The Nation Newspaper

Tag: awolowo

  • One year on

    One year on

    Lagos has always been a place of small beginnings. A small port town, a puny army, a humble royalty, a seeming patch of land, straggles of settlers. During the Yoruba Wars, it snorted under the shadows of valiant horsemen and kabooms of gunfire exchanges.

    But it has not taken its smallness with humility. It is as though it is haunted by Prophet Isaiah: “A little shall become a thousand and a small one a strong nation.”

    In the past century and a half, Lagos has dwarfed everyone. It has moved from a tiny port town to a towering harbinger of commerce. It hosts the banks and money, the entrepreneur, soldiers of destiny and the great bards. The nationalist twitted the imperialist, from Macaulay to Azikiwe to Awolowo.

    Its heroes have always followed a trajectory from the unknown. I.K. Dairo, Fajemirokun, Gani Fawehinmi, Awolowo, et al. It is the place where Nigerians have patented their geniuses. One of such narratives is in the offing.

    The story of Akinwunmi Ambode had such a heady start from when he became his party candidate. The PDP had its Jimi Agbaje, and he was in the flush of PDP largesse. His supporters said he was the one. Some young and some professionals and some ethnic stalwarts coalesced. They said Agbaje was the winning formula. They said he had the gift of the garb, a winsome look, a charisma that did not go beyond a nifty suit and rakish fila, or Yoruba cap. He spoke about grandiose topics like “ocean economy” and a murky agenda for the youth.

    Agbaje wore the false garb gladly. He pivoted towards the idol of the tribe, and he raked up tribal hate among Lagosians. He said he was going to elevate the Igbo as a kingdom, at least fiefdoms, in Lagos by ranking their chief on an equal pedestal with the Oba of Lagos. President Jonathan rolled into Lagos to back his separatist and Balkanising agenda. In the heat of the campaign, they had decided to give phantom contracts and offices.

    In fact, a crop of ethnic lawyers amassed money to throw a victory party a week to the polls to celebrate the “takeover of Lagos” as though it was some form of military encounter. Lagosians thought differently and voted for commonsense over clannishness, continuity over brashness, competence over showmanship.

    But as governor, he did not slide into a party. A few stumbles happened early on. Crime smeared the city, and here and there we witnessed fear and trembling. A mere anarchy of hoodlums took over streets and some major arteries. Compounded by a heady traffic snarl, Lagos cast back to military-era melee. PDP critics leapt into the fray and thought that the Lagos voters erred. A temporary Agbaje nostalgia rent the political space. As Mahatma Ghandi noted, “we shall stumble and fall and rise again…”

    So, Governor Ambode never expressed public alarm or rhetorical opprobrium. All he assured Nigerians was that he was working, and he soon would turn everything to rights. A few months later, he fazed the city with an unprecedented supply of security cars, motorcycles, helicopters, walkie-talkies and other gizmos. A new regime of safety suddenly burst into town. The crime lords retreated. Also in a short while, the traffic snarl was contained.

    As he turns one as the helmsman of Lagos, few remember their grumbles. Even the critics have become grudging adulators. Following a tradition of Asiwaju Tinubu and Fashola, he has stamped his signature early. His appetite for development is big. I told a few critics who read this column that they should wait and they would be convinced. I said I had met him a few times before the election and knew he bounced with great zeal, ideas and competence. His resume, I said, was one of the best for governance we ever had in this country. Having worked in all parts of Lagos, he knew where the city hurt and healed.

    Some of them wrote to flay him in the early going, and I counseled patience. Once he settled in, some of them drew my attention to some things he had done even before I knew.

    Some of his early kudos have been in the area of rural Lagos. His infrastructure work, building roads with dual carriage patterns and opening some of the rustic part of the city have impressed citizens. I drove through the Third Mainland Bridge one night, and my car stopped when the security gadget tripped. I had no fear because the bridge was almost like daylight. The long, serpentine stretch of the bridge over the lagoon revealed every detail of lanes and automobile zipping by. No hoodlum could have menaced me without consequences, especially with police also at the ready. A friend once told me that right from work to home at night, all the streets are lighted.

    One of his virtues is his knowledge of the economy. With the economy in bad straits, it now looks like serendipity that an Ambode should hold the state. And he has proved the man to do it. With deft management of the infrastructure of collection, Lagos is perhaps the only prosperous state in the federation today. In the United States, California and New York are regarded separately as world economies, just like Ontario in Canada. Lagos can stand today as an economy in Africa, besting most countries. In the first quarter of this year, the state curled in N101 billion as revenue. This is why Lagos can also boldly pursue grand projects. For instance, Ambode just signed an MOU for the fourth mainland bridge, which could be completed before his first term is over, all things being equal. He also has started what might be the medical mecca of West Africa in Ikoyi.

