ForeverMissed
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This memorial website was created in memory of our loved one, Late Comrade Yinka ODUMAKIN, 54 years old, born on December 10, 1966, and passed away on April 3, 2021.
Late Publicity Secretary of Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin

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 [SAP].
During the 1988 convocation ceremony of the University, the late Vice Admiral Patrick Koshoni 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.

Late Comrade Alao Aka-Bashorun dispatched FRONTLINE  Human Right Activist Bar.Femi Falana 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.

Yinka 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 Umaru Yar’Adua 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 (SNG) led by Pastor Tunde Bakare which campaigned for the inauguration of Vice President Goodluck Jonathan as Acting President.

Yinka consistency on  the state of the nation and always seek clarifications on major constitutional matters.

He also deferred to our legal luminaries for help on 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 girlfriend, 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."
Femi Falana [SAN]

We will remember him forever.                                 

By Akin Awofolaju, PhD, CLE, CSP, CIA, CFE( Cornell), NY, USA

December 10, 2021
December 10, 2021
Wish you a post humorous birthday. You are been missed by the Yoruba people that you loved dearly before your departure. Adieu comrade. Your work still speaks volume.
April 24, 2021
April 24, 2021
I received the news of Afenifere spokesperson Comrade Yinka Odumakin’s death with a rude shock and a deep sadness. He was consistent with his belief in one peaceful Nigeria with power decentralization from the center and a strong advocate for the Regional System of government. Ife Ancient Kingdom has lost a great gem; he was a devoted civil right activist, modest, and a decent Nigerian. Despite his association with the high power of people in Nigeria, he was humble, and his focus was about downtrodden Nigerians. Rest in power, brother. Orun re, re o. {December 10, 1966-April 02, 2021}.
April 18, 2021
April 18, 2021
We will never forget his kindness. May God give him eternal rest and the family the strength to bear the great pain.
RIP
April 18, 2021
April 18, 2021
May his soul continue to rest in peace..may your struggle never goes in vain! Sun re o
April 18, 2021
April 18, 2021
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 Umaru Yar’Adua 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 (SNG) led by Pastor Tunde Bakare which campaigned for the inauguration of Vice President Goodluck Jonathan as Acting President.

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 girlfriend, 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.

Femi Falana [SAN]
April 13, 2021
April 13, 2021
Always difficult to put words together when a man of substance departs from this side of eternity suddenly. The shock throws the brain into confusion and mind fails to construct adequate words to express the pain, the shock, and the reality. That's the case with Mr Yinka Odumakin. No doubt, a prince left our midst. Adieu brother!!! Till we meet to part no more...
April 13, 2021
April 13, 2021
KA KU LOMODE KOYENI O SAN JU KADAGBA KA MA LADIYE IRANA
SUN RE O
ORE ARA ILU
IWAJU A DARA
EYIN TO FISILE A SUWON
O DIGBA.
April 10, 2021
April 10, 2021
Most sincere condolences to Yinka's family and associates.
May God grant you the fortitude to bear this....
Rest in peace Yinka Odumakin.
April 10, 2021
April 10, 2021
Akinwumi A. Adesina
@akin_adesina
I commiserate with
@DrJoeOdumakin
and family on the sudden & painful passing of her husband, Yinka Odumakin. He was a selfless defender of human rights — bold, courageous and principled. Nigeria lost another gem. May God comfort and uphold you. May his soul rest in peace.
President African Development Bank
April 10, 2021
Hummm,It is dishearning to hear about your death,it was initially unbeleivable until we heard from your wife. Bro.Yinka,you came,you saw,and you conquard withing the short period you sourjourn on heart. Yorubaland will not forget you

,Nigeria will not forget you ,black world that you represented will never forget you .

Ile Ife,the ancestral home of black people will remember you for life.
You stood with us in March 2017,when Hausa / fulani went on rampage and after the urgly event.
You mobilzed Afenifere and other Yorubas to rally round Ife,when our people were arrested and took to Abuja .you were with us ,untill our people were released unconditionally

