Afenifere leader Pa Ayo Adebanjo has mourned spokesman of the Pan-Yoruba organisation, Yinka Odumakin, who was laid to rest in Moro, his country home on Saturday.
A grieved Adebanjo lamented Odumakin left him behind at a time his services were most needed by the Yoruba race.
Paying tributes to the deceased, Adebanjo said: “It is so painful that I am paying tribute to my grandson. It is against the culture of Yoruba land. Instead of him paying tribute to me I am paying tribute to him.
“Who am I to question God? God is powerful. How can He leave a man of 93 and take a man of 54? God does His work the way He likes, He knows why and how He will comfort us.
“Yinka spoke truth to power. He did great works for Yoruba land, progressives and Nigeria. He was a rare gem not common among this generation.
“Yinka was consistent in fighting for the underdog, against injustice… Yinka was an Awo to the core.”
He added: “Afenifere is mourning a tireless fighter for human rights. He worked without receiving the reward. Yinka is gone but Afenifere will consistently be with his children.
“The prayer for Afenifere now is that God should quickly give us replacement particularly at this time when the country is burning. What he stands for was daring, he speaks truth to power that be.
“I enjoin our leaders to fight against colonial imperialism. I salute Yinka for always fighting against Fulani imperialism. Call a spade a spade, a feudalist is a feudalist. We are suffering in this country.
“Don’t let anybody say we are fighting for secession, we are people that are calling for restructuring to consolidate Nigeria Unity.
“To prevent secession, the President must restructure the country else the system will produce more of Sunday Igboho, Nnamdi Kanu and others.”
The Nation
