SOYINKA, OTHERS MOURN EKITI DEPUTY GOVERNOR

More Nigerians on Sunday condoled with Governor Kayode Fayemi, and the people of Ekiti on the demise of the state Deputy Governor, Mrs Funmilayo Olayinka.
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, in a condolence message by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Hakeem Bello, described her death as “deeply painful”.

Fashola said that the deceased was a thorough professional who served her people faithfully and diligently as she greatly helped to redefine good governance in the state.

He said he shared in the sorrow of Governor Fayemi and Ekiti Action Congress of Nigeria, adding that the deceased’s loyalty and dedication would be missed by all.

“As a brother governor, I feel completely overwhelmed, just imagining the depth of your pain and anguish at the death of a most loyal, dependable and diligent deputy which you had in Olayinka,” he said.

Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka and former Ekiti governor, Chief Segun Oni, commiserated with the people of Ekiti on the death of the state’s deputy governor.

Though, Soyinka claimed to have met the late Olayinka only a few times, her unassuming grace, intelligence and political commitment was striking.

In his own comment, Oni described the death of the late deputy governor as a sad development to the political history of the state.

NAN reports that the people of the Sasere Compound in Ado-Ekiti, home of the late deputy governor was in a mourning mood.

When Fayemi got to the compound, the mother of the late deputy governor, Mrs Adetutu Famuagun, asked the governor if her daughter was actually dead or a rumour from political opponents.

The octogenarian mother asking repeatedly, “Kayode, where is Funmilayo, my daughter”.

Meanwhile, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, and the state chapter of the PDP have commiserated with the government and entire people of Ekiti over the demise the state deputy governor.

Aregbesola in a statement by Mr Sefiu Okanlawon, his Media spokesman, described the death of the deputy governor as “unfortunate”.

He said he was saddened and greatly disturbed by the news of her death, adding that the deceased was a rare gem who had proved her mettle as a banker and a politician.

Also reacting, Mr Diran Odeyemi, the PDP spokesman in Osun, expressed regrets that Olayinka died too early.

Odeyemi said the deceased would be greatly missed by all politicians irrespective of political party affiliations.

Among early sympathisers that thronged  her Royal Palm Drive, Ikoyi, residence, include former President of the Nigeria Bar Association and governorship candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria in Ondo state, Rotimi Akeredolu.

Speaking to newsmen, he noted that her death has left a big vacuum in leadership, adding that he called Governor Kayode Fayemi some days before to enquire about the state of her health  and was told that she was getting better.

“It was a shock to hear a few days later that she had died. Olayinka will be remembered for her unflinching support and loyalty to Governor Fayemi when he was struggling to reclaim the Ekiti mandate.

“ She was with him  every step of the way and together, they were inseparable. We all saw her as the only person that stood beside him almost everywhere. She will be missed and I pray God will grant the state and the family to bear the loss,” he said.

For Senator Olorunimbe Mamowora, “it is a pity that we lost her at this point in time. She was a very amiable person especially with her infectious smile. She carried herself with dignity deserving her office. She didn’t carry her office on her head. She gave her job the best she could, always giving a helping hand. She left a legacy and the family should take solace in that.”

Also, the deputy governor of Ogun State, Mr. Segun Adesegun, who came to commiserate with the family said, “it is a sad loss beyond words and I pray that God in His infinite mercies will grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss.”

Senator ‘Gbenga B. Ashafa, who is representing Lagos East Senatorial District, described the sudden demise of  Mrs. Olayinka as a big loss to Ekiti State and the nation at large.

The lawmaker described Mrs. Olayinka as an epitome of integrity, service and honour.

“She exemplified the virtues of not just a politician with a difference but that of a good wife and mother. Mrs. Olayinka, who ran alongside Governor Kayode Fayemi for the governorship position in 2007 was very active and played a significant role during the struggle to retrieve their mandate.

“For over three years, she was always at the forefront of protest against the injustice done to the Action Congress of Nigeria when INEC declared Peoples Democratic Party the winner of the Governorship election,” said.

He added: “the good life that the late Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka lived is worthy of emulation and will continue to be a rich source of inspiration to the people of Ekiti State.”

He prayed that Almighty God will give the husband and three children she left behind including the entire family and the good people of Ekiti State the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Though the husband of the deceased deputy governor and her three children, Yeside, Lolade and Olamide were seen at their Lagos residence, newsmen were barred from interacting with them.
Speaking on behalf of the family to newsmen at her Osborne offshore estate, Lagos residence, the sister of the late deputy governor, Fehintola Tade-Adekunle, said she saw her about a week before her eventual demise last  Saturday.

“She was a rallying point. She was very optimistic of making it through. She never gave up on her bed. She was still active and talked with us even on her bed. She was our role model and always interested in everybody,” she said.

Mrs. Tade-Adekunle noted that the late deputy governor who is the first of six girls in the family of ten is a strong woman that dutifully competed among men without intimidation.
“She was a very hardworking sister and everything about her is manly and her death it’s still a joke to me. I still feel she is still sleeping.

“We would miss her so much. There is no one that would call me “Kora”( Lebanese) again. She was a beacon of hope,” she averred.

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About Unknown

Deji Sadiq, a.k.a DEJI OF LAGOS is a LASU trained Economist turned freelance journalist, a Blogger, an information strategist, a public affairs analyst and a committed activist with a passion for equal opportunities.