Rest in perfect peace bro.
May Allah give your immediate family,Yoruba land and Nigeria as a whole ,the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
April 10, 2021
April 10, 2021
May your gentle soul rest in peace and console all the loved ones you left behind. Your good work will never be forgotten I remembered a zoom meeting I attended with you, you impressed us all the way you composed your self despite different questions we threw at you. All I can say is rest in perfect peace.
April 10, 2021
April 10, 2021
Yinka Odumakin, Yorubaland will remember you and your children for life. We will going to missed you and the vacuum will be so difficult to fill.
Yoruba / Oduduwa nation of our dream that you fought for all your life time will be realise by God grace.
We love you so much, but God love you more.
Yorubaland are indebted to you forever. 
SUN RE LAIYA OLODUMARE OH, ODI ARIN NAKO, ODI OJU ALA, GBOGBO OMO OODUA NSE LE DE LEHIN RE OH.
April 10, 2021
April 10, 2021
May your departed soul rest in perfect peace. Rest on in the blossom hand of your creator sir. I couldn't believe that u can quit this world now because we spoke on phone 5 weeks ago. Adieuuu sir
April 10, 2021
April 10, 2021
Whaoo. Just like yesterday when we had a summit on the nation. Now you are gone. But not gone with the project which others must continue for the sake of a better nation. Rest in peace Cmrd Yinka. A brother, friend and a nation builder. Our prayers are with Dr Joe and the family. Glorious God be with those families left behind. Amen.
April 10, 2021
April 10, 2021
Is better to live for a short while but impartful , yours was a shinning example Thank for your immense contribution.
Good night till we meet and part no more Omo moro! Omo origbo meje ile ife.
Olawale Odutoye.
April 10, 2021
April 10, 2021
"Ka ku lomode ko yeni, O San Ju ka di Agbalagba ka ma ni adiye irana"

"To die young and be so relevantly invaluable to the society is better than to live thousand of years on earth without contributing your quotas, and become irrelevant , or parasitic menance to the society you supposed to have added your ignoble values.

By Dr. Akin Awofolaju
April 10, 2021
April 10, 2021
May the soul of departed rest in perfect peace

By Hon. Abike Dabiri - Erewa

Hon Abike Dabiri Erewa , Chairman Nigerians in diaspora commission paid a condolence visit to Joe Odumakin ,the widow of late human rights activist , Mr Yinka Odumakin.
April 10, 2021
April 10, 2021
Dear Comrade Yinka,
You came, saw and conquered. Your footprints on the surface on the globe, Africa, Nigeria and most especially Yoruba Nation. Your inputs to the agitation for Yoruba Nation would propel all others to move on with the struggle for the emancipation of our dear Yoruba Nation.
May God grant your soul eternal rest.
Adieu Comrade Yinka
April 10, 2021
April 10, 2021
Yinka came. He saw. He spoke. He acted. His words and actions remain forever for the incoming generations to continue the struggle to achieve a better society and humanity.
Rest in Power, Yinka.
April 9, 2021
April 9, 2021
Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal, although it's difficult today to see beyond the sorrow, may looking back in memory of Yinka helps comfort us tomorrow.
April 9, 2021
April 9, 2021
TRIBUTE TO A TRUE COMPATRIOT COMRADE YINKA ODUMAKIN

When the news got to me on April 3rd, an odious Saturday morning, it was unbelievable and quickly dismissed. Yinka, how very quiet you tiptoed into our world silently, only a moment you stayed. But what an imprint your footprints have left upon our hearts. It was a rude shock and irreconcilable submission of faith to have learnt of your death through this ugly cold claw hands of novell pandemic - COVID-19, when albeit many that fell victims recovered with ease. Yinka was a man of high ethics and integrity. It's with sadness that we lost one of our rare gem, he was one of us that we acknowledged with huge desolation that he was exceptional.
Yinka was a true fighter and one off of a true democrats for people's cause.
Love or hate him . On his assertiveness, straight- talk vibes on ills of our society today, he stood tall on all fronts. No doubt, he stood for something when he was here on earth, he believed in Yoruba political cause and so dedicated to its silver lining and rainbow shiny on Yoruba’s foreseeable mountain top and always believe that our end will always justify the means.....fight on!!!

Death can kill his soul but cannot kill the spirit and the cause he fought for , while on his earth. No doubt people will remember him for his true activisms on Yoruba Self Determination esp. during "OCCUPY NIGERIA, ENDSARS and NADECO ERA".

Yinka was a giant among other giants and a true compatriot that stood firm on principle of equity and fairness not only for Yoruba’s but for us all ."WE" the people..

Death cannot kill what never die. Yinka’s memories will ever remain in our hearts vividly in thousands of years to come. Yinka stood strong when many in their cowardice sailed under a false flag for political gains and benefits.

YINKA believed in taking first steps on a staircase without trying to second guess or try to see what the end of the staircase looks like.
Even when the road seemed unploughed, it always seemed drivable for him, and when it comes down to a dead end, he won't just turned back but double down and create another pathways because he will always find a side streets and seek the right lights at the end of his tunnel and stick to the free way to the righteousness.

