Former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel (OGD), has commiserated with Afenifere and the widow of late Afenifere Spokesperson, Yinka Odumakin.
In the condolence letter which he personally signed on Saturday and made available to Freelanews, Otunba Daniel described the death of Odumakin as “… a dark moment that eclipsed one of the vocal voices of the Yoruba Nation and of social, cultural and political activism in our country Nigeria”.
“Yinka lived a good life, and for a great cause and purposes. His memory is well preserved because he stood firmly for all that he believed in. Such men never die,” Otunba Daniel said.
OGD expressed his deepest condolences to both the wife and leadership of Afenifere, while praying that God should grant his soul great repose and to grant the family the fortitude to bear the very painful loss.
To the wife, the former governor wrote:
“It is surely a harrowing experience to imagine that the man with whom you have spent several years together , starting from your university and students Union days will no longer be there by your side, to offer the comforting words in moments of need. Yinka was your alter ego, a great Comrade and a good companion”.
Yinka Odumakin was appointed as the spokesman for the then presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) back in 2011.
Odumakin, a 1989 graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, where he served as the public relations officer of the university’s students union, started his journalism career at The Punch newspapers before he moved to The Guardian newspapers.
He had for years been a critical voice in the pro-democracy movement in Nigeria and, a well-known defender of justice, fairness and equity in the polity. His critical interventions have been brought to bear on national discourse through his roles as the National Publicity Secretary of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, and later the Save Nigeria Group (SNG).
His passion for a new Nigeria built on the foundation of justice, equity and good governance was expected to find expression in the campaign of General Buhari who was at the head of the movement for change in Nigeria in 2011 through the ballot box.
Freelanews was reliably informed that a delegation of Yoruba leaders were on their way to the residence of Afenifere leader, Ayo Adebanjo, to break the news to him.
Odunmakin is survived by his wife and lovely kids.
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