Governors of Osun, Oyo and Ekiti states, on Saturday, said that the legacies left behind by the late Afenifere spokesperson, Yinka Odumakin, would forever be remembered and cherished.
Governors Gboyega Oyetola of Osun, Seyi Makinde of Oyo and Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti made the remarks in their tributes during the funeral of the late Afenifere spokesman in Moro, Osun.
In his tribute, Oyetola said that the deceased left a legacy to be cherished in his fight for what is right as a visionary and phenomenal leader.
“We are grateful for his life, he came, he saw and he conquered. I never knew he came to make a farewell visit when he came visiting me.
“He did not live a wasted life and was always fighting for what is right.
“We feel the pain of the family and we are with you as a state and may God grant him eternal rest,” Oyetola said.
The Osun governor thanked all the other governors for their tributes toward the deceased and prayed God to grant his family the fortitude to bear the loss.
Oyetola noted that the deceased left behind a legacy of inspirational service, fierce loyalty to the Yoruba race and relentless contributions to the quest for a greater nation.
He said Odumakin’s trajectory through life, whether as an impressionable undergraduate activist in Ife, a purposeful columnist, a fiery anti-dictatorship combatant, a vociferous Afenifere scribe, or his political involvement, reads like a profile in courage.
Oyetola further stated: “He did not live a wasted life. He was an illustrious son of Osun and a man of deep conviction who constantly fought for what is right, just, and equitable.
“He simply lived for the people. He was a phenomenal leader, who, without holding public office, impacted us in unique ways.
“However, we must not sorrow like those who do not have hope. We must find comfort in the truly phenomenal life he lived. We should rejoice, knowing Odunmakin has left for a better place.
“He has left for us on this side of humanity a legacy of inspirational service, fierce loyalty to the Yoruba race and relentless contributions to the quest for a greater nation.
“We are indeed grateful for his life. It is our fervent prayer that the good Lord grant his dearly-beloved family and all of us the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss. May his soul rest in perfect peace.”
Also speaking, Makinde said the people of Oyo State came to honour Odumakin for his integrity, tireless service to humanity and his consistency in talking truth to power during his lifetime.
“He spoke truth to power; I want to say a life lived with integrity, committed to dignity and ideal will be shining stars to light the path for others coming behind and that was what Yinka did for this generation.
“His struggles will continually be a shining path to light the way for us until we have the Nigeria he dreamt of.
“To the family, I pray God gives you the strength to carry on,” Makinde said.
Earlier, Fayemi described the late Odumakin as a patriot who consistently defended the defenceless relentlessly for the growth of the nation, especially in the South-West.
“Odumakin worked relentlessly for my coming to office and when we called on him on the issue of restructuring, he never broke the chord that existed between us.
“As Afenifere spokesperson, he was a democrat to the core, a nationalist without question, not a secessionist.
“He was a man who believes in regional autonomy, offers the best route to progress and development in the country .
“He left the legacy of speaking the truth to power and an unrelenting campaigner for restructuring in this country; he was a fighter for keeping the democracy going .
“He never succumbed to the merchants of division and secession. That is what we can do to keep the memory of our brother alive.
“On behalf of the chairman of South West Governors Forum, Rotimi Akeredolu and other governors, I salute the courage of conviction, pursuit of restructuring and all those issues he took up when alive and we shall continue to pursue relentlessly until we have that country he dreamt.
” This is the legacy Yinka is leaving behind and we must all continue to push the agenda forward until we have a new Nigeria we all clamour for,” Fayemi said.
Also, leader of Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, described Odumakin as a true and uncompromised Awoist who lived all his life to advocate for a better Nigeria, a nation that works for all and sundry.
“As a politician, as an activist and public analyst, Yinka was a born-democrat. He must be praised, for the work he had done for Yorubaland, Nigeria and the progressive world cannot be quantified,” Adebanjo added.
Earlier in his remarks, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, said even in death, the late Odumakin would remain an unforgettable nationalist.
“To us from your birth place, your ancestral, we will rather celebrate an icon that was graciously given to us by Olodumare (God). You are dead because you will forever live in our hearts. You were not only a son of Oduduwa land, you lived Oduduwa and you breathed Oduduwa,” Ooni said.
In her remarks, the wife of the deceased, Dr. Joe Odumakin, thanked the people, particularly Oyetola for the uncommon support.
Others in attendance were former Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko; members of the Afenifere Yoruba group; human rights activists; members of the Civil Society Organisations; traditional rulers; top government functionaries; politicians, among others.
Meanwhile, the Ooni of Ife named Ife-Moro road after Odumakin.
The Oba, represented by Mr Kemade Elugbade at the funeral service of Odumakin in Moro, described the late Afenifere chieftain as an unforgettable patriotic descendant of Oduduwa and a positive factor in Nigeria’s democracy.
He said: “Odumakin’s death was a rude shock when Yoruba nation in particular and Nigeria at large needed him.
“The news of his demise was a very bitter pill to swallow for the entire country and to us particularly in the House of Oduduwa.
“He was a disciplined Yoruba leader who has been one of the loudest pro-democracy voices in the country,” he said.
A short clip of Odumakin’s lifetime and his wife Joe attending a television interview was played in remembrance of the human rights activist at the event.
