These are indeed trying times for the family of former speaker of House of Representatives, Honourable Dimeji Bankole. According to information, the dude has just lost his daughter to the cold hands of death.
It was confirmed, 7 years old Yewande, who was born a sickle cell patient gave up the ghost on Wednesday night. Yewande, we learnt was being treated in a Lagos hospital before she was moved to the United Kingdom for proper and better medical treatment, but all the effort proved abortive as the little girl eventually gave up the ghost.
Yewande was the first of the two children of Bankole and his wife, Olaitan (née Akinlade). Her birth took place in Ghana, while Olaitan was rounding off her medical studies at the University of Legon, Accra, Ghana.
A statement from the family reads: “With gratitude to Almighty Allah and with heavy hearts we announce the demise of our daughter Yewande Semiat Bankole aged 7 years old, at a London hospital. Yewande was the grand daughter of Chief Alani Suara Bankole and the daughter of Rt. Hon. Dimeji Sabur Bankole.
Yewande was born with Sickle cell disease. She was a radiant girl who struggled with the disease. We originally managed her condition at a Lagos hospital but later transferred to a London hospital. Sadly we lost her at 10.30pm on Wednesday October 1st, 2014.
Her remains will be buried according to Islamic rites.
We wish to thank you for your prayers and support at this very trying time.
May almighty Allah make our affairs easy.”
Dimeji, who has his gaze on the governorship seat of Ogun State and mother of the deceased, Olaitan, nee Akinlade, got married in a low key wedding few years back while the former was still the number four man of the country some years back.