    He has turned a whole community into a habitat of light, in Ibeju-Lekki where the government is paying the light bill until they get their metres.

    He is doing all these and more without what some thought was his inability to give soaring oratory. Ambode is a man of policy, not a figure of speech. He acts and allows his work, not words, to tell his story. The narrative, so far, is turning him into the alpha governor of today.

     

    Goodbye, Ali

    It was in 1979 at the Tafawa Balewa Square, and I was a student trying to board a bus home. Suddenly, a crowd surged outside the façade of the stadium, and I looked. To my astonishment, the man at the centre was a light-skinned fellow of buxom build faking boxing exchanges with little boys who were ecstatic to return their own fake jabs. The man, with handsome look and dainty footwork, was Muhammed Ali. He was visiting Nigeria to campaign over some humanitarian issue.

    That was my only sighting of Ali. The Greatest died, and I join others to mourn this great black man. He lived a life that is lacking today. A world where religion can be a platform for humane causes. A world where tribe and cant have replaced a multicultural bliss. We have BREXIT, Trump, ISIS, Boko Haram. He was a pugilist for justice. He fought against racism as a conscientious objector when others allowed themselves to die in an America that treated them as sub-human.

  • ‘How the North chased Awo with bees’

    ‘How the North chased Awo with bees’

    Pa Raheem Olajide Adegbite was a youth leader of the defunct political party, Action Group in Remo in the early 1940s through till  1967. Now at 85, the old man looks back at those exciting days, when the enigmatic late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his contemporaries bestrode the politics of the time with lofty ideals and rivalries. He spoke to Taiwo Abiodun about the politics of the time.

    HUNG on the wall of his living room were youth photographs of him with prominent people of his time on different political occasions. In one of them, the chubby-cheeked youth was with the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and a monarch in 1958; in another, he was with party leaders and supporters among others in his prim black suit and tie; whilst in yet another,  he was reading out a speech while the late Awolowo sat with a monarch and looked on.

    Now an octogenarian, Pa Raheem Olajide Adegbite paused, brought out another picture, gave it to this reporter and spoke slowly, as he pointed at a figure. “This is the late Tai Solarin in the middle, delivering his speech when we visited him at his Mayflower School, Ikenne.”

    Uncle Tai, as he was popularly called, was in a Yoruba flowing gown (agbada) and it was on an occasion when the youths were coming from a meeting with the late Awolowo in 1960.

    As he sorted quietly through some more papers and documents, Adegbite, who was then youth leader and Social Secretary of the Action Group party, Remo Division in the then Western Region (now Ogun state) spotted his old membership card, with the inscription, ‘Action Group Youth Membership Card’ and the palm tree symbol on it, picked it up and brandished it with pride.

    Said Adegbite with visible nostalgia, “The late Awo,” as Chief Awolowo was fondly called, “was an enigma, faithful and strong leader, whom the youths of the time looked up to; believing in his ideas and principles to deliver his political manifestos. Awo was known to us generally; he was simple and spoke to us in the language we understood.”

    My Closeness to Awo

    Adegbite, who hails from Sagamu, the divisional capital of Remo in the old Western Region, was however quick to say that he didn’t have any special closeness to the late sage, except that “as secretary of the youth wing of the Action Group Party, I used to go to him with one Mr. Makanjuola Lawal.”

    Reminiscing further, he said: “What I understand about him was his greatness, agility, brilliance, dexterity in politics, humility and faithfulness. He was a gift to Nigeria; little wonder he was described as the ‘best president Nigeria never had.’ He was a clean man; very clean and straightforward. His type of politics is rare. He possessed that magnetic power, such that wherever he was, he enjoyed loud ovation. He was just great.”

    Passage of time

    Just as he reflected on the passage of most of his contemporaries with whom he rocked the political terrain in the 1940s and 1960s, Adegbite said he is pained that the late Awolowo died without becoming president of Nigeria as his followers wanted. “Many of us who were members of the youth wing have passed on. Even though I am based in Lagos and have not been going home regularly, I can still remember people like L. Abiodun, Amusa Shittu, Isiaka Adewale, Mustapha Erinle, M.O. Akodu, although I am not too sure who is still alive or gone amongst them even as I speak.

