July 31, (THEWILL) – The age-long quarrel between the woman Leader of the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Jumoke Okoya-Thomas and Kemi Nelson, socialite and a former South West Zonal woman leader of APC, has finally been resolved, following the latter’s death.
It would be recalled that Nelson, who was the Yeyesewa of Lagos, died on Sunday, July 17, 2022, sending shock waves across the Lagos political and social establishment. In her reaction, Okoya-Thomas expressed sadness over the sad event. She described it as a great loss to the APC, adding that Nelson would be greatly missed as a woman of great strength, an irreplaceable political icon and a grassroots mobiliser. She also recognised the deceased’s contributions to the development of the APC in Lagos State and how that her life was worthy of emulation.
Not a few people were impressed that Okoya-Thomas put aside her differences with Nelson and recognised her place in Lagos politics, while celebrating her life and times.
Before Nelson’s demise, their relationship was far from cordial. Their rivalry began in 2018. THEWILL gathered that the bone of contention between both women was simply over the position of Women Leader of the APC in the state, which Nelson the deceased once occupied and Okoya-Thomas currently occupies. All efforts made by their mutual friends to have them reconciled was allegedly rebuffed by both parties and this continued till January 2022 when Okoya-Thomas celebrated her 65th birthday. Nelson was conspicuously absent.
Nelson was former Executive Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), a position she held till May 2021 when Buhari sacked her alongside other top management staff of the agency, following the recommendations of a Presidential Joint Board and Audit Investigation Panel which investigate the infractions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, and the Financial Regulations (FR) in the NSITF. Until her demise, she was the only female member of APC presidential flag bearer, Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s influential Governance Advisory Council in Lagos.
Nelson was reportedly unwell for a while, treating undisclosed ailments at different hospitals. At some point, she seemed to get better and even held a special thanksgiving service on May 8, 2022. But unknown to her, death lurked nearby. Two months later, she was struck by a strange ailment. She never recovered from it. She was 66 years-old at the time of her death.
Okoya-Thomas on her part is the daughter of late industrialist, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, a former chairman of CFAO Nigeria Limited and the Asoju Oba of Lagos. She was a three-time member of the Federal House of Representatives where she chaired the committee on Public Procurement and the House Committee of prisons.
Ivory Ukonu is a versatile journalist with many years of experience, with entertainment and society reporting as her area of core competence.
