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The Governor said Odumakin during his lifetime, did his best through several struggles and interventions to make Nigeria a better country and therefore urged people to stand firm and ensure that the legacy of the late Afenifere spokesman is built upon.

Odumakin, a renowned human rights activist, died on Friday April 2 at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) at the age of 54 years.

Speaking during a condolence visit to the family at the deceased’s residence in Omole, Ikeja, Sanwo-Olu described the late Afenifere spokesman as “one of the strongest, detribalised, action packed, full of life, true Nigerians of our time.”

The Governor assured the widow of the deceased, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin that Lagos State will not leave her alone. “We will not leave you alone. We will ensure that even when the crowd disappears, we will be there for you,” he promised.

He said “I am here to pay my condolences on behalf of my government and the entire people of Lagos State for the painful loss of one of the strongest, detribalised, action packed, full of life, true Nigerians of our time, late Comrade Yinka Odumakin.

“Our friend and brother lived a good life. He lived a fighter; he died a fighter. The civil society stakeholders in Lagos and Nigeria have indeed lost a big member of that community and indeed the entire nation because of what he stood for and fought for. If we begin to take him as a Yoruba man, we will be reducing him and what he stood for in this country.

“Wherever Yinka is right now, his wish would be that we will make this country better than how he left it and that is a commitment we are going to leave with you that we will do it to ensure that what he stood for, the legacy he worked for does not go into waste.”

In her response, Dr. Okei-Odumakin appreciated the Lagos State Government for the condolence visit.

She said several tributes and comments about the deceased will energise her to do more in pursuing what Yinka Odumakin stood for, adding that the ideals of her husband will continue to live forever.

“Yinka was selfless. Before he went to hospital, he still told me about four programmes that he would have. He told me how he would leave for Ilorin the next day and later to Ekiti, the third day he would be back to Ibadan for his programme. He said he would be at Ife on Friday, he would be at Ikenne and Sunday, he would return to Lagos. He was so selfless and he had faced all sorts of medical problems and still came out strong. One did not know that this would be goodnight.

“One consolation is that Yinka is not dead; he lives because he will continue to live in the consciousness of the people. And to live in the consciousness of the people is to live forever. What Yinka will want to see is for us to remain focused and committed. Some of the things he could not achieve like restructuring of Nigeria and a lot of things that he could not do, he will be happy if he sees us doing a lot more better. Yinka lives on.”

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She said she wished her husband could hear what those he criticised were saying about him.

Joe spoke to at her residence on Kayode Alli Street, Omole Phase 1 Estate, Lagos.

Yinka, a vocal activist and columnist, died at LASUTH on Saturday from COVID-19 complications.

His wife said that he was recovering and had asked for his phones and gadgets before he relapsed and died. “It all started on March 8 when he said he had a series of meetings and appointments to make. But he went to see his physiotherapist and discovered that his oxygen level had dropped.

“After the doctor attended to him, it was discovered that he had COVID-19 and was transferred to the isolation centre at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.

“The next day, his oxygen level dropped a bit more and we had to move to the Mainland General Hospital, Yaba. He was put on a ventilator at the hospital. After a few days, he tested negative.

“So, he was moved to the LASUTH Intensive Care Unit. While at the ICU, his kidney, liver and other body parts were okay. The issue was respiratory; he had problems with breathing, which they said was due to his lungs which were affected in the aftermath of the infection.

“I did not share these details because I wanted him to tell the story of his survival, which would have been sweeter, and I was looking forward to that. I never believed that he would die. It’s so difficult for me to use past tense for him after being together for 24 years.

“All of a sudden, I got the news from someone in the US (who sent a WhatsApp message) and I thought that the person did not know what he was saying because I was looking forward to reuniting with him. He (Yinka) had also asked after his son after he regained consciousness. He told me that the first thing he wanted immediately he came out was his Ipad and two phones, and I had them in the vehicle. When I heard that the worst had happened, I was in shock.

“The people with me were telling me that I should not go to see his body, but I refused. I moved in and saw his face was covered; I removed the cloth. I was given gloves. I started saying a lot of things to him, but he did not respond. That was when I knew that comrade was gone.”

