Don’t politicise Fasoranti daughter’s killing, says Presidency

The Presidency has said the death of Mrs Funke Olakunri, the daughter of Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, is tragic and regrettable, but adds that politicising it will not help the unity of the country.

It said President Muhammadu Buhari’s thoughts and prayers were with the family over the incident.

In a statement on Monday night by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, the Presidency expressed reservations over comments being made by some Nigerian leaders over the incident, saying the issue was being politicised.

It called on all Nigerians to work together to fight insecurity as a national problem.

The Presidency stated, “The Presidency has noted public concerns on the unfortunate attack leading to the death of the daughter of the Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti.

“The President has already issued a statement expressing his heartfelt condolences to the family of Mrs Funke Olakunri and followed up with a telephone call.

“The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has in addition, paid a visit to the grieving family in Akure, Ondo State.

“Her death is a tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family.

“It is incumbent on all leaders across the country to consider their language and its potential consequences.

“Insecurity is an issue that Nigeria must face together as one nation – united.

“Times of tragedy like this are not the time for politics. It reveals only disrespect for the departed and her family. And we hope that those who stand in positions of influence recognise and understand this.”

We have made many arrests — Police

The Ondo State Police Command, on Monday, disclosed that it had made a number of arrests on the killing of Mrs Funke Olakunri, the daughter of the leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti.

Olakunri was reportedly killed by some hoodlums, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, along the Ore-Sagamu expressway in the Odigbo Local Government Area of the state, on Friday.

The police reiterated that its men were still in the forest in the local government in search of the hoodlums.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Femi Joseph, said the command would not relent until the perpetrators were apprehended and brought to book.

He said, “We have made a lot of arrests on this matter but we are doing the screening of those arrested to know who among them are the culprits.

“By the time we finish the screening, we will let the world know the perpetrators.”

Joseph, however, said he would not be able to disclose the number of those arrested for security reason.

“As I said, a number of people have been arrested and when it is time, we shall parade the suspects,” he added.

In the same vein, the Secretary-General of the Yoruba Council of Elders, Dr Kunle Olajide, said South-West governors should be blamed more for the attacks by herdsmen in the region rather than blaming the Federal Government alone.

Olajide, in an interview with journalists during his condolence visit to Pa Fasoranti in Akure, said the state governors ought to have taken drastic actions against open grazing.

Olajide said, “This  is an unfortunate incident, it is a poisoned arrow to the Yoruba nation and I have listened to some of our leaders who have been here and I want you to know that most of the comments are mere platitude. Some of them are grossly insensitive and honestly offend human sensitivity.

“For me, there is much to this; it is a killing too many. This is a direct assault on Yoruba nation and to the sensibility of our people. It shows they have clearly taken us for granted and this has to stop but I am quite uncomfortable because most of the time, we lay the blame at the doorsteps of the Federal Government but I want to lay it at the doorsteps of our state governors.”

A leader of the Afenifere, Pa Ayo Fasanmi, decried the spate of insecurity in the country, calling on the government at all levels to address the development.

Fasanmi stated, “What has happened is a big tragedy, not only for Ondo State but to the whole Nigeria. There is no adequate security in Nigeria. There is no respect for the sanctity of life and there is a lot to be done to ensure security of lives.

“In recent times, a lot of people had been killed in Yorubaland. Yoruba people irrespective of their political affiliation must come together and salvage the nation from an imminent catastrophe.”

Meanwhile, the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria has condoled with Chief Reuben Fasoranti, over the killing of his daughter, Mrs Funke Olakunri.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ahmed Kuru, who condemned the barbaric killing of the daughter of the foremost Afenifere leader, prayed for God Almighty to give Fasoranti and the entire family the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.

Kuru said the 58-year-old Olakunri served the AMCON boss as company secretary and legal adviser when he was Managing Director/CEO of the erstwhile Enterprise Bank Limited.

The AMCON MD, who described the late Olakunri as ‘a thorough-bred legal professional, a disciplined and dedicated personality with enviable high pedigree,’ expressed deep sadness on behalf of all their former colleagues and prayed God to see the family through these trying times.

He said, “For some of us who knew Funke closely and worked with her for many years, this news is difficult for us to accept. Funke was hardworking, highly dedicated, disciplined with enviable pedigree; a highly principled and loyal colleague. She was a mother for all. She just spoke to me recently when she returned from her journey abroad.

“When she was working with me as company secretary and legal adviser in the bank, I did not know she was Chief Reuben Fasoranti’s daughter. It was much later that I came to terms with her background and therefore was not surprised with the enviable characteristics, respect for elders and general conduct she displayed in the working place.”