Report reaching The Eagle Online has it that the late Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Funmilayo Olayinka, died specifically of complications from breast cancer.
Indeed, reports from authoritative sources said the amiable first lady had one of her breasts removed in 2009 to prevent the spread of the almost incurable ailment, just as it was learnt that Olayinka did not die at the prestigious St. Nicholas Hospital in Lagos but in another highly rated hospital in Lagos.
Sources told The Eagle Online that Olayinka’s battle with cancer started in 2009 when she was diagnosed of having cancer of the breast.
Olayinka, who stood for election with Governor kayoed Fayemi in 2007, was said to have had health challenges in 2008 that necessitated her having to travel to the United Kingdom for a series of tests.
It was the tests that revealed that she had cancer of the breast.
In 2009, she was said to have had chemotherapy to stop the spread of the cancer.
That was between August and September 2009.
However, the cancer did not stop spreading.
One of her breasts had to be removed to contain the disease.
The disease was said to have been concentrated more around the left breast.
Sources said after the removal of one of the breasts, the ailment abated.
But it was later to resurface.
This time around, it was around the spine area.
Olayinka was said to have been given the best of treatment both in Nigeria and abroad between 2009 and Saturday when she died.
She made use of highly recommended hospitals in Nigeria, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
One of the hospitals she used in Nigeria was St. Nicholas Hospital.
Sources, however, told The Eagle Online that she did not die in the hospital.
Her husband was reported to be with her when she breathed her last on Saturday at another highbrow hospital.
One of the sources said: “She got the best of medical attention while she was alive.
“She was such a courageous lady as she did not betray any sign of illness until things got worse in January this year and she felt she could no longer continue with just being away for a week for treatment but required a lot more time to attend to herself.
“And this was only in January this year.
“She fought a great battle to stay alive to serve her people.”
The Chairman of the Ekiti State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Chief Jide Awe, spoke loftily about Olayinka on Monday during a meeting with chieftains of the party and a media briefing.
Awe said Olayinka had a sense of responsibility and always briefed him as the leader of the party anytime she needed to go for treatment.
He said what was amazing was that anytime Olayinka returned from her treatment, she was always back in the office within 24 hours.
