President Muhammadu Buhari’s delegation was in Ikenne, Ogun State yesterday to commiserate with the Awolowo family over the demise of its matriarch, Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu (HID) Awolowo. The late Mrs Awolowo may get s state burial.
When Buhari received the news of Mama Awo’s death on Saturday, he called the family of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to commiserate with them. Besides, his office wrote a condolence letter.The late Chief Awolowo was the grandmother of Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, the vice president’s wife
Buhari, according to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, described the late Mrs Awolowo as “an institution in her own right” and “a model of motherhood”.He said to the Osinbajos that the late Chief Awolowo was one of the greatest women political icons in Africa who was revered for her remarkable virtues.
Buhari also noted that her shinning virtues as “a great mother, wife and motivator”, would live after her.
The President’s delegation, which met the Vice President and other members of the Awolowo family at Ikenne, was led by Mallam Abba Kyari, the Chief of Staff.
He was accompanied by the Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF), Babachir David Lawal, the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt.-Gen. Abayomi Gabriel Olanishakin and the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Air Vice Marshal Morgan Monday.
The delegation extended his condolences to the family, the government and people of Ogun State over the death of Mrs. Awolowo.
The SGF said the President was willing to give a beffiting state burial to HID if the family permitted.
He said: “I was with the President when the Vice President broke the news of our mother’s transition and you could see from the President’s contenance that he was disturbed.
“ As believers, we believe death is the beginning of good things to come and we are consoled by the fact that we know our mother, our grandmother, our great grand mother, our sister, our aunt, etc. has gone to be with the Lord.
“Therefore, having reached a ripe age, we only can celebrate and thank God for her life, we are not supposed to mourn. However we know death, no matter how old you are, is a thing of sorrow not of joy because nobody would want to lose a loved one.
“We have this to say that Mama had lived a fulfilled life. Mama fulfilled the saying that ‘behind a successful man, there is a successful, strong, courageous and bold woman’, I think Mama was that. Mama lived an exemplary life for the Yoruba people and Nigeria.
“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 grand daughter, so, this is something that saddens us.
Chief Awolowo died at 99.
Apart from the presidential delegation, governors, former governors, former public office holders and elder statesmen visited the Awolowos.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, whose wife is a granddaughter of the late Chief Awolowo was on hand to join the children and grandchildren to receive visitors.
Chief (Mrs) Tola Oyediran and Dr. Mrs Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu, her two surviving children, were joined by grandchildren to host visitors.
Governors Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo) were in attendance.
There were also All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, Chief Segun Osoba, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and elder statesmen Alhaji Lateef Jakande and Chief Olaniwun Ajayi.
Also there were Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Ogun Commissioner of Police Abdulmajid Ali, Senators Iyiola Omisore, Biyi Durojaiye , Anthony Adefuye and Adegbenga Kaka and Mr Dapo Abiodun among others.
They all signed the condolence register.
A short service was held in the Family Chapel in honour of the late matriarch.
The service was conducted by ý Ven. Emmanuel Adegbuyi and officiating ministers from the Diocese of Remo, Anglican Communion.
A minute silence was also observed in her honour during the service.
Describing how her mother died in her arms, Awolowo-Dosunmu told reporters that the late business woman was devoted to God until her last breath.
Awolowo-Dosunmu, a former Ambassador of Nigeria to Holland, said that the family was happy about the accolades her late mother received following her passage.
She said her mother impacted positively on the lives of both the high and low, promising that her legacy would be kept by the family.
“She was in high spirits before she left us and didn’t give us room to suspect the contrary as she kept praying for us.
“Whether she had a premonition about her death, we will never know for sure as she kept singing and praising God. It was her voice of prayer that we heard last.
“That moment was huge and we are glad to receive her final blessings. Mama eventually breathed her last in my arms,’’ she said.
Asked what she would miss most about her mother, Awolowo-Dosunmu, the last child of the matriarch said, “her wise counsel and motherly care obviously.’’
She expressed sadness that the late Awolowo could not live to mark her centennial birthday scheduled for Nov. 25.
“This is very sudden for us. If anyone had told us that Mama would breathe her last yesterday, we would have argued till thy kingdom come.
“ I am still trying to come to terms with the fact that she’s gone. I feel very disappointed and wished she had the opportunity to see how much she meant to everyone,’’ she said.
Mrs Oyediran gave further insight into her mother’s last moment before she passed away.
Mrs Oyediran said Mama requested for pounded yam with vegetable soup for her breakfast which she objected to on the grounds that at her age, she shouldn’t have a heavy meal for breakfast.
The daughter added that a light food, pap was prepared and served her as breakfast and thereafter, began to hold series of meeting with them and other relatives in respect of the envisaged Centenary birthday slated for November 25.
Mrs Oyediran spoke at the Efunyela Hall at the Awolowo home while briefing the Vice – President Tinubu, Governors Aregbesola, Ambode and Ajumobi and others.
According to HID’s eldest daugter, at launch time, mama ate pounded yam and vegetable soup before retiring to the bed to observe her siesta but shortly, someone called to notify the family that Mama was having difficulty with breathing.
She said: “She passed away in the presence of three generations, her life is big challenge to us, she kept the faith, kept the Nigerian Tribune 27 years after the death of Papa, we are still in a state of shock.”