Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, wife of the late Afenifere spokesman, Yinka Odumakin, has described her husband as an ‘encyclopedia of positive activism’.
Okei-Odumakin stated this on Thursday at the Service of Songs and Tributes for the late activist, at the Police College, Ikeja, Lagos.
Odumakin, 54, died on April 2 in Lagos.
The widow, President, Women Arise for change and Initiative, said that the deceased was a great unifier for a restructured Nigeria
Okei-Odumakin said: “It is extremely difficult for me to talk about my comrade in the past having known him for over three decades and being together for 24 years.
“Here lies a man who has taken a part of me and me keeping a part of him and promising him it will never grow old.
“Comrade was ever selfless, he kept on till he died. I refer to him as an encyclopedia of positive activism, he was a great unifier for a restructured Nigeria.
“He always displayed an uncommon courage for the barricades, deeply committed, a dotting husband, he allowed our daughter to be taken because of the commitment he had for the struggle,” she said
Okei-Odumakin said that all the encomiums poured on her late husband would act as tonic to do more for her.
According to her, the tributes will always remain as soothing balm to her when she feels tired and low in spirit.
“All said today will embolden me to do more, his ideals and legacies will remain forever.
“All that he lived for will remain on the sands of time.
“Yinka, you are not dead but alive, you will continue to live in the subconsciousness of the people. Yinka Odumakin my comrade lives forever,” the widow said.
In his sermon, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, the Senior Pastor of Trinity House Church, stressed the need for people to visit certain places in life to spur them to understand some realities of life and death.
According to him, people should visit the hospital at all times to appreciate the gift of good health, prison to appreciate the gift of freedom.
Ighodalo also urged people to visit the mortuary often to appreciate life.
According to him, mortuary is an equaliser of all, irrespective of status or age.
“Also, you must visit the graveyard, this will make one realise that we brought nothing to this world and surely we shall take nothing out,” he said.
Ighodalo advised all to strive to do good and live with death in view, saying either rich or poor, all would be left behind at death like the late Odumakin.
The cleric urged politicians to always remember the masses, while expressing hope that Nigeria will be better.
“Nigeria is worth dying for and that is what Yinka Odumakin has done. He died in the struggle for Nigeria to become better,” he said.
Ighodalo took time to pray for the widow and the nation.
The event was graced by a host of civil society and ethnic groups, political stalwarts, lawmakers and many friends and acquaintances of late Odumakin.
Among the dignitaries included Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, former governors Peter Obi of Anambra, Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun and Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo.
Others were Speaker House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Senator Basir Ajibola and some Afenifere leaders.
Human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), on Thursday, charged the political class to address problems facing the masses as a mark of honour for Odumakin.
The legal luminary urged politicians to ensure a better nation through true democracy and the rule of law to honour the late Odumakin.
He described late Odumakin as an unrepentant human rights activist, who had been fighting against injustice and military rule since his undergraduate days at University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University).
“All government officials who have sympathised with the family must solve the problems of our people whom Yinka was fighting for.
“To honour him, the political class must take this country to its right path. On the path of democracy, on the path of the rule of law and the path of human rights.
“Any government that wants to honour Yinka must live by those principles,” he said.
He said that the way to celebrate Odumakin was to rededicate ourselves to betterment of the masses, and development of country, built on fair play.
“Yinka’s dream is that this country be reclaimed and rebuilt so that our people can live life of prosperity.
“To all the politicians, the best tributes you can pay to Yinka is to ensure his dreams of a country we can all be proud of is realised. We are here to celebrate Yinka’s courage, consistence, humility and integrity,” he said.
Falana also charged the management of the Obafemi Awolowo University to lift ban on Students Union so that great human rights fighters could be produced, saying leadership quality is built on campus.
The legal luminary expressed profound sympathy with the family, adding that he was sure that the wife of the deceased would continue the struggle and not allow the dream of Odumakin to die.
Also, Jimi Agbaje, a former governorship candidate of PDP in Lagos State, said that late Odumakin stood and struggled for democracy.
Agbaje, who noted that Odumakin was director general of his campaign in 2007 when he ran for election, said that Odumakin’s interest was about the poor.
“He never rested for one day. He was always fighting for the poor. Yinka believed in a better One Nigeria. He believed Nigeria could work in equity, fairness and justice.
“He was a man of courage. Yinka feared nothing when he was fighting for a cause. We are all mourning,” Agbaje said.
The National President, Centre for Human and Socio-Economic (CHSR), Alex Omotehinse, said that Odumakin would be missed for his commitment to the happiness of the poor masses.
Mr Lanre Arogundade, a former president, National Association of Nigerian Students, said the deceased was one of the heroes of June 12 struggles, describing the late rights activist as a courageous and fearless man who spoke his mind.
Arogundade said: “In his death, we have lost a vocal voice, a hero of Nigerian people, who took his path and treaded it successfully.”
Gbajabiamila described the late activist as a man of courage, integrity and truth.
Gbajabiamila, who said that he had a distant but good encounter with Odumakin, eulogised the late activist’s stand against all odds.
He said: “My knowledge of him was based on admiration of his qualities, what he stood for and what he represent and of who he was.
“I came to know from a distance, a man who had been through so much vicissitude of life, twists and turns but who in all of these stood straight.
“When you talk about profile and courage, I am not sure like many others attested too today, that you can count on one hand any whose name will come before Yinka Odumakin.
“There lies a man of courage, there lies a man of integrity, there lies a true democrat, a man who stood for truth, and nothing else.”
He said that everyone gathered not to talk about Odumakin’s schools, circumstance of birth but his character and service to humanity.
The speaker said that he was out of the country when the unfortunate incident took place, hence the need to leave the National Assembly to come and pay last respect
Gbajabiamila said that everyone should always think of what he would be remembered for after death.
He described the widow, Joe Okie-Odumakin, as a jewel of inestimable value, urging her to continue in the activism for Nigeria and humanity.
