Falana, SAN Mourns Yinka Odumakin, Says He Was Committed To United Nigeria In Spite Of Pressure From Separatist Groups

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Falana has mourned the
passage of late Yinka Odumakin

Yinka who until his demise was a human rights activist and a
politician died on Saturday in Lagos from Covid-19
complications.

In a statement sent to Nairalaw on Sunday titled
‘Adieu Yinka Odumakin’, Falana said, “Yinka
Odumakin was an undergraduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University
(1986-1989). He was a member of the Alliance of Progressive
Students (ALPS). Based on his defence of students’ rights Yinka was
elected the Public Relations Officer of the Students Union
(1987-88). That was the time that the Ibrahim Babangida military
junta embarked on the deradicalisation of the universities in order
to weaken the capacity of the Nigerian people to resist the
imposition of the Structural Adjustment Programme.

“During the 1988 convocation ceremony of the University the late
Vice-Admiral Patrick Koshoni who had stood proxy for the visitor
and military President, General Babangida. The students staged a
peaceful protest against the recolonization of the country by
imperialism. For leading the protest Yinka and seven of his
colleagues were expelled from the University. My principal, the
Late Comrade Also Aka-Bashorun dispatched me to Ife to challenge
the expulsion of the student activists at the Oyo State High
Court.The trial judge quashed the expulsion and ordered the
reinstatement of Yinka and his colleagues.

“When the Babangida junta annulled the results of the June 12
election won by the Late Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola, Yinka was among
the young men and women who mobilized the Nigerian people to
terminate military rule in Nigeria. A few years later, I was
surprised when Yinka informed me that he had decided to pursue the
struggle for the emancipation of the Nigerian people along ethnic
lines. Thereafter, he pitched his tent with Afenifere, a Yoruba
socio cultural group. Even though Yinka was the youngest member of
the group, he was made the spokesman. In that capacity he
effectively publicised the activities of the body and defended its
position on national issues.

“Before President Umoru Yaradua passed on in May 2010, a cabal
of power mongers had staged a coup against the Constitution. Yinka
became the Secretary of the Save Nigeria group led by Pastor Tunde
Bakare which campaigned for the inauguration of Vice President
Goodluck Jonathan as Acting President.”

Falana admitted that he and the deceased had ideological
differences but notwithstanding, they discussed state of the nation
together and he (Falana) made clarifications to the deceased on
major constitutional matters.

Falana described Yinka as a believer in national integration who
despite pressures remained committed to united Nigeria

“Notwithstanding our ideological differences Yinka consistently
called on me to discuss the state of the nation and seek
clarifications on major constitutional matters. He also referred
several cases relating to the infringement of the human rights of
the poor and vulnerable members of the society to our law for legal
redress.

“As a believer in national integration Yinka married his comrade
and girl friend, Josephine Obiajulu of the Igbo extraction. In
spite of the pressure recently mounted on him by some separatist
groups Yinka remained committed to a united Nigeria anchored on
power devolution from the centre to the other federating units.”
Falana said

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Falana has mourned the
passage of late Yinka Odumakin

Yinka who until his demise was a human rights activist and a
politician died on Saturday in Lagos from Covid-19
complications.

In a statement sent to Nairalaw on Sunday titled
‘Adieu Yinka Odumakin’, Falana said, “Yinka
Odumakin was an undergraduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University
(1986-1989). He was a member of the Alliance of Progressive
Students (ALPS). Based on his defence of students’ rights Yinka was
elected the Public Relations Officer of the Students Union
(1987-88). That was the time that the Ibrahim Babangida military
junta embarked on the deradicalisation of the universities in order
to weaken the capacity of the Nigerian people to resist the
imposition of the Structural Adjustment Programme.

“During the 1988 convocation ceremony of the University the late
Vice-Admiral Patrick Koshoni who had stood proxy for the visitor
and military President, General Babangida. The students staged a
peaceful protest against the recolonization of the country by
imperialism. For leading the protest Yinka and seven of his
colleagues were expelled from the University. My principal, the
Late Comrade Also Aka-Bashorun dispatched me to Ife to challenge
the expulsion of the student activists at the Oyo State High
Court.The trial judge quashed the expulsion and ordered the
reinstatement of Yinka and his colleagues.

“When the Babangida junta annulled the results of the June 12
election won by the Late Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola, Yinka was among
the young men and women who mobilized the Nigerian people to
terminate military rule in Nigeria. A few years later, I was
surprised when Yinka informed me that he had decided to pursue the
struggle for the emancipation of the Nigerian people along ethnic
lines. Thereafter, he pitched his tent with Afenifere, a Yoruba
socio cultural group. Even though Yinka was the youngest member of
the group, he was made the spokesman. In that capacity he
effectively publicised the activities of the body and defended its
position on national issues.

“Before President Umoru Yaradua passed on in May 2010, a cabal
of power mongers had staged a coup against the Constitution. Yinka
became the Secretary of the Save Nigeria group led by Pastor Tunde
Bakare which campaigned for the inauguration of Vice President
Goodluck Jonathan as Acting President.”

Falana admitted that he and the deceased had ideological
differences but notwithstanding, they discussed state of the nation
together and he (Falana) made clarifications to the deceased on
major constitutional matters.

Falana described Yinka as a believer in national integration who
despite pressures remained committed to united Nigeria

“Notwithstanding our ideological differences Yinka consistently
called on me to discuss the state of the nation and seek
clarifications on major constitutional matters. He also referred
several cases relating to the infringement of the human rights of
the poor and vulnerable members of the society to our law for legal
redress.

“As a believer in national integration Yinka married his comrade
and girl friend, Josephine Obiajulu of the Igbo extraction. In
spite of the pressure recently mounted on him by some separatist
groups Yinka remained committed to a united Nigeria anchored on
power devolution from the centre to the other federating units.”
Falana said