Sports Minister, NFF Mourn Deji Tinubu, Condone With Lagos Govt
ODELADE EZEKIEL OLAJIDE
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung and the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, have mourned the death of Mr. Deji Tinubu, Special Adviser on Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State.
The late Tinubu, a former board member of the NFF slumped while playing the five-a-side match with fellow participants at the ongoing retreat in Lagos on Thursday. After slumping, doctors and nurses rushed to give him first aid. He was immediately taken to the General Hospital, Epe where he was confirmed dead
Both Dalung and the NFF expressed deep shock following the sudden demise of the first Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr Deji Tinubu.
Dalung described the death as too shocking and sudden to be true that Tinubu who was until his death bubbling with life could just slump and die while playing ‘leisure football’ with his friends.
He described Tinubu as a progressive Nigerian who realized and pursued the dream of a greater and better Nigeria through sports development.
“We have interacted so well over the last couple of months since the Lagos state government through him then as the Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission and Special Adviser to his Excellency on Sports, muted the idea of renovating the National Stadium in Lagos.
“His level of intelligence and calmness in the face of challenges was excellent. Working closely with him over the last one year on the proposed Lagos National Stadium project, reinforced my belief that with the help of bright young Nigerians who are in abundant supply home and abroad, the country would be great again”, Dalung said.
The Minister described the late Chief Executive Officer of SportsVision Media as a complete gentleman and a perfect role model to many established and upcoming journalists who wished to tap from his abundant wealth of experience.
“He was a complete gentleman who was humble to a fault. He was one of those few journalists who blazed the trail in their chosen careers and metamorphosed into sports administration when he became the Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association and was elected as an Executive Board member of the Nigeria Football Federation.”
While expressing deep shock over the news, Dalung prayed that God will console the Lagos state Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode and give the good people of Lagos, the sports fraternity and his immediate family members the fortitude to bear this painful loss.
“I don’t think any word will aptly describe the way I feel right now or be able to soothe this deep wound that has been inflicted on us all. But we will continue to console ourselves with the fact that death is inevitable and it is the price all of us must pay for being human.”
Meanwhile, the NFF and the entire Nigerian Football family are in utter shock over the death of Tinubu.
“The death of Ayodeji Tinubu came as a rude shock. It was like a knife through the heart. The NFF and the Nigerian Football family have lost a great member, friend and supporter.
“As Special Adviser (Sports) to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, he helped to actualize the hosting of the 2nd CAF Beach Soccer Cup of Nations in Lagos State in December 2016. He had also been in the forefront of other projects in which Lagos State was partnering the NFF before he was posted from Sports to become the Governor’s SA on Commerce earlier this month,” Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, NFF 1st Vice President, who co-chaired the Beach Soccer AFCON organizing committee with Tinubu, said on Friday.
Ayodeji Tinubu served as Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission, before winning election to become a Member of the NFF Executive Committee in 2010. He served as Chairman of the Marketing and Sponsorship Committee under the Aminu Maigari administration of 2010-2014.
NFF President Amaju Pinnick was in grief: “Earlier this month, we were all together in Accra, Ghana for the AITEO-CAF African Football Awards. He was in the entourage of Governor Ambode, and was his usual lively self.
“In truth, we cannot find the right words to mourn with Governor Ambode and the Lagos State Government. This is heart –rending. However, we find solace in the fact that Ayodeji Tinubu has gone to rest, and that he left giant footprints in the sands of time. We pray that the Almighty God will comfort the entire Lagos State Government structure and grant his widow and the children the fortitude to bear the big loss.”
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