A permanent secretary in the Ogun State civil service has died barely 48 hours after being sworn into office.
Mrs. Olubunmi Odumusi died in her sleep on Friday night, her family said. She was 57.
Relatives said she died after a prolonged battle with cancer, after being at treated local and foreign hospitals at a huge financial cost.
Mrs. Odumusi, a journalist, joined the civil service and rose the position of director in the state Ministry of Information and Strategy.
She was in the United States of America for medical treatment when she received the news of her promotion as Permanent Secretary. She flew back to attend the inauguration and attended the event on wheelchair on Thursday.
As news of her passing spread Saturday, sympathisers thronged the family home at Sam Ewang Estate in Abeokuta.
Her heartbroken husband wept, clasping the body of his departed wife. The body was later taken to the Neuro Psychiatric Hospital.
A family source said Mrs. Odumusi went to bed on Friday, but failed to wake up in the morning.
Reacting to the death, former Governor Gbenga Daniel praised Mrs. Odumusi as a “gem” and said she was very hardworking in his administration.
”I join others in commiserating with the families of Mrs Olubunmi Odumusi. I have a vivid recollection of her as one of the very hardworking Directors who bought into the vision of our administration quite early,” Mr. Daniel said.
“She was very active in the Regional Master Plan of the state which we did and was one of the topmost advocate of the Master Plan. Ogun State service has indeed lost a gem and my prayer is that God in his mercies will grant the family the grace to bear this painful loss at a time when they should be celebrating her promotion. Adieu,” the former governor wrote.
A former Information Commissioner, Doyin Ogunbiyi, who worked closely with the deceased, lamented the loss and expressed shock over the incident.
“She replied my congratulatory message oo yesterday …so sad. She was one of my trusted and hardworking staff as Commissioner in the Ministry of Information Youth Sports and Culture then, also Mrs Yetunde Kujore and Barr Demola Badejo..These trio were most efficient and reliable…,” she said.
