Ekiti Obas Commiserate With Governor Fayemi

L-R: Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Chairman, State's Council of Obas and Owa Ooye of Okemesi, Oba Gbadebo Adedeji; Alaaye of Efon, Oba Emmanuel Aladejare; Alara of Aramoko, Oba Olu Adeyemo; and Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti, Oba Ajibade Alabi, during a Condolence visit to the Governor over the demise of late Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka, in Ado Ekiti.

Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers has urged the state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi to ensure that the vision for the development of the state, jointly conceived with his late deputy, Mrs. Funmilayo Adunni Olayinka, are actualised as a befitting memorial for her contributions to the development of the state.

The Traditional Rulers, led by its Chairman, the Owa Ooye of Okemesi, Oba Micheal Adedeji Gbadebo, gave the charge during their condolence visit to Governor Fayemi at the Government House, Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday.

The late deputy Governor superintended over the state ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs, among other assignments.

The Owa Ooye who spoke on behalf of the traditional rulers noted that the Deputy Governor’s death was a great loss, not only to Governor Fayemi, but also to the entire people of Ekiti and Nigeria as a whole “because of her rare virtues of forthrightness and loyalty”

He said one the ways to immortalize Mrs. Funmi Olayinka is for the Governor to ensure  total implementation of the 8- Points Agenda of the administration which, according to them,   was geared towards the overall development of the state and which the duo were implementing together before her demise last weekend.

The traditional rulers who pledged their continual support and cooperation for the administration of Governor Fayemi in his giant strides to transform Ekiti State prayed God to console the Governor, her aged parents, her family as well as the entire people of Ekiti, while admonishing the Governor to take solace in God and pray for the courage to bear the shock t of his deputy’s death.

In his response, Governor Fayemi thanked the traditional rulers for their condolence visit and for identifying with him and the administration in a trying and challenging time like this.

Extolling the virtues of Mrs. Olayinka, Governor Fayemi described her as a great source of encouragement  and a strong pillar of  his administration, adding that there was no reason whatsoever to challenge her integrity and loyalty throughout the time they worked together.

The Governor said the death of his deputy could be likened to the plight of a pilot who loses his co-pilot mid air. “It is a lot of challenge”, he added.

According to Governor Fayemi, it is like losing one’s co-pilot mid air and that could be quite challenging. “If you are lucky and do the right things you would land well.

He assured that the administration would do everything to ensure that the vision of a greater Ekiti which the late Mrs Olayinka believed so much in is realised. “We will make her happy by ensuring that her dreams for better and more prosperous Ekiti are realised.”, he added.

In a related development, the Oyo State Deputy Governor, Chief Moses Alake has described the death of his Ekiti State counterpart, Mrs. Funmi Olayinka as a great loss to the entire nation, particularly the political class which she had positively imparted since her entrance into politics.

Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo made this comment during his condolence visit to Ekiti State to commiserate with Governor Kayode Fayemi and the entire people of Ekiti over the death of the Deputy Governor.

He described late Mrs. Olayinka as a very amiable, hard working and courageous woman whose virtues of loyalty and frankness are worthy of emulation.

Chief Alake who was received by the Wife of the Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, at the Government House expressed his sadness that the protracted battle she had with cancer resisted all medications and ultimately claimed her life urged the parents, family, the government and the entire people of Ekiti to take solace in God as it is only God who gives life has power over life and death.

More citizens of the state and groups from within and outside the state continue to commiserate with the governor. |They include the representatives of retired Permanent Secretaries, former local government chairmen and secretaries, members of  State House of Assembly, ACN elders and Ekiti Elders.

Last modified: April 9, 2013