The deaths of former Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and Afenifere leader Pa Reuben Fasoranti have been lamented by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
In a statement released on Tuesday by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo called the late Fasoranti “one of the last remaining titans of a generation that laid the foundation for modern Nigeria.”
He described Fasoranti’s life as a masterclass in meaningful longevity and flawless leadership, saying that he grounded public service in character, sacrifice, and integrity.
“An incredible era comes to an end with Baba’s departure. As an educationist, Baba recognised early on that developing a country’s citizens was essential to its development, according to Obasanjo.
He recalled Fasoranti’s positions as Commissioner for Finance in the former Ondo State under the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and as a principal in historic institutions, which he claimed continued to serve as a benchmark for fiscal restraint and openness.
According to Obasanjo, Fasoranti opposed military rule, maintained a voice for true federalism, justice, and equity, and acted as a unifying anchor for Afenifere at a time of fragmentation.
Personally, I will never forget Baba’s kindness and his open-door approach. Our regard for one another never diminished, he said, even when we were on opposing sides of political disputes.
Regarding Uduaghan, Obasanjo stated that Nigeria had lost a perfect politician, a fine gentleman, and a committed medical professional.
He remembered working closely with Uduaghan throughout his tenure as the former Delta State Governor James Ibori’s Commissioner for Health and then Secretary to the State Government.
“I have happy memories of my intimate conversations with Emmanuel while I was president. Emmanuel distinguished out as a skilled administrator and a composed voice of reason even during those tumultuous political times and severe regional unrest in the Niger Delta, according to Obasanjo.
He claimed that Uduaghan’s administrative skills and dedication to Delta State’s advancement and peace equipped him for leadership when he was elected governor in 2007.