Afenifere sets up burial committee for Fasoranti, rules out succession talk
- Afenifere's National Executive Committee met in Akure and named a committee to plan Pa Reuben Fasoranti's funeral.
- Oba Olu Falae said discussing a successor before the burial goes against Yoruba culture.
- The family has fixed December 17, 2026 for the funeral service and interment in Akure.
Afenifere don name one committee to plan di funeral of dia late leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, wey die on October 20 for im house for Akure at di age of 100.
Di pan-Yoruba group National Executive Committee take di decision on Tuesday for one meeting wey dem hold for di deceased residence for Ondo State capital, where dem also deliver condolence message to di family.
Oba Olu Falae, wey chair di National Executive Committee, announce di team. He talk say di committee go work with di family own burial committee and di government committee so dat Fasoranti go get better send-off. Membership come from Afenifere and oda groups wey dey meet for Ogbo for Ogun State, and Falae talk say dem fit add more names.
No talk of a successor yet
Falae also push back on any discussion of who go take over di group, talk say e too early. "Any discussion on leadership succession is premature and contrary to Yoruba culture," he tell reporters, add say e no proper to debate successor before dem bury di leader.
He talk say di group focus for now na di burial, and say one credible leader go emerge afterwards.
Di sources differ small on di committee list. Punch and Channels TV include Chief Lekan Alabi, wey missing from Vanguard version, while Leadership give Falae name as Oba Samuel Falae.
Among those wey dem name be Oba Oladipo Olaitan, Bashorun Sehinde Arogbofa, Senator Femi Okurounmu, Senator Kofo Akerele-Bucknor, Chief Supo Shonibare, Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Otunba Iyiola Omisore, Chief Dare Babarinsa, Chief Sola Ebiseni and Comrade Jare Ajayi.
Family plans and what happens next
Di family don already fix December 17, 2026 for di funeral service and interment for Akure. Speaking for di family, Olori Rachael Falae describe di late leader as quiet, disciplined and trustworthy, and talk say he firm once he make up im mind on anything.
She recall say he combine im work as local government chairman with running school, and say dem build roads for Akure during im time for council, including di stretch from A Division Police Station to State Hospital.
According to her, tributes go start on di Monday before di funeral, with days set aside for different groups. Di Anglican Church and state governors go also take part, with di governors decide how dem go involve.
For now, di message from Afenifere na unity: di group want di burial to bring dia members together rather than open fight over who go lead next.
