Ajimobi, Amosun lead Night of Tributes for Famakinwa

By Ola Ajayi

Ibadan—Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State yesterday led dignitaries to pay tributes to the Director General, Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, DAWN, Commission, Mr Dipo Famakinwa, who died on April 2 at the age of 49.

The tribute was organized by the Afenifere Renewal Group, ARG, the DAWN Commission and the Yoruba Academy.

Governor Ajimobi described the deceased as one who took his duty as a divine assignment which must be achieved in his generation.

“Famakinwa lived a short but remarkable life. He understood his assignment as a divine duty unto his generation. He not only took the job seriously but put his whole heart into it,” Ajimobi said.

The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr Olalekan Ali, said; “We shall follow through on our agreed roadmap and by building the DAWN Commission into a truly empowered think-tank and regional development powerhouse. With the support of my brother governors in the Southwest of Nigeria, your visionary spirit shall be kept alive as a guide post on our journey into freedom and prosperity.”

Amosun, who was represented by his Commissioner for Integration, Mr Adeife, said late Famakinwa succeeded in introducing programmes that helped the development of the Southwest region.

In his own comments, the Chairman, ARG, Mr Olawale Oshun, said: “The main story was that the governors at inception allowed the dreamers and the fashioners of the Integration vision to nominate a suitable person to fill the all important position of the first Director General of the Commission.

Afenifere Renewal Group had no difficulty in settling for Dipo Famakinwa, for he and one other member availed us of their immense brain boxes, and minded no deprivation as too enormous to suffer in the processes leading to the crafting and marketing of what later turned out to be christened the Integration Commission.’’

According to the Executive Director of the Yoruba Academy, Dr Ade Adeagbo, promiser that they would continue the agitation for true federalism,  and promote the concept of ‘Omoluabi’ which he says must be the “fundamental value that defines essence of human-hood.”

While thanking the gathering, the daughter of the deceased, Miss Abisola Famakinwa, described her father as a hard-working man who also spared a good time for his family.

She said, “I know my dad was great but I did not know he was this great. I am really proud of him. He was very hard working and determined.’’

In attendance at the programme were Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), Dr Tunji Olaopa, Otunba Deji Osibogun, Sen. Olufemi Lanlehin and many others.

 

The post Ajimobi, Amosun lead Night of Tributes for Famakinwa appeared first on Vanguard News.