Mumini Alao, others express shock at Tinubu’s demise

Some notable sports stakeholders in the country on Friday mourned the sudden demise of Deji Tinubu, a former Senior Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on sports.
Tinubu, 54, slumped on Thursday while taking part in a novelty football match during a retreat organised by the Lagos State Government in Epe, and was later pronounced dead.
Tayo Balogun, a renowned sports analyst, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that the deceased was a thoroughbred professional who dedicated his life to sport development.
Balogun said: “It’s quite sad that Deji is no more, but his memory lives on in the heart of those that knew him because of his passion for sport.
“We should always live everyday as if it will be our last day.’’
In the same vein, Debo Oshundun, the Chairman of the Lagos Chapter of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria described Tinubu as a perfect gentleman who was passionate about football and sports generally.
Oshundun said: “The news of Tinubu’s death is shocking, I heard about it last night, but refused to believe it.
“He was a fine gentleman and good member of SWAN, in spite of his high political office he always identified with us in all our programmes.
“He played for his organisation, Sports vision in most of the SWAN Cup competitions; in fact he was the most valuable player in the 2015 edition.
“He lived football, he ate football, wrote football, talked football, he slept on football; and he died playing the beautiful game, we shall miss him greatly.’’
Also, Mumuni Alao, a renowned sports journalist described Tinubu’s demise as the most shocking news in 2018.
Alao said: “I saw him last at a charity event at Campos square; Deji was very passionate about the development of sports.
“He was smart, I can’t believe he is gone; he wanted what’s best for football development in the country.
“It’s a great loss to Lagos state and Nigeria as a whole.’’
The late Deji Tinbu was recently redeployed to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in a recent cabinet reshuffle carried out by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode as a senior special adviser.