Afenifere, the Yoruba socio-cultural group has described the death of its spokesman, Yinka Odumakin as a terrible blow to the group and the country as a whole just as the coalition of pro-democracy group have declared a seven-day mourning over the death.
The Secretary-General of Afenifere, Basorun Sehinde Arogbofa, speaking on Saturday in Akure said:
“It’s a terrible blow. A terrible blow to me as a person because we’ve been so intimate.
“He’s been my right-hand man in Afenifere management. It’s terrible. Yinka should not have gone at this time. “It’s a terrible blow to Afenifere and Nigeria. “We’ve lost a brilliant chap with intelligent and brilliant ideas. This is sad, very sad. “What a pity. I pity his wife Joe
Also, Convener of the June 12 Pro Democracy Movement of Nigeria, Olawale Okunniyi, has announced a seven-day mourning by pro-democracy activists over the loss of Odumakin.
Okunniyi, in a virtual address to Leaders of the June 12 Movement Saturday morning said Odumakin was one the fiercest and most prolific comrades of the Pro Democracy Movement in Nigeria, who spent most of his adult life fighting the cause of a just and equitable Nigeria and therefore deserved to be immortalized by the Pro Democracy Movement.
In a statement issued on Saturday by Obafemi Olubori, media assistant to the June 12 Pro-Democracy Movement of Nigeria, Okunniyi was quoted as follows:
“Odumakin and others in the National Conscience Party, (NCP) led by Chief Gani Fawehinmi of blessed memory teamed up with the Campaign for Democracy (CD) led by Dr. Beko Ransome Kuti in the 90s to flush the military out of power. As fate would have it he met his … greatest supporter, Joe Okei in the cause of that struggle, which led to the restoration of the present Democratic rule in Nigeria”
Okunniyi said the Movement shall open condolence registers in its offices in Abuja and Lagos and shall expect Nigerian pro- democracy activists to wear a spot of black in their outfit during the seven days period, which commences on Tuesday, 6th April to Monday, 12th April, 2021.
The group commiserated with the Odumakin family, especially his wife, Joe Okei-Odumakin, whom he called the pride of the civil society struggle and the pan Yoruba organization, Afenifere, which Odumakin served till his death praying that God grant them the grace to bear the irreparable loss.
