Human Rights Activist and Executive Director of Adopt A Goal Initiative, AAGI, Ariyo-Dare Atoye has died of Lung Cancer in Abuja on Thursday.
Popular activist Deji Adeyanju, his colleague, announced the death of the AAGI boss in his verified Twitter page on Thursday afternoon.
Our correspondent has it on good authority that Adeyanju and friends had initiated a fund raising process with plans to get an air ambulance to fly him to the UK for urgent medical attention.
A close ally of the late Ariyo said he had a cough and was treated for COVID 19 as the medical facility did not diagnose lung cancer.
The source saying d the late activist was not smoking nor drinking so Kung cancer was not suspected.
It was learnt that the cancer had got to an advanced level when it was discovered.
“My brother comrade Ariyo Dare Atoye has gone to be with the Lord. He was looking at me till the last moment. From God, we came, and it is certain to Him we will return.” He twitted.
It was gathered that the activist had been in critical health condition for weeks.
Also, he was said to have sent a short text message while on his sick bed to SaharaReporters in mid-October, adding that he needed prayers from Nigerians to save his life.
The text message reads, “Activist Ariyo-Dare Atoye is in a critical health condition. Down but not out, Jesus got me, pray for me.”
He would be remembered as a strong and uncompromised, versitle human rights crusader of justice and anti- oppression, forces, and actions that undermines civic and media rights.
Ariyo-Dare Atoye played a major role in the movement for passage and signing of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2022 into law through a coalition called Civil Society Partners on Electoral Reform (CiSPER).