Yinka Odumakin, the Late Spokesperson and National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere has described committed Activist, who struggled against injustice right from his university days.

During the Two Year Remembrance of the Secretary of the Yoruba socio-political group, Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Constitutional Lawyer, Femi Falana said that the late Odumakin was committed to the institutionalization of democracy in the country.

He recalled how Odumakin approached his chambers to help fight for some students detained for protesting against the killing of four of their colleagues.

Speaking at the Second Year Remembrance of Odumakin held at Sheraton Hotel and Towers in Ikeja, Lagos, Falana said, “ “Yinka led some students to our chambers at Ebute Metta, the Aka-Bashorun Chambers, to ask for our intervention in respect of those students. Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, students were killed, University of Nigeria, UNN, Nsukka students were locked up, Ife students came to Lagos to mobilise lawyers. Aka-Bashorun had told me tha ‘Femi, you have to go to Nsukka’. The late Aka-Bashorun provided logistics for me to go to Nsukka and with an instruction: If those students are not released, don’t come back to Lagos,” Falana said.

He added that even after they secured the release of the students, Odumakin still ensured that their expulsion from their school was overturned through the engagement of lawyers.
Praising the deceased for fighting for justice till the time of his death, Falana said, “If you are going to investigate Yinka till eternity, you may challenge his position politically, but he can never be found wanting in terms of integrity.”

Afenifere leader, Ayo Adebanjo, said Odumakin was sorely missed by the Organization. He added that Odumakin was a fearless and courageous person who never tarnished his integrity all through his struggle, unlike the activists of today.

“Today, when you are active and relevant, people know you. But by the time you are given dollars, you change mouth. Not Yinka,” he said.

The wife, Joe Okei Odumakin, President, Oluyinka Odumakin Foundation, said her husband was heavily committed to the soil of his birth until his death.

“He never wanted an ethnic Nigerian. He wanted a restructured Nigerian. He never advocated for a break throughout his lifetime and was always willing to give everything he had for the struggle,” she said.

The event saw dignatries from all walks of life gracing the occasion and they included; former Lagos State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Jimi Agbaje; the founder of Guaranty Trust Bank, Fola Adeola; Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi; a former Commissioner for Finance in Oyo State, Zacchaeu Adelabu, among others.

It would be recalled that Six months after the demise of Odumakin, his activist wife, gave birth to twins- a boy and a girl in the United States of America, 18 Years after having their second Son.