L-R: Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; mother of the deceased, Mama Grace Famuagun; Chairman, Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Chief Bisi Akande; National Leader, ACN, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; father of the late deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Chief Festus Famuagun; and Sen. Babafemi Ojudu, during a Condolence visit to by the ACN leaders to the Famuaguns, in Ado-Ekiti.
National leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria and former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the party’s national Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, former Military Administrators of Ogun, Ondo and Ekiti States, Real Admirals Joseph Olasehinde, Abiodun Olukoya, Commodore Kayode Olofinmoyin and Navy Captain Atanda Yussuf stormed Ado Ekiti at the weekend to commiserate with Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi on the death of his Deputy, Mrs Funmi Olayinka.
Also the Lagos State former Commissioner for Special Duties, Chief Teju Philips has led some members of the Board of Keystone Bank to condole with the Governor.
Speaking on the demise of Mrs Olayinka, Tinubu described the loss as a devastating one, adding that she lived beyond a mere politician to a close family member who cannot “be replaced in our heart”.
The ACN leader said Mrs Olayinka demonstrated so much commitment and hard work that made her a model for what a Deputy Governor should be and her support to the Governor had culminated in the rapid transformation of Ekiti State.
The former Lagos State Governor who added that the late Deputy Governor had written an indelible chapter in the history of Ekiti State, urged Governor Fayemi not to be distracted from pursuing the transformational agenda that has given the State a new face; saying that this is the best way to immortalise her.
“We are here to condole with the entire Ekiti people not only the Governor who had demonstrated great leadership quality and equally partnered well with the late Deputy Governor particularly the First Lady of the State for such a devastating loss of a good partner that had been a model to the rest of the country.
“The late Deputy lived was a very devoted and highly committed team player. We have no choice but take solace in the belief that she had gone to rest and would ensure that the government of Ekiti State and all of us in our party together see that she is immortalised. We are very sad but that is the mystery of the Almighty God”, Tinubu said.
In his remarks, Chief Akande extolled the virtues of hard work and sacrifice which made Olayinka stand out among other deputies; saying that the late Deputy Governor had six months ago attended a function abroad without any sign of the ailment and never shirked in discharging her duties during the period.
Akande lauded Olayinka for having lived a fulfilled life and never disappointed Ekiti State or her family in her life as a banker, politician and public servant.
The duo of Tinubu and Akande were accompanied by Governor Fayemi, Senator Babafemi Ojudu and the Speaker of the State Assembly, Dr Adewale Omirin to pay a condolence visit to the deceased’s parents, Pa and Madam Famuagun, as well as the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe.
Also four former military administrators- Oladehinde, Olukoya, Olofinmoyin and Yussuff, who visited the Governor, described the impact made by the late Deputy Governor as remarkable; saying that having read various comments by Governor Fayemi on the roles played by the late Olayinka, they could only say that the State had lost a rare gem.
The former Military Administrators said the transformation that the State had experienced under Fayemi and Olayinka are amazing. They urged the Governor to forge ahead with the transformational agenda of the administration and ensure it is actualised.
Last modified: April 19, 2013