He said his death also marked a huge loss to the people of Lagos State, the masses and vulnerable of the world.

Okunniyi while paying tribute to Jakande spoke of his relationship with him, just as he described him as a mentor.

Said he:  “I was first privileged to work closely with Baba Kekere, (as Alhaji Lateef Jakande, the first civilian governor of Lagos State was fondly being hailed by his admirer, loyalists and supporters) in the wake of our struggle against the one party rule of the PDP, following the flawed 2007 presidential elections won by President Umaru Yar’adua.

“It all started after I was instructed by our revered leader in PRONACO, Chief Anthony Enahoro and Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Chairman of CNPP both now of blessed memory, to set up an exploratory meeting for selected Leaders of Opposition Political Parties and Progressive Politicians to work out an electoral alliance or merger of opposition political parties and allied political movements in the country to check the excesses of the PDP at that time.

“The first of the exploratory and substantive meetings, which was hosted by my humble self at the Lagos Airport Hotel, was chaired by Alhaji Lateef Jakande on the insistence of both Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Alhaji Balarabe Musa as Chief Tony Enahoro himself could not make the meeting.

“Ever since then, as the Secretary of the movement, I became very close to Baba LKJ, who saw some potentials in me and started mentoring me.”

Okunniyi said Jakande believed “Politics is life and service to humanity,” and “we must take it seriously.”

“There are so many political experiences I gained from relating with Alhaji Lateef Jakande, especially on how to conduct meetings calmly and meticulously and to draft a concise Communiqué of a meeting.

“Baba during the final stages of our movement engagement, became the chair of our manifesto committee and he proved that he was truly a political General with the way he handled all the young Turks in the committee. He was a very inspiring workaholic…

“LKJ will be greatly missed by humanity,” Okunniyi said.

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Igboho, a Yoruba nationalist activist, has been at the forefront of the campaign against Fulani herdsmen criminal activities in the South West, particularly, Ibarapa area of Oyo State.

His campaign had resulted in a clash between Fulani and indigenes in Ibarapa area.

Reacting to the order said to have been issued by the police boss in the country over his activities, Okunniyi said Igboho’s arrest could exacerbate the tension in the South West in particular and the country in general.

He said since some peace moves were already going on, arresting Igboho would do great harm.

Said Okunniyi: “The Yoruba are really aggrieved and traumatised at the moment over the random kidnapping, raping, maiming and killings of their kinsmen and women in their forest by those considered as criminal herders, which has therefore made the radical intervention of Sunday Igboho popular among the Yoruba.

“So any attempt to arrest him by the State may backfire instead of resolving the heightening tension in the land. What I know for sure is that Yoruba elders and traditional rulers are already consulting on the best solution on this matter.”

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The movement made the remark in a statement signed by one of its members, Mr. Olawale Okunniyi, announcing Okoko’s death.

Okoko died at the age of 80 on Tuesday.

In the statement, the group led by Professor Ben Nwabueze, described Okoko as a most dependable national icon and revered leader.

The statement reads in part: “It is indeed with heavy heart that, we as longstanding associates and Comrades of Okoko in the struggle for a just and equitable Nigeria, received the shocking news of his departure. His demise is a huge loss to our movement as the vacuum created by the sudden exit of this great Titan of many national struggles may be very hard to fill.

“Okoko, in his eventful life time, was a leading figure and  factor in the struggle for a better Niger Delta as both President of the INC and CENND, Conference of Ethnic Nationalities of the Niger Delta. He was also a frontline delegate at the 2014 National Confab representing the Niger Delta. A most reliable member of Project Nigeria Movement and the Patriots

“May the soul of Prof Okoko, 80, rest in eternal bliss.  Adieu!”

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