    The Awo campaign train

    Reflecting on the campaign train, Adegbite said “Whenever Awo arrived at a campaign ground, people would cheer and cheer and cheer because of his charisma, exposure, education and promising manifesto. He was treated with honour and respect. He was an icon, an idol. Whenever there was a campaign, I would be asked to mobilise our people to meet him. I was the social secretary and it was my job to go round and announce his coming. It was a highly honourable job to do and an influential position too.  I used to go with him to the campaign ground anytime he came to Remo.”

    The many attacks on Awo

    Adegbite confirmed the hostilities among politicians of the time and the use of voodoo, assassination and verbal attacks on the late Awo. “Yes, the politicians used juju to attack one another. Then assassination was not as rampant as we have these days, so Awolowo was attacked several times with juju. He was also verbally and physically attacked; but he always escaped unhurt because he was very powerful. There was a time he went to Oyo town with the late Bode Thomas and they were accused of being rude to the Alaafin of Oyo (the father of the present Alaafin). It was alleged that somebody used juju on them, but Awo was not affected. The rest, like they say, is history.

    “Not only that. The Igbos refused to vote for Awo, alleging that he had campaigned that he would ban stock fish, which is a popular item amongst them. Up north, he went to campaign and they said he was a pagan and stoned him. They even sent bees to sting him, but he brought out his handkerchief and warded them off. But in spite of all these, he made friends amongst Northern leaders like the late Aminu Kano, JS Tarka amongst other.”

    Penkelemess

    Asked to explain what the ‘penkelemess’ slogan was all about, Adegbite said “From the beginning there was friendship. Awo was in Action Group and the late Adegoke Adelabu, who was an Ibadan indigene, used to say all what Awo was doing was ‘a peculiar mess.’ They used to tackle him by going to motor parks, but Awolowo used to do his own in a very decent way.”

    As a rule, no civil servant could join in active politics, but Adegbite sort of contravened that instruction, as he participated actively in politics as secretary of Remo Local Government. But that, he said, was possible because he was a member of Action Group and Action Group was the ruling party at the time.

    The Awo magic

    On the story that Awo performed magic by writing his name in the sky during a campaign, the old man laughed and said it was not magic but scientific. “Awo only flew a balloon in the air and wrote Action Group on it. That was new then and everybody looked at him in amazement.”

    The AG crisis

    At this point Adegbite said he didn’t want to talk about the crisis any longer but volunteered that it was a result of a power tussle between Awo and Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola between 1952-59. “Awo was Premier of the Western Region, but had to go on to play federal politics. But when he came back and wanted his seat back from Akintola, there was a disagreement and this led to a split in the party ranks, as some people followed Akintola, while some followed Awolowo.”

    Again, when there was a need for the party to form an alliance, Awo wanted the NCNC but Akintola preferred to go with the NPC (Northern People’s Congress) led by the Sardauna, late Sir Ahmadu Bello, because he could speak the Hausa language. But this led to rioting all over the place, with people burning houses in the South-West. Many houses were burnt in Sagamu, Iperu, Ishara, Ode Remo, Ikenne and other places. Many ran away for their dear lives , while majority of us could no longer attend party meetings. But Awo was not happy with the situation and appealed to the people for calm.”

    An ardent Awo disciple, Adegbite said, “Our hope was that if Awo became president, he would provide employment for the youth; but since he lost, he couldn’t do anything and there was bitterness amongst his supporters in Remo and Sagamu and elsewhere, where people believed in him.

    Adegbite said it was a sadder occasion, when Awolowo was jailed in 1963. “People were not happy about it; he was our messiah; he was an idol amongst the youth.”

    God, greater than all

    The former youth leader was however not happy with the way the late sage’s body was treated after his demise, arguing that it was against God’s wish for a dead body to be preserved forever. “I was in Ikenne after he died to pay my condolence and pen down my thought in the register, but I believe he should have been buried thereafter.”

    He said the attempt to preserve his body, however failed, when his remains began to rot and the family had to hurriedly bury him. “It showed us that God is powerful and greater than us all.”

    While admitting that Awo had his weaknesses, Adegbite said he is still baffled by his ability to woo people, likening it to a magic wand. “People would be held speech-bound for hours, shouting ‘Awo!, Awo!!, Awo!!!’ He was a good leader, no doubt; a good teacher and a pace-setter. He was the first to bring television and radio to Nigeria.”

    Was Awo a proud man?

