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Vera Okei, the younger sister of Dr. Joe-Okei Odumakin, wife of late Afenifere spokesman, Yinka Odumakin has been held of mismanaging the cash gift of N5 Million towards the burial programmes of her late in-law.
This is contained in a press realeased titled “Yinka Odumakin’s N15m Cash Donation: Total Accountability” and made available to journalists on Sunday by Comrade AWA Bamiji, the Secretary, Civil Society Organisation and Pro – Democracy Movement for Yinka Odumakin and Innocent Chukwuma’s Burials.
Mr Bamiji stated that the cash donation of N5 million from the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu towards the burial of Mr Odumakin was embezzled and illegally shared by Ms Okei to friends and families.
He explained that Ms Okei till now has not been able to give account of the donation given to her for onward delivery to the Civil Society Organisation and Pro–Democracy Movement for her in-law burial.
Bamiji said this information becomes incumbent at this juncture as a matter of urgency and to set the record straight for posterity’s sake.
The statement read thus: “This is how N5m cash donation sent directly to me through Vera Okei, the younger sister of Dr Joe Okei – Odumakin, by H.E., Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, got diverted and illegally shared to friends and families just like Xmas Gifts by Vera Okei, at the residence of Mr Yinka Odumakin on Friday, 16th April, 2021, to rubbish our Civil Societies’ plan towards the burial.
“In his magnanimity, His Excellency went further to give me another N5m for the Civil Society Organisation and Pro-Democracy Movement’s 3-day Burial Outing, on Tuesday, 22nd April, 2021, just to allow peace to reign in the Civil Society Community.
“Upon this development, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin (sister of Vera) immediately issued a press statement, titled, “Odumakin: Stop using my Husband’s name to solicit for money”, disassociating the Odumakin’s family from our genuine intention to honour her husband and our own dear friend and Hero in the Yoruba self-determination struggles.
“The Chairman of Central Burial Committee, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi and another important member of the Committee, Hon. Sola Lawal, immediately intervened by condemning her action during our meeting in the Yinka Odumakin’s House on Wednesday, 21 April, 2021. The duo therefore requested for the immediate issuance of another press statement from our own end as a damage control during the period, which I titled “Final memorial Plan of the Civil Society and Pro-Democracy Movement as agreed with the Odumakin’s family and Central Burial Committee of Yinka Odumakin” on behalf of our Group.
“Up till now, this N5 million Naira was not accounted for by Vera Okei – Odumakin and since it didn’t get to its destination, Civil Society Organisation and Pro-Democracy Movement for Yinka Odumakin’s and Innocent Chukwuma’s Burials, there’s no way we could acknowledge it but we must as a matter of urgency set the record straight for posterity’s sake and thank the People’s Governor at the Centre of Excellence, Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his love for a peaceful environment.
“This press statement became necessary because of the careless and continuous push by Dr Joe Okei – Odumakin through her paid employees and core loyalists, whom, on instruction of their leader, jointly opened another WhatsApp Platform titled “Odumakin’s Real Accountability” out of protest against the closure or winding down or pulling down of the Odumakin’s Accountability Whatsapp Platform with about 250 members across the globe, in their collective bid to get the details of account of every kobo donated by the Southwest Governors and individuals to the civil society organisations.
“It will be remembered that well known traditional, religious, political and civil Society leaders, in the likes of Barrister Femi Falana, SAN; Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi; HRH Oba Odidiomo Afolabi, Olu of Igbokoda; Oba Comrade Abiodun Sowunmi; Comrades Segun Sowunmi, Segun Mayegun and other important personalities too numerous to mention here, intervened in this matter of Odumakin’s Accountability and suggested the Platform be closed down for in-house settlement”
“But this didn’t go down well with my dear Sister and friend in the Nigerian democratic Struggles, Dr Joe Okei – Odumakin, who gave me an instruction through our mutual friend, Comrade Declan Ihekaire, to set up the Odumakin’s Accountability Platform based on our mutual agreement that it would be closed down immediately we get to know what went wrong in the process of Projects’ execution during the 3 – day Burial which led to the crises in the Civil Society Constituency in Nigeria” .
