The Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, and top dignitaries including Governors Gboyega Oyetola (Osun), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) and Seyi Makinde (Oyo) as well as the leader of the Afenifere Yoruba group Pa. Ayo Adebanjo, among other dignitaries have extolled the virtues of the late Yinka Odumakin.
The Message International gathered that the Ooni while extolling the virtues of the late Odumakin whose remains were laid to rest on Saturday in Moro, his country home, said even in death, the late Odumakin would remain an unforgettable nationalist.
Represented by Sooko Kemade Elugbaju, the Ooni said, “but for us in IFE kingdom , your birthplace and ancestral your home, we will rather celebrate an icon graciously given to us by Olodumare. You are not dead because you can not be dead in our hearts.
“You were not only a worthy son of the House of Oduduwa. You lived Oduduwa land. You breath Oduduwa. You worked tirelessly for Oduduwa. Your insightfully penetrative perspective on Yoruba cause is uncommon. Neither is your incisively biting criticism of our steps, delivered impassionately.
“As the current occupier of the throne of Oduduwa, I can not forget the many visits you made to your birthplace during which you were always at the Palace of Oonirisa. On one of the such visits recently, I raised concern about your health. I suggested a prayer visit to the hallowed chamber of the spirits of our ancestors. You agreed. I was elated that indeed the end of your medical challenge was near. But alas! Instead of praying for yourself and particularly the restoration of your health you shocked me when you started praying for Yorubaland instead.
“Emotion overwhelmed me as you stepped out of the spiritual cave. I felt like shredding your apparels. I almost bit you, even used my nails on your body, I wondered what manner of a man would cede his once in a lifetime chance with the spirits of our ancestors and Olodumare;owners of land , sea, air, space and heavens- to his race.
“Then, that was Olayinka Odumakin, a gift to us in Moro, the calmly rustic community in the northern fringes of Ile-Ife.
“Our people across Oduduwa land can not appreciate you enough. As a token from the House of Oduduwa, I have completed all prescribed protocol for the renaming of Ife-Moro road after you. It is now to be known officially as Olayinka Odumakin Boulevard. Similarly an ultra modern garden has been named in your honour in my privately owned Students Village in Obafemi Awolowo University where a dignified bronze bust will be unveiled in your eternal honor.”
Equally, the Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola who said that with the passing of Yinka Odumakin, Nigeria and Osun, has lost a fearless fighter and a crusader of a new Nigeria, 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.
Addressing the people at the funeral service organised in honour of the deceased, Governor Oyetola 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.”
Speaking, Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, lauded the uncommon virtues of the deceased, and described him as an un-apologetic leader to Yoruba nation’s agenda.
“Odumakin was unapologetic to Yoruba nation’s agenda and he was not a secessionist. He always cleared the path to progress, he made great impact towards the progress and development of our country. Yinka’s departure has given a great legacy, the legacy of speaking truth and legacy of unrelenting campaign for the restructuring of our country.
“As we all know, this country needs rescue from the evil merchants who want to drag it down. That is what our brother, the late Odumakin stood for all his life right from his days at the University of Ifes now Obafemi Awolowo University.
“We must not succumb to the merchant of division, we must not succumb to the merchant of secession and all calculated to bring this country down, that is all we can do to keep the memory of Odumakin.
“On behalf of our Chairman, Southwest Governors Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who would have loved to be here, and the entire Governors, I affirm that we will continue to pursue the courage of conviction, the determination not to give up, the pursuit of restructuring and all that Yinka stood for until we have a new Nigeria,” Fayemi added.
Also, Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde, eulogised the courageous life lived by the deceased which according to him had paved the way for the emancipation of truthfulness, equity and justice in the human race.
Makinde said, “A life lived with integrity, commitment to one’s ideals, even if such life is without fortune or fame, it will be a shinning star to light the path of others that are coming behind, and that is what the deceased–Yinka Odumakin — did for this generation.
“The ideals he lived for, the ideal to a new course, the struggle will forever be the shinning star to light the path for us until will get the type of country that we deserve, and that himself and other comrades laboured for. He had done his own work for the rest of us to continue from it.”
Also, leader, Afenifere Yoruba group, 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.
In her remarks, the wife of the deceased, Dr. Joe Odumakin, thanked everyone for the uncommon support.
The interment was coordinated by the President of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria(PFN) Bishop Francis Wale Oke.
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.
Credit: Eyewitness Media
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