Prince Adewole Adebayo, presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, has joined elder statesman Pa Reuben Fasoranti, political leaders, traditional rulers, academics and other dignitaries at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, on Friday, August 28, 2026, for a centenary lecture celebrating Fasoranti’s 100th birthday and his decades of service to Nigeria and the Yoruba democratic tradition.
The gathering, organised by Afenifere under the theme “A Century of Courage and Stewardship of Yoruba Democratic Legacy”, brought together figures from across Nigeria’s political and social spectrum, including representatives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, governors, former governors and prominent members of the Social Democratic Party.
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Adebayo’s attendance added an opposition voice to a gathering otherwise marked by strong representation from the governing All Progressives Congress and senior political figures from the South-West.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was represented at the event by the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, while the President’s Chief of Staff, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, also attended.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was represented by his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat.
Also among the dignitaries at the well-attended event was the Lagos State gubernatorial candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Hon. Femi Olaniyi Ferrari, who was represented by his running mate, Rtn. Amb. Ariyikẹ Olukayode.
The presence of the SDP figures was particularly notable against the backdrop of the 2027 political contest.
Ferrari emerged as the party’s consensus governorship candidate for Lagos in May after delegates and stakeholders from the state’s 20 local government areas adopted him during the party’s governorship primary.
At the national level, Adebayo has also been adopted by the SDP as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
The decision was taken at the party’s 2026 national convention in Bauchi, with Ferrari playing a prominent role in the process.
The centenary lecture itself focused less on partisan politics than on the values and democratic ideals associated with Fasoranti’s generation.
Former Finance Minister and elder statesman Oba Olu Falae captured the mood of the occasion when he said the gathering was not simply about celebrating Fasoranti’s longevity.
“Pa Reuben Fasoranti clocked 100 years in May. We are not here to celebrate longevity. We are here to celebrate impacts,” Falae said.
That sentiment ran through the tributes to Fasoranti, whose political journey has been closely associated with Afenifere, the legacy of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Nigeria’s long struggle for democratic governance.
Tunji-Ojo said Fasoranti’s contribution could not be confined to the Yoruba people, describing him as a figure whose influence formed part of Nigeria’s wider political history.
“The history of Nigeria can never be written without his name being written in gold,” Tunji-Ojo said.
The centenarian was also praised for the consistency of his public life, his integrity and his commitment to democratic values.
Speakers noted his long association with Afenifere and his role in keeping alive political traditions linked to Awolowo.
Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa described Fasoranti as an enduring custodian of the values and aspirations of the Yoruba people.
Former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba and former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi were among other prominent political figures at the celebration.
The intellectual side of the occasion was led by Archbishop Emeritus Ayo Ladigbolu and Professor Ropo Sekoni.
Ladigbolu used his lecture to argue that Nigeria’s political renewal must be rooted in character, truth and communal responsibility.
He placed particular emphasis on the Yoruba concept of “iwa”, which encompasses character and moral disposition.
“At the heart of Yoruba ethics lies Iwa,” Ladigbolu said, arguing that a person’s worth should not be measured simply by wealth but by the quality of their character.
Professor Ropo Sekoni, meanwhile, called for Afenifere to sustain its advocacy for constitutional reform and true federalism.
His presentation linked the legacy of the older generation to the continuing debate over how Nigeria should be governed.
The question of regional cooperation also featured prominently.
Dr Obafemi Hamzat called on South-West states to work together on development planning, infrastructure and other areas of common interest.
“How do we, as Yoruba people, come together to develop the region?” Hamzat asked, stressing that coordinated planning and budgeting could strengthen the region without necessarily requiring constitutional change.
For Adebayo, the occasion provided an opportunity to stand alongside political figures with differing ideological and party affiliations while paying tribute to an elder whose public life has been intertwined with Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
His attendance also reflected the continued political relevance of Fasoranti’s legacy as parties prepare for another electoral cycle.
The 2027 contest is already drawing attention to questions of democratic credibility, regional interests, governance and the role of political institutions.
Adebayo himself has repeatedly placed democratic reform at the centre of his political messaging.
In June, he said the lessons of the June 12, 1993 presidential election should continue to guide Nigeria’s democratic journey, insisting that “the people are the true owners of power.”
The centenary gathering therefore carried a significance beyond the celebration of one remarkable life.
It brought together an older generation that helped shape Nigeria’s political history and a younger generation of political actors seeking to define the country’s next chapter.
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For Fasoranti, the occasion offered a fitting public tribute after a century marked by education, public service, political engagement and advocacy for democratic values.