President Muhammadu Buhari and a former Lagos governor, Bola Tinubu, who had been criticised by the late Yinka, were among dignitaries who paid tributes to his memory.

Joe said she wished her husband was alive to read what they said about him. “It would have been soothing if Yinka was around to see this. At times, we need to celebrate people when they are around; even if they will critique what we have to say and refer to what they had written and said about us. People are following the trend of events and they will be the best judge,” she added.

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The national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka will be joining the Lagos State helmsman and his deputy at the event which will hold via Zoom at 12 pm.

The Special Adviser to the President on Political matters, Babafemi Ojudu; former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in the state, Chief Dele Alake; publisher of Ovation international magazine, Bashorun Dele Momodu, and daughter of Chief MKO Abiola, Dr Hafsat Abiola-Costello and Cherie Blair, wife of former UK Prime Minister will be among the personalities lined up to mentor the youths and explain how they contributed immensely to the democratic system the country enjoys today.

At the event themed: June 12: Learning from the Past, Shaping the Future, Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu and others including Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, Ms Yemi Adamolekun, and Seun Onigbinde, will recount the events leading to the cancellation of the June 12, 1993 election, their efforts in the fight against the draconian military rule and what the country needs to do to ensure the contributions made by several Nigerians for the enthronement of democracy in the country, are not in vain.

They will also explain why June 12 was deservedly declared a public holiday by the Federal Government in honour of late Chief Moshood Abiola, who won the June 12, 1993 election that was annulled by the Ibrahim Babangida-led military government.

Governor Sanwo-Olu will explain to the youths how his administration has ensured that none of the citizens’ rights have been trampled upon in the last one year, the work done daily to ensure residents of Lagos get the dividends of democracy they agitated for while marching on the streets to demand for the return of civilian government over 20 years ago.

Sanwo-Olu and his deputy will at the event inform the youths how they had been preparing themselves for leadership before assuming office last year.

The participants at the virtual event will be given the opportunity to make their contributions and ask the speakers questions.

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Odumakin, who said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos, said the bill had the potential of permanently gagging the freedom of the press in the country.

“Let it be noted that many of us are strongly against every person or group who disseminates fake news.

“But the fact remains that Nigeria already has enough laws to deal appropriately with anyone culpable of committing such offences.

“One significant reactionary element of the proposed legislation is the attempt to create an agency for prosecuting alleged offenders, which in my view is insensitive.

“I therefore think the proponents of this bill should immediately have a rethink,” she said.

NAN reports that reaction have continued to trail the Senate reintroduced bill that seeks to penalise persons found guilty of hate speech.

The Deputy Chief Whip, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, had on Tuesday, Nov. 5, sponsored the National Commission for the Prohibition of Hate Speech Bill.

It prescribes death penalty for anyone found guilty of spreading falsehood that leads to the death of another person.

The bill also seeks the establishment of a National Commission for the Prohibition of Hate Speech to help investigate and prosecute offenders.

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“We couldn’t have possibly made a better choice than Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin considering her pedigree as a change agent and the theme of the Lecture, which is focused on generating creative ideas to take Nigeria out of the woods,” ,” News Express Publisher Isaac Umunna said Monday in a statement.

He described, Dr. Okei-Odumakin, who is the president of the rights groups Women Arise for Change Initiative and the Campaign for Democracy, as one of the most awarded Nigerians alive.

“Dr. Joe, as she is fondly called, is a Change Agent who has frequently been arrested for her activism, and was detained 17 times during the Ibrahim Babangida military era. She has been involved with over 2,000 cases where a woman’s rights had been disregarded.

In 2013, Dr. Joe was presented an International Women of Courage Award from the United States Department of State. The award was presented to her by the First Lady Michelle Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry at the US State Department’s Dean Acheson Auditorium in celebration of International Women’s Day,” Umunna said.

He announced Helen Odeleye, a veteran broadcast and immediate past General Manager of NTA Channel 10 Lagos, as Host of the Lecture.

Umunna said that former Governor of Anambra State and Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2019 polls, Mr. Peter Obi, will headline the 7th News Express Anniversary Lecture as the Special Guest of Honour and Guest Speaker at

He announced the keynote speakers to include Eminent Lawyer and celebrated Activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN; and Legal cum Development Expert, Barrister Bashir Maidugu, a former National Legal Adviser of PDP.

