The governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has expressed sadness over the death of the National Publicity Secretary of pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Mr Yinka Odumakin, describing it as “tragic and deeply devastating.”
Odumakin, according to his family, passed on on Saturday morning, after battling with COVID-19 complications, aged 56.
In a statent, Dr Fayemi said that the Yoruba nation, and indeed Nigeria have lost a truly patriotic citizen, a fearless activist, who regularly spoke truth to power and a man of the people who championed the cause of his people till he breathed his last.
Describing Odumakin’s death as a personal loss to him, having had a long standing and working relationship with the deceased and his spouse, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, since the period of the struggle for democracy in the nineties, Fayemi said, “This is a very sad day. The Yoruba and indeed Nigeria have lost an illustrious son, a voice for the voiceless, a fearless and dogged fighter and a leader who loved and served his people passionately.
“For me, Yinka’s death is a personal loss. He was not just my comrade in the democratic struggle, he was a brother and friend. He was firm in his conviction, focused and progressive-minded. Even when we disagreed, he was never disagreeable.
“Our thought and prayers are with Joe, his widow, members of his immediate family, associates and the leadership of Afenifere, at this trying period. We pray that God grants him eternal rest and give the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”
