by Isi Esene

The governor of Ekiti state, Dr. Kayode Fayemi could not control his emotions yesterday when he and his wife, Bisi visited the family of the late deputy governor of the state, Funmilayo Olayinka at the Isato area of Ado Ekiti.

The deputy governor’s parents, Festus Famuagun, and her wife, Grace, were still in shock at the news of the death of their daughter who died on Saturday in Lagos after a long battle with Cancer.

The governor lost emotional control as the bereaved mother kept asking him rhetorically where her daughter is. “Kayode, where is Funmi? Kayode, where is your deputy?” she asked amidst as tears flowed freely from her eyes.

All efforts by the governor to pacify Olayinka’s parents yielded no fruits as both of them appeared inconsolable.

Government officials, including the Chairman of SUBEB, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; the Head of Service, Bunmi Famosaya; the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Tayo Ekundayo;  among others, reportedly led others to commiserate with the bereaved family.

Jide Awe, the Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria in Ekiti state burst into tears during an interview as a journalist referred to the deputy governor as ‘late’.

Many sympathisers visited the residence of the late Funmilayo Olayinka’s parents’ residence with some of the early callers being the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; former Governor of old Ondo State, Bamidele Olumilua; and Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dr. Adewale Omirin.

Okonjo-Iweala said, “It is with deep sense of  loss  that we learn the passing of our beautiful, intelligent sister.  She was a true representative of Nigeria’s womanhood.”

In a broadcast to the citizens of the state, the governor, on Sunday, declared a seven-day mourning period lamenting that it was sad that the deputy governor lost her battle to cancer after receiving treatment in Nigeria and abroad.

He said, “I am pained by the exit of our deputy governor who was my ready partner in our collective quest to develop our dear state.  As my dependable ally in the struggle to free Ekiti, she was a consistent bulwark of support, especially through the period of the judicial struggle to reclaim our mandate.

“She was a virtuous family woman and devout Christian, who served God practically and diligently, touching many lives in compassion and humility.

“In reflection of the mood of our state in this trying moment, a period of seven-day mourning shall commence from this moment during which all flags in the state will fly at half mast. During this period also, all state official ceremonies will be suspended.”