With the consent and at the request of the biological children, I announce, with profound sadness, the transition to eternity of COMRADE (PA) OYEKAN ARIJE, a foremost Labour Leader and Socialist, who passed on in the early hours of Tuesday, 18 August 2026, at the age of 87.
Comrade Oyekan Arije had been active in the labour movement since the ‘60s. He was the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the late ‘70s till early ‘80s during which period I was a Youth Corper with the NLC in old Ondo State.
The life of Comrade Oyekan Arije was defined by a commitment and passionate identification with the struggles of the working class and the downtrodden for justice and freedom from the economic and political shackles of the capitalist ruling class. Throughout his lifetime, Comrade Arije joined and led social forces in striving to build a new society and world that serves the interest of the masses.
In 2004, the two trade union centres in Nigeria (the NLC and TUC) jointly celebrated the year’s May Day in Ondo State and jointly conferred on him the award of “Pillar of Labour”.
We wish the principled, committed, irrepressible, incorruptible, non-compromising, courageous, outspoken trade union activist, mentor, Pastor, community leader, defender of the weak, arrowhead of the Nigerian labour movement and Patriarch of the Majuwa Ruling House and the entire Akenneyin Dynasty of Mahin Kingdom eternal peaceful rest.
Femi Aborisade, Esq.
19th August 2026