Late Mrs. Funke Olakunrin

The Presidency on Monday night appealed to those who may be politicizing the killing in Ondo State of Mrs. Funke Olakunrin, the daughter of Afenifere leader, Reuben Fasoranti to desist forthwith.

In a strong statement issued by Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media, the presidency said Nigerians in positions of influence should note that times like this should never be politicized.

“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.

“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.

 “Times of tragedy like these 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,” the statement said.

Although the statement did not name those who have been capitalizing on Mrs. Olakunrin’s death to knock the Buhari administration, some critical remarks have been credited to former president Olusegun Obasanjo, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Pastor Tunde Bakare, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and a host of social media commentators.

Specifically, Obasanjo had on Monday written another open letter to President Buhari in which he warned that the nation is at the precipice and ‘dangerously reaching a tipping point where it may no longer be possible to hold danger at bay’.