Yinka Odumakin, the spokesman for the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, and a human rights activist, is dead.
He reportedly died in the early hours of Saturday, April 3, 2021, of complications from COVID-19.
Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, his wife, confirmed her husband’s death in a phone call made to her.
Wailing and saying “part of me is gone,” Okei-Odumakin, who was apparently in panic, disclosed that she was on her way to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, where the Afenifere spokesman died.
Though the details of his death were still sketchy, Reporters At Large learnt that he had been out of the public glare for some weeks, as he had been receiving treatment.
A source disclosed that he had been in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at LASUTH for the past week after being transferred from the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH), Yaba.
Odumakin had played a vital role as an activist in the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) that fought General Sani Abacha’s regime after the annulment of the June 12, 1993, election.
He had been Afenifere’s spokesman for over two decades, coordinating the group’s publicity and public relations activities.
He was also one of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum (SMBLF) spokespersons, the body representing ethnic nationalities in the South-West, South-South, South-East and the Middle Belt.
Married to another activist, Dr. Okei-Odumakin, the late activist had been one of the strongest critics of the current government on Afenifere’s platform.
He had been critical of alleged partiality and favouritism in appointments into various offices by the federal government, under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.
He had also condemned, in strong terms, the activities of killer herdsmen in Yorubaland.
