By Ayodele Oni
Yinka Odumakin, for about a month, battled ill-health. A known diabetic patient, he had been in and out of crisis associated with diabetes.
The most serious was when, on a visit to the Governor of Osun State Gboyega Oyetola, he suddenly fell ill.
The Governor had to quickly rally to his rescue.
A man of courage, he had been at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, for about three weeks battling COVID-19 and its related complications. The deadly Virus is a deadly enemy to diabetics. Odumakin was not an exception.
Not a few people wondered why he had been quiet over serious National issues. Indeed, his wife, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, too.
Sources say he had, allegedly, told Journalists, whose great friend he was that he would not be able to pick his phone for about two weeks, and directed them to a stand-in Yet, his silence was still felt. His fans especially, missed his weekly column in the Vanguard Newspaper.
Now, they know why he and his wife had been missing in action. He was at LASUTH battling COVID-19, while his loving wife stood by him, worried and keeping watch.
A week ago, he had made sufficient improvement to give his wife hope, and cause for cheer. But the Virus added one of it’s most deadly complications – respiratory difficulties.
According to his wife, he battled it like a lion at the Intensive Care Unit of LASUTH. But, Saturday morning, the courageous Odumakin, the very effective Spokesman of Afenifere gave up, another high profile victim of COVID-19.
His dead is a tragedy for the pan Yoruba socio cultural organization. And to many who knew him.
He was many things rolled in one – Politician. Activist. Columnist. Administrator.
According to report, the activist had been on ventilator at LASUTH for some days.
“He had lung surgery before he was put on a ventilator. His case took a turn for the worse last week, with doctors concluding he had few days left,” the source added.
He died at the age of 56.