“As was the case with previous years’ editions, the 7th News Express Anniversary Lecture will attract top government functionaries, industry and religious leaders, professional groups and diverse sectorial leaders, among others. It is a spectacular programme that commands public attention with organisers creating hype pre-event, during and post events both in the traditional and new media. It will also be streamed live to a global audience and broadcast on News Express Digital TV,” Umunna said.

The statement identified past speakers at the News Express Anniversary Lecture to include Special Adviser To The President On Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina; Governor Sani Bello of Niger State, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Managing Director Hadiza Bala Usman; and ‘Africa’s Bill Gates’, Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman of Zinox Technologies Ltd and Konga.

News Express, which debuted on August 29, 2012, is one of Nigeria’s most popular and influential online dailies. It is read by hundreds of thousands of people around the world and records annual traffic of upwards of 100 million.

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Okei-Odumakin who made the appeal in an interview with the News agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said that the composition of the 9th Assembly showed that women were unjustly treated by political parties in their choice of candidates.

“Like we have always demanded, Nigerian women must be considered for at least 35 per cent representation in government.

“If we look at the present composition of the National Assembly, you will realise that the women folk have been unjustly treated from the choice of candidates by political parties.

“Subsequently, election of leaders of both chambers of the assembly did not reflect any form of women representation; therefore, President Muhammadu Buhari should consider bringing, as much as possible, competent women to occupy key positions in government as he forms his next cabinet,” she said.

The rights campaigner said that it would be commendable to have more women in the forefront of politics and governance.

According to her, women are change agents and will help to drive sustainable socio-economic development.

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Okei-Odumakin made the call in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, soon after the shift was announced.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), hours earlier, announced the shift of the Feb. 16 Presidential and National Assembly elections to Feb. 23.

The Governorship and State House of Assembly as well as FCT area council elections have also been shifted from March 2 to March 9.

INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, at a press briefing, attributed the postponement of all the scheduled elections to logistic and operational problems.

Okei-Odumakin said: “While there is no doubt about the anxiousness of Nigerians, to participate in the 2019 General elections, it is wise to sound it that there can be no election, under an atmosphere of suspicion and hostilities.

“It is my hope that we shall sustain the atmosphere of peace and orderliness that we have witnessed over the past few days, while we all struggle to make our impact, irresistible, for the progress of our democracy.

“All Nigerians must remain steadfast, as we support INEC’s efforts and ensure that Nigerians are allowed to vote and determine, who they deserve as their leaders,” Okei-Odumakin said

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Odumakin also said that Senate was right in trying to make the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to announce the results of the 1993 election and declare Abiola and Babagana Kingibe president and vice-president respectively.

President Buhari on Wednesday declared that June 12 will henceforth be celebrated as Democracy Day and also conferred a posthumous national honour of GCFR on the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993, Presidential election, MKO Abiola.

He had added that Abiola’s running mate in the election, Kingibe, and late human rights lawyer, Gani Fayehinmi (SAN), would be vested with Grand Commander of the Niger (GCON).

While backing the declaration of June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day, some Senators urged Buhari to take a step further by making the date a national holiday.

They also urged the president to order the INEC to announce the results of the election, declare Abiola and Kingibe president and vice-president respectively, and approve the entitlements due to them.

Reacting to the Senate’s call, Okei-Odumakin said that the official release of the results would clear the air on Abiola’s victory, saying that no one henceforth will call Abiola the “presumed ” winner of that election again.

“Our attention has been drawn to the resolution by the Senate calling on the INEC to officially declare the results of June 12, 1993 elections.

“This is an encouraging decision and the natural sequence having declared June 12 Democracy Day and putting due recognition for Abiola. The official release of the results will clear the air on Abiola’s victory.

“We also demand that Abiola should thereafter be declared an elected President of Nigeria with all posthumous recognition. The appeasement of his spirit will be complete with this,” she said.

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Governor Ambode, who spoke at the May Day Rally, held at the Agege Stadium, Lagos, while attributing the industrial harmony and peace in the State to the maturity and responsibility of the labour unions, applauded them for adopting alternative dispute resolution mechanisms rather than resort to industrial actions.

