MORE Nigerians on Sunday condoled with Gov. Kayode Fayemi, and the people of Ekiti on the demise of the state Deputy Governor, Mrs Funmilayo Olayinka.
Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, in a condolence message by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Hakeem Bello, described her death as “deeply painful’’.
Fashola said that the deceased was a thorough professional who served her people faithfully and diligently as she greatly helped to redefine good governance in the state.
He said he shared in the sorrow of Gov. Kayode Fayemi and Ekiti Action Congress of Nigeria, adding that the deceased`s loyalty and dedication would be missed by all.
“As a brother governor, I feel completely overwhelmed, just imagining the depth of your pain and anguish at the death of a most loyal, dependable and diligent deputy which you had in Olayinka,’’ he said.
Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka and former Ekiti governor, Chief Segun Oni, commiserated with the people of Ekiti on the death of the state’s deputy governor.
Though, Soyinka claimed to have met the late Olayinka only a few times, her unassuming grace, intelligence and political commitment was striking.
In his own comment, Oni described the death of the late deputy governor as a sad development to the political history of the state.
NAN reports that the people of the Sasere Compound in Ado-Ekiti, home of the late deputy governor was in a mourning mood.
When Fayemi got to the compound, the mother of the late deputy governor, Mrs Adetutu Famuagun, asked the governor if her daughter was actually dead or a rumour from political opponents.
The octogenarian mother asking repeatedly, “Kayode, where is Funmilayo, my daughter’’.
Meanwhile, Gov Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, and the state chapter of the PDP have commiserated with the government and entire people of Ekiti over the demise the state deputy governor.
Aregbesola in a statement by Mr Sefiu Okanlawon, his Media spokesman, described the death of the deputy governor as “unfortunate’’.
He said he was saddened and greatly disturbed by the news of her death, adding that the deceased was a rare gem who had proved her mettle as a banker and a politician.
Also reacting, Mr Diran Odeyemi, the PDP spokesman in Osun, expressed regrets that Olayinka died too early.
Odeyemi said the deceased would be greatly missed by all politicians irrespective of political party affiliations.