Sir Olawale Okunniyi a
frontline political activist in the country and Ogun state Leader of CPC
has described the passing of Sheila Mary Solarin (nee Tuer), 82, the widow of
Late Dr. Tai Solarin, one of Nigeria’s foremost educators and agitators for
social justice, as a devastating blow to the growing army of aspiring youths
and masses in the country
Okunniyi in a 7 paragraph
condolence message on Monday in Lagos, recalled his various encounters and
relationship with both Tai and
Sheila Solarinin especially in the course of his enduring political activism and during his student’s days and
described the Solarins as a great influence and inspiration to his political
career
The coordinator of the
June 12 Movement in Nigeria however regretted that Sheila’s indefatigable role
for the restoration of civil rule in Nigeria in 1999 was unsung though “she was
among the very few mainstay of the mass action in Nigeria at that time; working
relentlessly in alliance with our movement from the Ogun axis”
The CPC Governorship
candidate in Ogun State in the last general elections also said the late Sheila
was a compassionate and committed person in her cause, adding that she was also
a disciplinary per excellence with whom her late husband, Tai founded and
managed successfully the foremost Mayflower School in Ikenne, Ogun State, where
they both trained and produced some of the best hands and citizens for the
country
“At this glorious but
regrettable exit of the true mother of the impoverished people of Nigeria, we
wish to solemnly celebrate the unwavering resilience of the English-born,
martyr Sheila who was a dependable ally of her husband with whom she
spent a lifetime fighting as a voice and defender of the downtrodden Nigerian
masses
The Nigerian progressives
and the aspiring army of youths will obviously miss a great deal of the
inspiration, which comes with the usual solidarity of an impetus like Mrs.
Solarin, who, though was not a Nigerian by birth, but became a pillar of
encouragement for the Nigerian people at different times in the struggle for
the well being of the Nigerian masses”
Okunniyi however gave his
deepest commiseration for the devastating exit of Sheila to her two children,
Corin and Tunde as well as the entire Mayflower Family and Prof Wole Soyinka,
whom he said was one of Sheila’s greatest allies in the struggle for the
welfare of the mass of Nigerian people
No comments:
Post a Comment