25th April, 2013
GBENRO ADESINA/ADO-EKITI
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and other members of the state council and the legislators at the federal and state levels today poured encomiums on the departed Deputy Governor, late Mrs. Olufunmilayo Olayinka.
The rain of encomiums happened during the emotive Special State Executive Council meeting led by Governor Fayemi and the special session held by the Ekiti State House of Assembly.
At the two events, part of the burial rites of the deputy governor, government officials wept uncontrollably.
The chief mourner, Governor Fayemi wept throughout the executive meeting while his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi who sat beside him kept appealing to him to take it easy though, she herself broke down in tears.
Also, the state chief of Staff, Yemi Adaramodu had to battle tears to deliver his short speech.
Eventually, he had to drop the microphone and continue weeping for several minutes.
In his speech, Governor Fayemi described her as a co-pilot, strong pillar of support, dependable deputy, virtuous and loving mother, bold activist, agent of change, stressing, “I think the only thing I say that might come closer to capture your essence and existence is that you are my sister, you are my friend, true icon, beautiful inside and outside in good and bad time. You never lost capacity to continue to smile. I believe everybody can now appreciate your actions. I learnt from your life of courage, integrity, compassion and extra ordinary pouring of heart of love”.
Earlier, the Secretary to the Government (SSG), Dr. Ganiyu Owolabi pointed that the state learnt about the death of the late deputy governor with great sense of regret describing her as a true representative of Nigeria women.
Also, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Senator Tony Adeniyi and Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora described the deceased as a good woman and wife who contributed her quota to the development of Ekiti State.
Most of the members of Ekiti State House of Assembly called for the immortalisation of Olayinka.
Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adewale Omirin called for prayers for the family Olayinka left behind, the husband, Arch Lanre Olayinka and three daughters namely Yejide, Olamide and Ololade.