BY Chinedu Asadu
Since the news of his death broke on Friday afternoon, friends and colleagues of Dipo Famakinwa, director-general of Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN), have been showering encomiums on the deceased.
In Famakinwa’s last post on Facebook dated March 9, he prayed for long life for his friends and family.
“May we all live long to enjoy the fruits of our labour,” he wrote.
But life had other plans for him, or was it death?
On Facebook, his friends expressed shock at the news of his demise, also praying for the repose of his soul.
Oledeji Kayode, a Facebook user, described him as “a quintessential Ijesa man”.
“Omoluabi indeed and in truth, an intellectual of note, cerebral and never garrulous, blessed, yet humble, has passed. May God bless his soul,” he wrote.
Olatunji Idowu, another Facebook user, wrote, “I met you twice to discuss strategic ways to regenerate south-west communities. You registered your footprint before your departure.”
Similarly, Asiwaju Oluwafemi, yet another Facebook user, eulogized him for his contribution to the Yoruba land.
“You are a great Yoruba man. I salute your braveness and courage…… Dipo Famakinwa, sun re o. Dawn must not die.”
One of the longest messages came from Akinola Oranmiyan.
“He didn’t know me from Adam. Yet he ushered me into his Bodija house anytime, with open arms. He was always ready to listen to me, to mentor me,” he wrote.
“He was always happy to associate with me maybe because he was a senior alumnus of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He was always ready to assist, caution and encourage me.
“Only few weeks ago, the workaholic posted how he was FORCED by his wife to go observe a rest at a resort.
“Together with others, DAWN designed and implemented blueprint for better integration and governance of the six south-western states. He sided with the progressives but that I have wanted to call when I couldn’t get to read him on Facebook only to be called by Egbon Miftah Tunde Adediran. I was at a Jumah session. I was disturbed. Afterward, I logged on to Facebook only to see Mrs Bamidele Ademola-Olateju’s post about his demise. Still, I was not sure; I called his line. It rang but unlike before, there was nobody to pick it. That was when it finally ‘DAWNed’ on me that the brain behind DAWN is gone.”
Similar messages were also found on Twitter.
“Dipo Famakinwa, our amiable egbon, omoluabi and a proud son of Yorubaland. You ran a good race”, wrote Akin, a twitter user.
Babajide Fadoju, another user, tweeted: “Bad things happen to good people, in this case it shouldn’t have been uncle Dipo Famakinwa. Terrible news.”
Wale Adedayo, also a Twitter user, said: “The commission has lost its leading light.
“Arewa House remains intact. The budding equivalent, DAWN, just lost its leading light. RIP Diipo Dipo Famakinwa.”
Famakinwa died on Friday morning in a Lagos hospital.
He was aged 51.
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