Reactions of grief and sympathy have poured in over the passing of renowned activist Yinka Odumakin whose death became public knowledge Saturday morning.

Dr Joe Okey-Odumakin, widow of the late activist said a part of her is gone in an obituary announcement on Saturday. She appreciated the “outpouring of grief and sympathy from home and abroad as I mourn my irreplaceable soulmate.”

An activist herself, Mrs Odumakin urged all to “remain steadfast in the cause of the masses to which he [Yinka] dedicated his life.”

Leader of pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation Afenifere, Ayo Adebanjo, said, “This is too heavy to bear.”

Secretary-General of Afenifere, Basorun Sehinde Arogbofa, described Mr Odumakin’s death as a terrible blow on the group and the country at large.

“It’s a terrible blow, a terrible blow to me as a person because we’ve been so intimate. He’s been my right-hand man in Afenifere management. It’s terrible,” Vanguard quoted Mr Arogbofa to have said.

Until his demise, Mr Odumakin was the spokesman for Afenifere.

On his part, a former governor of Ogun State and Afenifere chieftain, Gbenga Daniel, recounted that the late activist lived a good life, adding that his memory will be well preserved.

“It is indeed a trying moment and I acknowledge a very sad one to begin to express my deepest condolences on the sad and untimely transition of your beloved husband,” Mr Daniel said in a statement to Mrs Odumakin.

“Yinka lived a good life, and for a great cause and purposes. His memory is well preserved because he stood firmly for all that he believed in. Such men never die.”

Minister of state for labour and employment Festus Keyamo wrote on his Twitter page said: “Yinka’s death is a personal loss to me. Himself & the wife, Joe, have been my long-time friends & allies. I knew them separately before they met & got married. I just called the wife’s line & they’re still at the hospital. My deepest condolences to Josephine & the Odumakin family.”

Also paying his tribute in a tweet was the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress at the 2019 presidential election Omoyele Sowore who described Odumakin as a fighter and a friend.

“Death is a necessary end! Sad to announce this passing of a friend and fighter, Yinka Odumakin. Rest in Power, Senior Comrade,” Mr Sowore tweeted.

Notable for his role in the National Democratic Coalition, that opposed the brutal regime of General Sani Abacha , Mr Odumakin was reported to have died from complications linked to COVID-19 on Saturday at a Lagos hospital.