They are few Odumakins in our world today, he once told me, Dr.Awofolaju,  "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced" I will take that to grave. He truly believed in better Nigeria with true federalism and regional autonomy which will later lead to a self determination.

It doesn't matter to him, how strong your opinion are, he once said, "If you don't use your power for positive change, you are indeed part of the problem" .



He was very forthright, classy and matchless. He was truly a one off,
irreplaceable in every sense. The family of patriot Nigerians despondency and grief know no bounds because Yinka was a unique gift from God to our nation that he loved so much. He was a very brave warrior who was never scared of death.

Yinka can be proud of the obvious fact that he stood for something while here on earth with us. He was a great Nigeria patriot endowed it's nostalgic memory there in, he never shied away from any difficult national issue or task and he always exhibit uncommon and unparalleled courage in contributing his quotas and always volunteer whenever it mattered most. He so much wanted a better Nigeria for all of us.

Yinka had a hugely successful and unblemished run in pro democracy years and especially as a spokesperson for AFENIFERE and he used his talent to make a huge differences wherever he found himself, giving many Nigerians and non-Nigerians strong voice to be proud of.  I know it is never about how long one lives but we'll and I do believe that while it is good to have an end to the journey, this one gone so soon.

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal, although it's difficult today to see beyond the sorrow, may looking back in memory of Yinka helps comfort us tomorrow.

I commiserate with his immediate
family, the widow , Dr.Okei Jo' Odumakin; Pa Odumakin, Pa Fasoranti, Pa Adebanjo, friends etc folks that Yinka left behind and pray fervently that God in his infinitive mercy grant us all fortitude and strength to carry on.
                                                                                                                                                   
To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die. And as you comprehend this profound loss, let yourself cry knowing each tear is a note of love rising to the heaven.

Though, nothing can bring back the hour of splendor in the grass, of glory in the flower, you will grieve not, rather find strength in what remains behind.

You don't get over it, you just get through it. You don't get by it, because you can't get around it. It doesn't get better; it just gets different.

Yinka & I may not agree on everything but agree to disagree on most things, and fight the right cause based on probity and equity for all based on sacred moral capital well expended on commonsensical cognitive reasoning.

Yinka did all that while on earth.

"All great changes are preceded by choas" he once said, and Nigeria is no difference.

So long!!! Shalom!!!

Adieu !! Giant soldier!! Adieu Patriot!!!

Everyday.....grief puts on a new face. You will be missed. 

Adieu Comrade !!!! 

Adieu good soldier !!!!  

DEATH CANNOT KILL WHAT NEVER DIES.

Sadly
Dr. Akin Awofolaju
President Yoruba Action Council

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Recent Tributes
December 10, 2021
December 10, 2021
Wish you a post humorous birthday. You are been missed by the Yoruba people that you loved dearly before your departure. Adieu comrade. Your work still speaks volume.
April 24, 2021
April 24, 2021
I received the news of Afenifere spokesperson Comrade Yinka Odumakin’s death with a rude shock and a deep sadness. He was consistent with his belief in one peaceful Nigeria with power decentralization from the center and a strong advocate for the Regional System of government. Ife Ancient Kingdom has lost a great gem; he was a devoted civil right activist, modest, and a decent Nigerian. Despite his association with the high power of people in Nigeria, he was humble, and his focus was about downtrodden Nigerians. Rest in power, brother. Orun re, re o. {December 10, 1966-April 02, 2021}.
April 18, 2021
April 18, 2021
We will never forget his kindness. May God give him eternal rest and the family the strength to bear the great pain.
RIP
His Life
April 10, 2021
"Ka ku lomode ko yeni, O San Ju ka di Agbalagba ka ma ni adiye irana"
"To die young and be so relevantly invaluable to the society is better than to live thousand years and live irrelevantly"

Ka ku lomode ko yeni, O san Ju ka di agbalagba ka ma ni adiye irana.

April 10, 2021
"Ka ku lomode ko yeni, O San Ju ka di Agbalagba  ka ma ni adiye irana"

  1. "To die young and be so relevantly invaluable to the society is better than to live thousand of years on earth without contributing your quotas, and  become irrelevant , or parasitic  menance to the society you supposed to have added  your ignoble values. 
Recent stories

May his soul rest in perfect peace .

April 9, 2021
My sympathy to his entire family . May his soulrest in perfect peace.  Amen.

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