Abimbola Abatta, Osogbo
A dark cloud seemed to have permeated the atmosphere in Osun State, on Friday as family, friends, and colleagues gathered to receive the remains of the late human rights activist, Yinka Odumakin.
Odumakin whose death has been received by all and sundry with feelings of sadness mixed with sobriety died on the 3rd of April, 2021 at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.
Until his death, he was the national publicity secretary of Afenifere, a Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group.
On Friday, Osun Government delegation led by the Chief of Staff to Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, Dr. Charles Akinola, received the late Yinka Odumakin’s corpse.
The corpse arrived Asejire, Osun-Oyo boundary around 2:30 pm for onward transportation to Moro, the late activist’s hometown.
Having received the corpse, the envoy moved to Moro in Ife-North Local Government Area of the state for other rites.
While receiving the corpse, the Chief of Staff described him as one of the finest human rights leaders whose loss is a great one to Nigeria.
Noting that Odumakin was not just a nationalist but also the finest Yoruba nationalist, Akinọla said, “Mournfully and painfully, our brother an illustrious son of Osun, one of one finest, Yinka Odumakin. His loss is a great loss to the nation generally.
“The Governor has asked us to receive him into the state and escort his body to his final resting place. Odumakin was not just a leader of conscience, he was one of the finest human right leaders.”
On her part, the late activist’s wife, Joe Okei-Odumakin described the deceased as her friend, husband and soulmate.
In her words, “Here is Yinka’s corpse, he was my friend, Comrade, my soulmate and husband. In fact a part of means a part of him I owed. If I come back to this world over and over, I will get married to him.
“We are grateful to the state of Osun, for the great reception at this sober moment. When a spokesperson stops speaking, you know how heavy it is, but our consolation is that Yinka’s ideals and legacies will continue to live forever. Yinka is not dead; he lives in our consciousness.”
Members of the Coalition of Osun Civil Societies were seen paying homage, through songs and panegyrics, to the late Odumakin who was one of their own before he died.