Afenifere Leader, Fasoranti, Mourns Mrs Onabanjo… Says She Was A Model As A Wife And Mother
The National Leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, Chief Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti, OFR, CFR, has described late Chief (Mrs.) Lucia Onabowale Onabanjo as a model when it comes to the issue of supporting one’s family and having a positive impact in one’s community.
The nonagenarian stated this in the wake of the passing into glory of Onabanjo matriarch, according to the national publicity secretary of Afenifere, Comrade Jare Ajayi.
“All through the professional and political career of her late husband, Chief Victor Olabisi Onabanjo, Mama stood firmly. She kept the home front firmly in such a manner that enabled her husband to fly high both in his journalistic career as well as in his public service as a politician. It was therefore not a surprise that Chief Onabanjo got to the pinnacle both in his professional calling as well as in politics” Chief Fasoranti reminisced.
It would be recalled that Chief Olabisi Onabanjo, first civilian governor of Ogun State (October, 1979 to December, 1983), was a renowned journalist.
He was famous for his weekly column, Aiyekooto, in which he mirrored the society and called attention to issues that touched on the people and the government.
He was one of the ardent supporters of the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, GCFR. Indeed, it was in the course of following Chief Awolowo and identifying with his philosophy that Chief Fasoranti came in direct contact with Chief Onabanjo – and by implication, the latter’s wife.
Reports have it that Chief (Mrs) Lucia Onabanjo breathed her last on Monday, January 11, 2026, aged 100 years.
Chief Fasoranti recalled that before and even when her husband became governor, Mama carried herself with dignity and unobtrusively.
“She stood firmly with her husband without interfering negatively in his political engagements. She was a model as a wife and as a mother.”
The Asiwaju Yoruba (Fasoranti) added that when Chief Onabanjo faced political persecution particularly under the military after the 1983 coup, Mama did all that was humanly possible to ensure that the family did not suffer much.
“On behalf of the entire Afenifere family and Yorubas generally, we condole the immediate and extended families of the Onabanjos and pray for the peaceful repose of the soul of the late Matriach, Chief (Mrs) Lucia Onabowale Onabanjo”, Ajayi quoted Fasoranti as praying.
