HID Awolowo
• FG sends delegation to family’s country home
Tobi Soniyi in Abuja and Sheriff Balogun in Abeokuta with agency report
Sympathisers yesterday continued to throng the Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State
residence of the Awolowos to commiserate with the family over the death
of its matriarch, Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, who died on Saturday.
The late businesswoman and wife of the late statesman and foremost politician, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, died on Saturday at 99 years, barely two months to her 100th birthday.
Awolowo died shortly after a meeting on Saturday with members of her family.
Among the early callers were a former member of the National Assembly, Senator Adegbenga Kaka; former Minister of Transport, Chief Ebenezer Babatope; and a former Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande.
Other sympathisers at the residence were National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, his Oyo and Osun State counterparts, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and Rauf Aregbesola, former Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and former interim National Chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande.
Other dignitaries present at the Awolowo’s residence included Mrs. Christie Ayo-Adebanjo; Ms. Corin Solarin, and a former Ogun State Governor, Chief Segun Osoba.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that they all signed the condolence register opened in honour of Awolowo at the residence.
A short service was also held in the family chapel, Efunyela Hall, in honour of the late matriarch.
The service was conducted by Venerable Emmanuel Adegbuyi an officiating ministers from the Diocese of Remo, Anglican Communion.
A minute silence was also observed in her honour during the service.
Adegbuyi urged those in attendance to utilise their resources, time and name in promoting humanitarian services like the deceased did in her lifetime.
“Mama Awolowo was a respecter of time and people in all her endeavours while on earth.
“Time and tide wait for no one and there is a time for everything, a time for birth and departure. We should all make good use of our time like we saw in mama’s life.
“We thank God for the way He gave her the opportunity to maximise her potential. This serves as a lesson to all of us that we should make good use of our time because we shall all give account of our stewardship one day,” he said.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and his family over the death of the matriarch of the Awolowo family.
The deceased is the grandmother of Dolapo, the vice-president's wife.
The president, in his condolence message to Osinbajo, described Mrs. Awolowo as “an institution in her own right and a model of motherhood”.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Mr. Garba Shehu, Buhari told the Osinbajos that the late Hanna Idowu Dideolu was one of the greatest female political icons in Africa.
The president said Awolowo was deservingly revered for her remarkable virtues.
Buhari noted that her shining virtues as a great mother, wife and motivator would live after her.
The statement added that the president dispatched a powerful federal government delegation to condole with the Awolowo family at Ikenne, Ogun State.
The delegation, which met the vice-president and other members of the Awolowo family, was led by the Chief of Staff to the president, Mr. Abba Kyari.
He was accompanied by the Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF) Babachir David Lawal, Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. Gen. Abayomi Gabriel Olanishakin and the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Air Vice Marshal Monday Riku Morgan as well as Ambassador Oke.
Speaking on behalf of the federal government delegation, which was led by Lawal, he conveyed the president’s message of condolence to the entire Awolowo family, the Yoruba people, Nigerians and Africans at large.
Lawal said he was with the president when Osinbajo broke the news of Awolowo’s death to him, and from his (president’s) countenance he was disturbed.
“We have this to say that mama lived a fulfilled life. Mama fulfilled the saying that ‘behind a successful man, there is a successful, strong, courageous and bold woman’.
“Mama lived an exemplary life for the Yoruba people. Our regret in government is that mama did not live long enough to see the transformation that this country will undergo with the active participation of her son-in-law, with the active participation of her grand daughter, so this is something that saddens us,” he added.
Continuing, the SGF said had the late matriarch waited for one or two more years, “I am sure she would have left this world a very, very happy woman indeed because the fulfillment of what she stood for and what her husband stood for would have finally come to fruition”.
“On behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari who has also offered to participate in all activities leading to final interment, if Awolowo family is gracious enough to give him the opportunity to do so. We mourn her loss and convey our condolences to the Awolowo family, the Yoruba people, the people and government of Ogun State and Nigerians in general,” he said.
Also addressing sympathisers, Osinbajo said the late Awolowo lived all her life for a one united Nigeria.
He said the matriarch of the Awolowo family was a repository of knowledge and a custodian of information, adding that she was a great lover of people.
He expressed sadness that she did not live to witness a new Nigeria of her dream, stressing that ”we are in mourning at this moment, although we celebrate mama at this time. For some of us, mama knew us even when we were born”.
Going down memory lane, the vice-president added: “I don't even know how to describe the sense of loss because mama has always been there. Whenever you thought about home, be rest assured that mama will be there.
“Even when papa was not around, mama was always there, always available, always around. I think that one of the great things that has been said is all about her great love for people.
“She had a personal relationship with practically everybody – those who were family members and those who were not. Many times she would call us up and say you have not called her in weeks and she would remind you of the previous conversation that she had with you.
“She was always very caring, devoted and loving. We all know that she stood by papa, so solidly that he had to describe her as the most important part of his life.
“He said repeatedly, aside from describing her as his jewel of inestimable value, that he would not know what he could have done without her but she survived him and lived so long thereafter.
“We all looked forward to her 100th birthday but we heard the sad news on Saturday that mama has departed.”
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