THE 81 years old Mrs. Adetutu Grace Famuagun, mother of the late
Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Mrs Funmi Olayinka, yesterday, wept
uncontrollably and repeatedly asked Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti
State, the whereabout of her daughter.
Fayemi, who was at the Famuwagun’s family house, Oke Ori-Omi, where
the parents of Mrs. Olayinka live in Ado Ekiti, at 10am, alongside his
wife, Bisi and other top government functionaries, could not hide his
emotion when the octogenarian mother kept asking “Kayode, where is
Funmi?” repeatedly.
In a statement, Governor Fayemi said all his engagements, including
the symposium organised for the youths at Ikogosi Ekiti are cancelled.
Equally, the state has suspended all official ceremonies and opened
condolence register in the office of the governor and the office of the
deputy, including the state’s liaison office in Lagos and Abuja.
Already Governor Fayemi has declared a seven-day mourning during which all flags in the state will fly at half mast.
This came as Senate President David Mark, former Vice President Atiku
Abubakar, Professor Wole Soyinka, state governors, senators and other
prominent Nigerians continued to pay glowing tributes to Mrs. Olayinka,
52 and mother of three, who died in a Lagos hospital on Saturday after a
long battle with cancer.
Condolences
Meanwhile, Senate President, David Mark, urged the Ekiti State
government to immortalise late Olayinka in recognition of her
contribution to the development of the state.
*CONDOLENCE
– Mother of late Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Mrs. Adetutu Famuagun;
flanked by Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi (Right); and his
wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, during a condolence visit to the Famuaguns over
the demise of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka, in
Ado-Ekiti, Sunday.
In a condolence message through his Special Adviser, Media and
Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, Mark described the late deputy governor
as an indomitable amazon, who stood to be counted when it mattered,
stressing that her death was a huge loss to the nation.
Also former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in a statement said the
death of Mrs. Olayinka at such time when Ekiti State needed her services
the most was most unfortunate.
Atiku Abubakar appealed to Governor Fayemi to accept the death of his
deputy governor as an act of God, saying “the death of the Ekiti State
deputy governor is not only a loss to Ekiti State, but to Nigeria
because she was a faithful and committed compatriot.”
Governors
In Ondo State, Governor Olusegun Mimiko, through a statement by Eni
Akinsola, his Chief Press Secretary, said the death of such a young,
lively and active leader could not but evoke deep feeling of loss and
sadness.
He said: “Nigerians were well aware that she was indisposed, but were
hoping and praying that she will scale through and come out stronger
and better. We were therefore shocked to hear of her death. It is sad,
sad news.
“It evokes a deep feeling of loss and sadness. The demise of Mrs
Olayinka will be greatly felt by her husband, children, political
acolytes and indeed the good people of Ekiti State.
”Sad as it is, we cannot but thank God for her life, pray that her
soul finds repose in the Lord and seek God’s Grace and strength for the
family to bear the loss.”
On his part, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, described the
death of Ekiti State Deputy Governor Ekiti as devastating and a big blow
to progressive politics in the state and Nigeria.
A statement by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy,
Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said the demise of the late
Olufunmilayo Olayinka who died of cancer had shown that government at
all levels should brace up and give the necessary attention to the
treatment and detection of cancer.
He said: “Lives of millions of women are being threatened as they
suffer under the disease of cancer without early detection and adequate
treatment. Government at all levels should rise up to the task by
subsidising the cost for testing and treatment.”
Fashola, Oshiomhole, Uduaghan others mourn
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, in a condolence message by his
Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello, described the deceased as a
great daughter of the state who made her mark professionally and then
offered to serve her people.
The governor said: “As a brother Governor, I feel completely
overwhelmed, just imagining the depth of your pain and anguish at the
death of a most loyal, dependable and diligent deputy which you had in
Mrs. Olayinka.
“When the history of the restoration of the democratic mandate freely
given by the duo of Governor Fayemi and the late Deputy Governor as
well as the back-breaking work to restore the meaningful governance to
Ekiti state comes to be written, a very glorious and general mention
would be made of the late Deputy Governor.”
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, in his condolence message,
through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Peter Okhiria, said: “We learnt
with deep shock and grief about the death of the Deputy Governor of
Ekiti State.
“Mrs Olayinka gave her all to the recovery of the mandate freely
given to the Governor and herself by the good people of Ekiti state and
she was unwavering in her quest to deepen the nation’s democracy by
going through the judicial process.”
Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, through his Press
Secretary, Mr. Felix Ofou, in a statement, said: “The Delta Governor
praised the courage and strength of the late Deputy Governor in the
battle against cancer. She worked tirelessly to please everyone until a
few weeks ago when it was announced that she was proceeding on medical
leave.
“Not once did she betray signs of being sick. May be a few persons
were aware of her health status. All we saw was a courageous and strong
woman willing to please everyone.”
On his part, Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, in a
condolence statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Christian Ita, said
although words seemed inadequate to express the sorrow felt by her loss,
”we must try to see beyond her demise and focus on the memories of her
good works and life long achievements.
“The thoughts and prayers of the people of cross River State are with
her family and people of Ekiti state during this difficult time.”
On his part, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State , through a
condolence message by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba,
described the passage of Mrs. Olayinka as a national loss as she died at
a young age with a lot of ideas, zeal and vision that could help in
shaping a better Ekiti State and the building of a virile Nigeria.
Soyinka condoles
Prof. Soyinka, in condolence message, said: “Her departure will be
felt as a great loss to your administration, to the people of Ekiti
State, but most especially to her family, to whom I request that you be
so kind as to convey my message of fortitude in the face of this
grievous bereavement.”
Senators pay tributes
Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu in a condolence message in
Abuja, through his Special Adviser, Media, Mr. Uche Anichukwu, said Mrs
Olayinka was not only a “promising female leader but a progressive and
distinguished professional who wholeheartedly dedicated herself to the
service of the good people of Ekiti and the entire nation.”
Senator Gbenga Ashafa, representing Lagos East Senatorial District,
in his brief message, expressed shock over the news of the deputy
governor’s death, who he described, as “heroine of Democracy.”
Others who paid condolences included former Governor of Abia State,
Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu; former governor of Ekiti State, Chief Segun Oni;
member, House of Representatives, representing
Ado-Ekiti/Irepodun-Ifelodun Federal Constituency, Ekiti State, Mr.
Opeyemi Bamidele; Osun State chapter of ACN and Conference of Alumni
Associations of Nigerian Universities, CAANU.
