Widow of Abayomi Kinyomi, ex-Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mrs. Oluyinka Abeni, has narrated her husband’s last moments.
She gave the insight yesterday when Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, led senior members of the Assembly on a condolence visit to the family.
According to the widow, her husband was constantly checking the time and saying he wanted to go home.
She said: “He was always checking the time. He kept complaining that he wanted to go home. He would complain about the bed, but we didn’t understand. When the pressure on his health suddenly increased, and we were taking him to the hospital, I looked at him in the car and knew he could hardly make it.
“When we got to the hospital, the doctor checked him and told me we’ve lost him. I can’t forget that day.”
Mrs. Abeni described her late husband as a ‘loving and caring man who planned everything about him’. She thanked Obasa and the House’ leadership for constantly supporting the family even while Pa. Kinyomi was alive
Pa. Kinyomi’s daughter in-law, Mrs. Adeola, described the deceased as a man who was ‘very passionate about the development of Lagos, especially in its pursuit to become a mega city’.
Obasa noted that the former speaker played important roles for the development of Lagos.
“Even after leaving the House, he continued to assist with his wisdom. We consider him one of us because once a lawmaker, always a lawmaker. To us, it is the celebration of a life well-lived. However, we will miss him,” Obasa said. He also promised that the House of Assembly will continue to support the family.
Kinyomi, who served as Speaker of the House of Assembly between January 1992 and November 1993, died at 82 on Tuesday after a brief illness.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has mourned Kinyomi’s death.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, described the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain as ‘a trustworthy and committed party member’. According to him, the former lawmaker spent his life in the service of humanity and Lagos State, particularly as a lawmaker in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The statement reads: “The death of Abayomi Kinyomi is a big loss to Lagos State government, our party, his family and friends.
“Papa Kinyomi did his best by serving Lagos State passionately as Speaker of the House of Assembly during the Third Republic. He was also a committed member of our great party, APC, till his death.
“I pray God will grant his soul eternal rest and comfort the families he left behind.”
The APC candidate for Amuwo-Odofin Federal Constituency, Prince Lanre Sanusi, also described the deceased as ‘a very intelligent person who has high regard for the legislature’.
He said: “Pa. Kinyomi remains one of the leading lights in Amuwo-Odofin, being a former Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly. He has one way or the other, made his mark. I cannot forget in a hurry my courtesy call with my campaign team to his residence. Hon. Kinyomi is so youthful at heart that recouched our slogan to read ‘PLS, YES WE CAN DO IT BETTER’.
“He is not someone we can forget easily, given his love for positive developments in his constituency. He will never delay in giving his best to issues that demand deep reasoning and elderly counsel. Pa. Kinyomi will be sorely missed.”