We all owe the debt labeled death. No one has the power to control death when it comes knocking. It has chosen to take away my brother, Yinka Odumakin. I woke up in the Western part of the world to read the sad news that Yinka has closed his eyes to eternal sleep. I was shaken, I was sad, but I had no choice but to still praise the Almighty God for using him well.

Undoubtedly, Yinka submitted himself for use by the Almighty God for the struggles for a just and equitable Nigeria. He boldly spent his energy with passion to fight for a country where justice, equity and freedom reign. He never shied away from controversies. He urged us to watch the Watcher. Death made him the elder of the Watcher and Papa “Not my Will”. With commendable maturity and spirit of forgiveness, the Watcher paid a tribute that would not have been paid were he alive celebrating his birthday. Expiry compelled eulogies from those who feared his pen and boldness alive. Demise forced a roaring voice from Aso Rock, a voice that does not appreciate his citizens while alive and the power that abhors talents; none of Yinka’s position and what he stood for was ever practiced by the Aso Rock tenants. The voice of the patron of the herdsmen that doesn’t care about security of the living and the dead under his rulership and the voice that does not care about health system but prefers to use our resources to jump on the plane to another country for medical check-up. Death forced them to reel out appreciation of what God created and used Yinka for in his 56 years sojourn in life. You have done well Yinka; you have left us alone in our wilderness with our hypocrisy and unseriousness.

To the family he left behind, led by Dr. Joe Odumakin, not seeing Yinka at home anymore and not hearing his soft voice any longer is heart-aching. I know it is, Joe. However, you should realize that meeting and parting in this manner is inevitable. Both of you met in the struggle and he left us in the struggle. We must continue to work to accomplish his desire for humanity. It is incumbent upon us to let his children know that he tried for posterity and a better future for them. On the day he departed us, for a former President to immediately drive to his leader’s home, is a testimony that their father tried his best. Nigeria and the entire Yoruba race have lost a paradox in pursuit of a better country. If Yinka were to have been an ordinary Nigerian who lifted no finger while we are being oppressed or who was given opportunities to care for humanity and he misused the opportunities, social media would not have been filled with glorious words. Adieu Yinka!

•Ogbeni Lanre Banjo is a former gubernatorial candidate in Ogun State.

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