“It is on record that we have never, since the inception of this administration, had any dispute with the organized labour and I will be the first to admit that the Labour Unions in Lagos State have been most responsible and while, at the same time, being dogged in their advocacy for the promotion of the interests of workers in Lagos State, both in the public and private sector groups.

“In proof of the maturity and responsibility of the labour unions in our State, the organised labour has consistently met with members of our administration under different fora designed to identify and address possible areas of tension and disagreement before they fester into open conflicts. This approach has resulted in an unprecedented three-year period of uninterrupted industrial harmony and peace in Lagos State. For this, I most sincerely commend the labour unions in Lagos State,” he said.

The Governor, who said he was elated to join the workers to commemorate their day, seized the occasion to reaffirm his administration’s commitment to continue to prioritise their welfare and well being for the continuous growth and development of the State.

He said it was not in doubt that the developmental strides his administration had recorded since May 29, 2015 was due to the hard work, understanding and cooperation of workers both in the public and private sectors in the State.

“Our administration remains passionate and committed to handling and resolving all issues affecting the welfare, service entitlements, and infrastructural development for all workers in the State.

“It is on record that we have never defaulted in meeting our commitment to workers under the Contributory Pension Scheme and have always prioritised the payment of workers’ salaries and emoluments in addition to improving the welfare package of workers across the board,” Governor Ambode said.

Describing the theme of this year’s Worker’s Day Celebration, “Labour Movement in National Development: Dare to Struggle, Dare to Win” as apt and timely especially with the 2019 general elections beckoning, the Governor said it was imperative for the labour movement to see itself as a constructive partner of the government in ensuring peace and harmony in the society before, during, and after the conduct of the elections.

Governor Ambode also urged the various labour unions to show their strength and mobilise their members massively to obtain their Permanent Voters Card (PVCs) and use same during the elections to sustain the unity and progress of the nation.

Besides, the Governor assured that his administration would continue to partner with Leaders of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), adding that the requests tabled by both unions would be considered for the continuous peace, progress and prosperity, of not just all workers in Lagos State, but for all Lagosians.

He also urged organised labour to continue to be focused on realistic and reasonable goals while rightly insisting on the due and just entitlements of their members, while calling for all hands to be on deck to continue to explore innovative means to address the economic challenges in the country for the good of all Nigerian workers.

In their remarks, Chairmen of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), Lagos State Chapters, Comrades Idowu Adelakun and Francis Ogunremi commended Governor Ambode for massive infrastructural drive across the State, security of lives and property, as well as prompt and regular payment of salary among other welfare for workers in the State.

“The Governor must be commended for prompt and regular disbursement of salary to workers in Lagos State. The State Government is not indebted to her workers. Today, Lagos is a big construction site, courtesy of our progressive and development-oriented and people’s Governor.

“The NLC commends our proactive and foresighted Governor who has placed the security apparatus on red alert. The spate of operations of kidnappers has gone down considerably and Lagos has therefore become one huge secure smart city for local and international business transaction,” Adelakun said.

Ogunremi, on his part, said it was gratifying that Governor Ambode, has ensured payment of about N10billion to over 2,500 pensioners, while the present administration had equally performed creditably well in areas of road construction, security, traffic congestion, among others.

“Your Excellency, your listening hears to the concerns of workers and the Labour Centres as representatives of the workers is quite commendable. During this time last year, the two Labour Centres requested the Governor to replace the Secretariat buses for smooth running of the Unions in the State. Today, I make bold to inform that both TUC and LUC including all affiliate unions in public service have been presented operational buses,” Ogunremi said.

In her goodwill message, President of Women Arise, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin lauded Governor Ambode for concerted efforts at sustaining workers welfare and infrastructural renewal across the State.

“Comrade Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, the bulldozer of Lagos, is one of the Governors that pay salaries as at when due and he is a Governor that has carried a great revolution in terms of infrastructure.

“In the area of security, the ambience of security that we enjoy in Lagos can be seen as we even gather in a very peaceful manner. The Governor also has made it a point of duty in injecting live within the health sector,” she said.

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