Obasanjo, Tinubu and the ACF Mourns Yinka Odumakin Demise. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Arewa Consultative Forum and Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu took time to mourn the demise of Yinka Odumakin.
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo visited the home of the nonagenarian Acting Leader of Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo to commiserate with the group on the death of Odumakin, who as at the time of his death was the publicity secretary of the socio-cultural group.
The former president paid a condolence visit to the Acting Leader of the Pan-Yoruba Group, Pa Ayo Adebanjo on the death of the National Publicity Secretary of the group, Yinka Odumakin.
The Contradictory Magnanimity of the Arewa Consultative Forum
The Arewa Consultative Forum, a pan-Northern socio-political organisation has mourned the death of the National Publicity Secretary of Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, describing him as a dutiful man of conviction.
Emmanuel Yawe, National Publicity Secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum, in a statement on Saturday, however, attacked Afenifere, asking the group to ‘turn a new leaf and see issues not from the narrow and limited perspective of one ethnic but the broad perspective of a multi-ethnic federal republic.”
“While he was alive, Yinka held on to his views very strongly. We often disagreed with him on many issues. Our disagreements were, however, on principle and not personal.
“The fundamental difference is that the Afenifere group admits only descendants of Oduduwa as members, while we in the ACF admit even that descendants of Oduduwa who are northerners. Our membership’s nature, accommodating hundreds of ethnic groups, has made it very difficult to always agree with a group whose membership is limited to one ethnic group.
“We continue to hope that Afenifere will one day turn a new leaf and see issues not from the narrow and limited perspective of one ethnic group but the broad view of a multi-ethnic federal republic.
“We had hoped that Odumakin would live long enough to work for and see the new day. His death today has robbed us of that opportunity. We, however, pray for his family and his colleagues in Afenifere. We shall certainly miss him.”
Tinubu Still in Shock
Former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said he received with shock, news of the death of Afenifere spokesman, Yinka Odumakin.
Tinubu, in a statement on Saturday, described the deceased as a committed fighter for democracy, dedicated civil society activist, courageous and outspoken defender of whatever ideals and principles he believed in.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) leader said Odumakin remained fearless and unrelenting in speaking up in promoting the cause of justice and what he perceived as the best interest of the citizens of Nigeria.
Tinubu recalled his participation in the various students and youth struggles against successive military dictatorships in the 1980s and 1990s.
“In the process, he was arrested, harassed and even detained several times. Yet, he never allowed himself to succumb to tyranny or be pressured into submissive and pliant silence.
“In the struggle against the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election and the perpetuation of military dictatorship, Odumakin was never found wanting. He was at the vanguard of the battle even at the risk of his life and liberty.”
Yinka Odumakin, Afenifere Publicity Secretary, Dies at 54
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https://www.tvcnews.tv/obasanjo-visits-afenifere-leader-adebanjo-over-odumakins-death/
Tinubu said the late activist never held public office but was a constant feature and part of our public consciousness over the last two decades of Nigeria’s unbroken democratic dispensation.
“He epitomized the true definition of the citizen; a patriot who was ever conscious of the fact that his life could not be complete or his humanity meaningful if he did not take an active interest in and join like-minded fellow citizens in seeking always to promote the common good of his community and country.”
Tinubu condoled with the family and prayed that God will comfort and strengthen them as they take solace in the massive outpouring of grief.
He expressed condolences to Chief Ayo Adebanjo, the Afenifere leader, other leaders and members of the Yoruba apex group as well as all Yinka’s associates in the civil society movement.
“Too Heavy to Bear”
Adebanjo had in a tweet described the death of the Afenifere spokesman as “too heavy to bear”.
Odumakin spoke tenaciously for the rights of the Yoruba and the people of the South-West geopolitical zone. He was also a staunch critic of the policies and programmes of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The late Afenifere spokesman, amongst other things, canvassed restructuring, fiscal federalism, and decentralised policing as solutions to the country’s socio-economic challenges.
Before his death, he consistently condemned the activities of criminal Fulani herders, who have been accused of farmland destruction, rape, killings and abductions in the South-West.
Odumakin died at the COVID-19 Isolation Centre of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital on Saturday due to complications from COVID-19.
Change of Guards at Afenifere
Reuben Fasoranti, a Yoruba elder statesman, has reportedly stepped down as the national leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political association, Afenifere.
Mr Fasoranti’s decision was reported by Punch Newspaper, citing old age as reasons.
According to the newspaper, Mr Fasoranti, 95, named the deputy leader of the group, Ayo Adebanjo, as the acting national leader.
He said the decision became necessary as the group needs “to have an improved organisation with a more effective approach to combat the monstrous invasion of our culture and pride as a people.
“Only a more alike and active leadership can achieve this. At 95, I am hardly able to provide such and so it is time for me to step aside.”
It should be noted that the nonagenarian lost his daughter in 2019 when she was waylaid and killed by suspected herdsmen along the Ondo-Ore road.
