By Ihechi Enyinnaya
The Secretary-General of Afenifere, Basorun Sehinde Arogbofa has described the death of the spokesperson of the group, Yinka Odumakin as a terrible blow to the country and the group.
Arogbofa who reacted 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
Odumakin died in the wee hours of Saturday as a result COVID-19 related ailment at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) in Ikeja, Lagos.
In a statement personally signed by Okei-Odumakin on Saturday titled ‘A Part of Me is Gone’ hours after the news of her husband’s death became public, she said her late husband died at the intensive care unit of LASUTH where he was being managed for respiratory issues due to complications from COVID-19, which he had recovered from.
“With gratitude to the Supreme Being for a life well spent, I announce the passing on of my beloved husband, Comrade Yinka Odumakin to the great beyond after a brief illness.
“The sad event happened this morning (Saturday, 3/4/2021) at the intensive care unit of LASUTH where he was being managed for respiratory issues due to complications from COVID-19 which he had recovered from about a week ago.
“I appreciate the outpouring of grief and sympathy from home and abroad as I mourn my irreplaceable soulmate. I urge us all to remain steadfast in the cause of the masses to which he dedicated his life,” she said.
Okei-Odumakin added that Odumakin’s burial arrangement will be made public in due course.
On his part Minister of State for Labour, Festus Keyamo in a tweet on Saturday said Yinka’s death was a personal loss to him.
Reacting, Keyamo said, ”Yinka’s death is a personal loss to me. Himself & the wife, Joe, have been my long-time friends & allies. I knew them separately before they met & got married.
”I just called the wife’s line and they’re still at the hospital. My deepest condolences to Josephine and the Odumakin family.”