    The self-confessed Awoist said: “I cannot say he was proud, but he knew what he wanted. He used to say ‘It’s not life that matters but the courage you put into it.’

    “I followed his principles. I have only one wife. I am honest and will never steal a pin. After retiring from working at the Remo Council, I also worked at Nigerian Paper Converters; manufacturers of “Day by Day ” toilet paper, drinking straws, printing and stationery manufacturers. When I resigned from there, I went into rug business and retired into selling cement.”

    Asked if his sticking to one woman was all about following Awo, he said: “My father had three wives; my grand-dad had five wives, but they were always quarrelling. My mother actually wanted me to have more wives but I said ‘no.’ When wives fight, they always sided with their children. I am 56 years in this marriage and we are still alive. I have no child outside and I am contented.”

    Between Buhari and Awo

    Adegbite  praised Buhari for trying to tackle corruption. He said “Buhari is in Awo’s shoes. Awo said he would probe the military but lost the election; but Buhari said the same and was elected. That is life. Now we are all seeing how corruption has destroyed the country. We should all support Buhari for toeing Awo’s line.”

  • How Awolowo met, married HID

    How Awolowo met, married HID

    the jewel, Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo’s journey into the heart of the sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo started in 1934; she was 22, beautiful and charming.

    It would be fair to say that the union was not an accident, but divinely ordained.

    The late Awolowo expressed their profound love when he described HID as ‘my jewel of inestimable value’. This would not have been made, if he had married his first intended girl – Augusta Omoriola Onafowokan.

    Awolowo had wanted to marry Augusta Onafowokan because she was the first Ikenne girl to attend a secondary school and after her course at the CMS seminary in Lagos, she worked at the colonial secretariat as a clerk.

    But Augusta’s father, Gabriel Onafowokan, who was the Native Administrative Treasurer of Ijebu Province and one of Ikenne’s most prominent citizens then, did not accept to Awolowo’s proposal for his daughter’s hand in marriage.

    Augusta’s father rejected the late Awolowo’s proposal because his daughter was already engaged to another man. Though it was painful, the late Awolowo took everything in his stride.

    The ever-determined Awolowo was not dampened by his inability to marry Augusta. His search for a woman that would assist him to realise his dream continued. The sage met his soul-mate, HID.

    One of his juniors at Wesley College, Ibadan, who told him about a young girl who just came back from Lagos, after her secondary school education. That young girl was Hannah Idowu Dideolu Adelana, who schooled at Methodist Girls High School, Broad Street, Lagos.

    Awolowo’s junior at Wesley College, eventually introduced the two to each other. Awolowo wrote Hannah tons of letters to convince her of his genuine intention.

    She succumbed to Awolowo’s overtures and they courted for another two years.

    On Saturday, December 26, 1937, they were joined in holy wedlock at Saint Saviour Church, Ikenne, Ijebu Province then.

    Looking back, HID said: “The first day I met my husband around 1934, in those days a man would propose to a woman through writing. Awolowo wrote me a letter that he was in love with me and wanted to marry me.”

    Awolowo crafted the letter with choice words and flowery language which swept HID off her feet.

    Looking back, she said: “I thank God for the good times we both spent together.”

    Before their wedding, they dated from 1934 to 1938. The courtship enabled them to build trust and love. The courtship offered HID the opportunity to understand that the person she was marrying was a political giant whose pains and triumphs she would share.

    The marriage was witnessed by friends and well-wishers and family members and it was solemnised in the traditional and Christian fashion. Awolowo’s best man was Chief Michael Oyewole. Also present during the wedding was the former Justice of the Western Region,  Justice Olujide Somolu

    Extolling the virtues of HID, Awo said throughout the changing fortune of his life, she did not only give him support, but also constantly motivated him not to falter in his service to mankind.

    HID did not allow whatever natural gift she got from God to get into her head. She was humble and generous as her abode became a rallying point for those in need. She offered wise counsel to those who approached her with their marital challenges

    Awolowo said her charm notwithstanding, HID was a humble spouse generous and ever-ready to help his friends and acquaintances.

    She was equally an epitome of courage, according to the late sage. Awolowo said: “I have that courage too but I am no match for her, in her exercise of infinite patience and forbearance under all manner of circumstances.”

    The sage who regarded HID as the only charm of his life equally got in return from his loyal wife the same feelings. He said: “I am sure she too regards me as an ideal husband.”

     

    He added: “She absorbs without a word of complaint all my occasional acts of irritability. But her unique virtue, she has been of immeasurable assistance to me in the duties attached to my career as a public man.”

