..Fayose, Ajimobi, Akeredolu, Aregbesola, Fayemi mourn

By Leke Adeseri

Former Lagos governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) national stalwart, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, says the Director-General of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN), Mr. Dipo Famakinwa, who died on Friday, breathed life into the South-West regional economic integration idea.

He spoke in a condolence message by his Media Office in Lagos, yesterday, just as Governors Ayodele Fayose, Abiola Ajimobi, Rauf Aregbesola, Rotimi Akeredolu and the Minister of Mines and Power, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, also mourned the deceased.

Tinubu said though Famakinwa’s death, at 51, was unpleasant, he pointed out, however, that the late DAWN Director-General lived an eventful life. “He breathed life into that economic integration initiative. He was busy arranging the building blocks for the realisation of that ideal. He set a huge task for himself at DAWN and was working on this with all his energy. I learnt that he had to be forced recently to take a short leave after working ceaselessly over the years at DAWN”.

Fayose described the death of the Famakinwa as a huge loss to the Yoruba nation, saying the deceased had an uncommon passion for the progress and development of the Yoruba race. The governor, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary,   Idowu  Adelusi, said Famakinwa, was among the upcoming Yoruba leaders that could be entrusted with the future of the Yoruba race without any fear of failure.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Ajimobi lamented the death of Famakinwa which he described as a loss too much to bear. A statement by the Special Adviser, Communication and Strategy to the governor, Mr. Yomi Layinka, quoted the governor as saying that he received the news of the untimely passage of the DAWN Commission boss with a rude shock. Fayemi commiserated with the family of the deceased.

The minister, in a condolence message by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Yinka Oyebode, described Famakinwa’s death as a devastating blow not only to his family, the DAWN Commission, but also to the entire Yoruba.

Akeredolu described the late technocrat as a man who did not believe anything was impossible.

“I will say it here that I have had the opportunity of sitting down with Dipo in his office on the 10th  Floor of Cocoa House. He knew what he wanted and never lost focus for a minute. He will be missed by all of us in Yorubaland and indeed in Nigeria”, the governor said.

Aregbesola said Famakinwa’s sudden exit had left a sour taste in the mouths of all stakeholders in the development agenda for the South-West.

In a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, Aregbesola said the deceased played a pivotal role in the efforts to integrate the South-west and use the platform to engender a new growth for the people of the region.

“We are left speechless with this sudden loss,” he said.

In a submission titled, ‘I lost a brother and friend, written by Senator Babafemi Ojudu of Ekiti State, the lawmaker said: “It’s a sad day. We lost Dipo, a friend and brother with whom I have collaborated in the last one decade. Dipo Famakinwa, DG, Development Agenda for Western Nigeria ( DAWN ) was reported to have died today in Lagos. I am crying here and alone in my hotel room in Paris”.