Olusegun Mimiko, the immediate past governor of Ondo State, has described as utterly shocking the death of a prominent intellectual, Dipo Famakinwa, who until his death was the director general of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission.
Mimiko in a statement issued on Saturday, April 22, 2017 said the death of Mr. Famakinwa is a monumental and unimaginable loss to the family, Osun State, the South West, and lovers of true economic integration of the region.
“Dipo Famakinwa was an intellectually sound, mentally alert and culturally aware Yoruba man who tried all he could to give vent to the integration idea,” Dr. Mimiko, a former housing minister, said.
“When many sought to politicise the integration effort, Mr. Famakinwa and a few others argued and insisted on bringing all on board, irrespective of party affiliation.
“His death cannot but be a monumental loss to the family, Osun State, the South West and lovers of true economic integration of the south West,” the statement said.
The former governor who commiserated with the late Famakinwa’s immediate family, the DAWN Commission and the Yoruba nation also said, “Though Dipo lived just for a short period, he left obvious imprints on the South West landscape and will be sorely missed.”
According to news reports, Dipo Famakinwa passed away on Friday, April 21, 2017 in a hospital in Lagos as he was about to be flown abroad for treatment. The illness remains undisclosed.
DAWN, an organisation that he founded, was responsible for designing and implementing the blueprint for better integration and governance of the six south-western states.
