Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Leader of All Progressives Congress paid a condolence visit to Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, widow of the late spokesperson of the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere.
Tinubu had issued a statement earlier on Saturday describing the late political activist as a doughty fighter and that the story of Nigeria’s democracy will not be complete without mentioning Odumakin.
He had recalled the contribution of Odumakin to the June 12 struggle after the annulment of the election won by MKO Abiola.
The former governor in the statement titled, ‘Tinubu Condoles With the Family of Yinka Odumakin’ had said, “In the struggle against the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election and the perpetuation of military dictatorship, Odumakin was never found wanting.
“He was at the vanguard of the battle even at the risk of his life and liberty. It is impossible to credibly tell the story of the emergence of the democracy we enjoy in this dispensation today without emblazoning Odumakin’s name in gold.
“He was a doughty fighter for freedom and the rule of law. He was rock solid in his commitment to Afenifere, the Yoruba people and the several other civil society groups in which he played active roles.”
Tinubu had also described the late Afenifere Spokesman as a sincere man who always put Nigeria first despite their political differences.
“In the course of the last two and a half decades, Odumakin and I had cause to collaborate in various organisations and in pursuit of different political causes at different times and I can testify to his capacity for hard work, his brilliance, his tenacity in his loyalty to his cherished principles.
Tinubu said “even if we differed politically, I had no cause to doubt his sincerity in charting his chosen path. He will forever remain a model of what a citizen who places the good of his country above his personal interest could be,”