Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti on Sunday declared a seven-day mourning for his Deputy, late Mrs Funmilayo Olayinka, who died on Saturday.
Fayemi, in a statewide broadcast to the people, also announced the immediate suspension of all government activities during the period of mourning.
The governor said that he was pained by her death.
According to him, all national and cooperate flags in public establishments will be flown at half mast, while his government will liaise with her family to organise a befitting burial for her.
He said he had ordered that a condolence registers be opened in his office, deputy governor’s office, Ekiti House of Assembly, the state liaison offices in Lagos and Abuja.
“The late deputy governor is my dependable partner and a virtuous woman whose ingenuity, indeed, contributes immensely to success so far recorded by the present government.
“I am particularly sad that apart from serving Ekiti meritoriously, she was also my wife’s best friend who assisted greatly and stood by me while I was in court to reclaim my mandate,” he said.
In a related development, the younger sister to Olayinka, Mrs Fehintola Tade-Adekunle, said, “ I saw her a week ago and she was still her courageous self’’.
Tade-Adekunle said that the late deputy governor remained the loving and caring sister they knew even after getting to her position.
According to her, the late Olayinka is so committed to the family that she never missed anyone’s birthday.
“We are all so close and she is the first of the six girls in the family, we all became inseparable that no one can tell we are from a polygamous home.
A former President of NAWOJ and the late deputy governor’s childhood friend, Mrs Toro Oladapo, said: “I give God the glory that I saw her 2 hours before she died.
“Her death was traumatic, I wanted her to go and rest in peace. We grew up together and remained close till the last moment. I still wonder what life will be without her,’’ Oladapo said.
Meanwhile, eminent Nigerians have continued to commiserate with the family.
Sympathizers her residence in Lagos, include a former governor of Ogun, Chief Segun Osoba and a former chairman of Nigeria Bar Association, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu.
Others are, Sen. Olorunimbe Mamora, Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Tunji Bello and House of Representative member from Ekiti, Mr Opeyemi Bamidele, among others.