Kashim Shettima on Monday arrived in Akure, Ondo State, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 100th birthday celebration of elder statesman, Reuben Fasoranti.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by Stanley Nkwocha, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President.
According to the statement, Shettima arrived at the Akure Airport to convey the goodwill of the Federal Government to one of Nigeria’s most respected socio-political figures.
Nkwocha described Fasoranti as a loyal disciple of the late Obafemi Awolowo and one of the last surviving Awoists in Nigeria’s political history.
He noted that Fasoranti belonged to the defunct Action Group during the First Republic and later became a member of the Unity Party of Nigeria in the Second Republic.
The statement also recalled that the elder statesman served as Commissioner for Finance in the old Ondo State.
“The Vice President is on the ground to express the goodwill of the Federal Government to one of the leading figures in Nigeria’s socio-political trajectory,” Nkwocha stated.
Upon arrival at the Akure Airport, Shettima was received by Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Dapo Abiodun, and other prominent political leaders.
Ahead of the visit, security agencies intensified security arrangements across key locations in Akure to ensure a smooth and peaceful celebration.
The Ondo State Police Command confirmed that it deployed a “watertight security arrangement” for the event.
According to the command, the operation was designed to prevent security breaches and guarantee a hitch-free celebration throughout the Vice President’s engagements in the state.
Reuben Fasoranti remains one of the most influential figures in Nigeria’s Yoruba socio-political movement and has played a significant role in the country’s democratic and regional political evolution over several decades.
