
"Pa
Fasanmi was an Awoist that impacted his generation. He was among
the core loyalists of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo that was
reputed to be a strong voice, and a symbol of courage. For instance, during the
old Western Nigeria, the late Pa Fasanmi served as one of the member of the
Board of Directors of the Old Western Nigeria Housing Corporation"
"He
made enviable and remarkable contributions to his profession, to the
socio-political development of Yorubaland, and to the nation at large"
He
was once the National President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria,
elected into the Senate in 1979, and became a member of the House of
Representatives in 1983. He
died Wednesday night at Osogbo Osogbo,Osun State Capital.
He
was 94.
Adams,
said further that the late Pa Fasanmi lived a worthy life, he also prayed
God to give the family and the Yoruba nation the fortitude to bear the loss