By Ilori Ogunmola, Reporting
A canada-based Nigerian legal practitioner, Ayokunle Odekunle, popularly known as Oddy, has passed after a prolonged battle with gastric cancer.
The figure on X, formerly Twitter, passed on Friday in Canada.
He was diagnosed of the ailment in 2020.
Nigerian-born former Minister of Justice and Solicitor-General of Alberta, Kaycee Madu, announced Odekunle’s passing on Saturday.
He said in a statement posted on X, thus: “It is with profound sadness that I bring to you that our dear brother, friend and colleague, Ayokunle Odekunle @oddy4real, lost his courageous battle with Stage 4 cancer this evening.
“Ayo was a brilliant, young lawyer who sacrificed so much to be called to the Alberta Bar this past June whilst terminally ill. We had hoped for a miracle.
“Ayo was so looking forward to enjoying the practice of law and prayed for a second chance so he could devote his healthy self to his beloved wife, Halimah. He loved his wife and two beautiful young children.
“In his lifetime, he stood for justice, merit and good governance. Ayo didn’t care where you come from, religion or ethnicity, and so long as you are a good person who stood for good, he will support you. He wanted the best for his fellow human beings.”
Stonix News reports that Odekunle was an alumnus of the University of Ibadan where he graduated in 2011 before he was called to the Nigerian Bar.
Although actively involved in litigation, his passion for writing spurred him to publish op-eds and commentaries on several media platforms, including YNaija.
He also appeared on several television programmes to deconstruct topical issues in Nigeria and across the globe.
Sadly, Odekunle was recently called to the Alberta Bar in June 2023 whilst terminally ill.
Meanwhile, encomiums have been pouring in from across all strata for the late lawyer.
Among netizens commiserating the untimely demise of Odekunle is immediate past governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, describing him as “a rare young man.”
The former governor, in a post on his X handle, said: “The insightfulness of his tweets, the passion of his support for our party and myself, and the intentionality of his actions that he shared with us online, showed that he was a young man that was already doing great things and was destined to do even more.
“Sadly, that young, brilliant and promising life has been cut short by cancer. This is why, it is with great sadness, that my family and I send our heartfelt condolences to Oddy’s wife Halimah, their two beautiful children, and the PDP family.”
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