Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday arrived in Akure, the Ondo State capital, to represent President Bola Tinubu at the 100th birthday celebration of renowned Yoruba leader and elder statesman, Chief Reuben Fasoranti.
Shettima touched down at the Akure Airport amid tight security and was received by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, alongside other political dignitaries.
In a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, the Presidency said the Vice President’s visit underscored the Federal Government’s respect and admiration for the nonagenarian statesman.
The statement described Fasoranti as one of the enduring figures in Nigeria’s political history, noting his long-standing association with the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the progressive political movement.
According to the Presidency, Fasoranti remained one of the last surviving loyalists of the Awolowo political ideology, having been a member of the defunct Action Group during the First Republic and the Unity Party of Nigeria in the Second Republic.
The statement also recalled his service as Commissioner for Finance in the old Ondo State, highlighting his contributions to governance and national development over the decades.
Nkwocha noted that Shettima was in Ondo State to convey President Tinubu’s goodwill and celebrate Fasoranti’s contributions to Nigeria’s socio-political evolution.
Meanwhile, security operatives had earlier intensified surveillance across strategic locations in Akure ahead of the Vice President’s visit and the centenary event.
The Ondo State Police Command confirmed that elaborate security measures were put in place to forestall any breach of peace during the celebration.
Police authorities stated that the deployment was aimed at ensuring a smooth, peaceful and incident-free event as dignitaries from across the country gathered to honour the elder statesman.