    “She has taken more interviews and listened to far more representation from the members of the public than I have time or sometimes patience for.

    “I do not hesitate to confess that I owed my success in life to three factors; the grace of God, a Spartan self-discipline and a good wife. Our home is to all of us a true haven; a place of happiness, of imperturbable seclusion from the buffetings of life,” he said.

    He added: “It is on record to my wife’s credit that she never made financial demand on me throughout my stay in the United Kingdom. Besides, she always sent me good news every week about herself and the children.”

    “When I returned home, I learnt that she passed through many anxious times with the four children, the oldest of whom was only five when I left home and the youngest of whom arrived four months after my departure.”

    “It is a matter for joy and profound gratitude to Almighty God that our mutual love and devotion has been richly blessed. We have five children, two boys and three girls, the eldest of whom, Olusegun died in stragic circumstance in 1963. The others are Mrs Omotola Oyediran, Oluwole, Ayodele and Tokunbo,” he stated.

    A hard working woman, she later became a successful business woman and astute politician.

    She co-ordinated the women wing of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and always present at party caucuses. A successful business woman, she became the first Nigerian distributor for the Nigerian Tobacco Company (NTC) in 1957. She was the first to import lace material and other textiles into the country.

  • Mama HID influenced Awolowo to serve in my govt – Gowon

    Mama HID influenced Awolowo to serve in my govt – Gowon

    A delegation of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation headed by former Head of states, General Yakubu Gowon, on Thursday morning visited the Ikenne home of the Awolowo family to condole with them on the death of their matrirach, Chief (Mrs) Hannah Idowu Dideolu (HID) Awolowo.

    The delegation which include;  Prince Bola Ajibola, Chief Arthur Mbanefo, Prof. O .O Akinkungbe, Chief Richard Okafor,  Prof Funmi Soetan, Pa Olanihu Ajayi, Mr Olatomiwa Ashaolu among others were received into the Efunyela Hall within the Awolowo’s sprawling compound by Mama’s daughters – Mrs Omotola Oyediran and Dr Tokunbo Awolowo – Dosunmu, a member of the Foundation.

    Addressing the family, Gowon said the foundation was quite sad about the passing away of HID Awolowo, describing her as a great and distinguished woman.

    The ex – head of states who said he flew into Nigeria from London on account of HID’s death, added that the late matriarch of Awolowo family and Yeye Odua loved him and his wife, Victoria.

    Gowon revealed that were it not for Mama, he would not have been able to convince her husband, Chief Obafemi Awolowo to join his government as Finance Commissioner.

    While fielding questions from reporters, he urged Nigerians to be patient with President Mohammadu Buhari and his new government, expressing the confidence that Buhari would make Nigeria great and proud again.

    He said the country is a complex one to govern, adding that he needed time, support  and the patience of Nigerians to make things right.

    Still on the condolence visit, he noted that Mama stood solidly behind her husband through his political travails and also effectively manned the home front that enabled Papa Awolowo achieves great things in life.

    Gowon said: “we bring you greetings, we are on condolence visit by members of the Awolowo Foundation, and individually members have made contact with the family, paid courtesy call to the family of this great lady and matriarch of the Awolowo family. We are, and to pay our condolence to you on the passing away of such a great person.

    “The Foundation is very sad about the passing away of Mama, a very dear person to us and who has distinguished herself over the years. She stood with Papa when he tried and incarcerated, I make sure that he was – united with Mama.

    “Let me make it known that  it was through  Mama that  I got the consent and service of Pa Awolowo to join my government as Finance Commission and Economic Planning during the trying moment of our nation’s history.

    “And you all know what he did to ensure that we survived in that period of crisis in Nigeria, if Mama had not given her support, Papa Awolowo would not have served at that time. Mama was exceptionally good, she stood behind her husband in thick and thin, in good times and bad times. Her advice, love and taken good care of the home front helped Papa achieved all that he achieved in life

    “When I flew from London to Nigeria, the first person I called was my wife to tell about the death of Mama, she was very sad and disturbed because Mama was nice and good to us.

    “She always enquired how Victoria was my wife, but there is nothing we can do now, we were already planning and expecting the 100years birthday celebration. I thought she should make it to the 100 years so that we can dance the extraordinary dance, Owambe dance for the centenary birth and she replied me if the good LORD will.

    “God will make sure she finds a place in heaven because Mama was great woman of faith. Accept our sincere sympathy; God who made her knows why she called her home at this time. We will hold Mama and Papa Awolowo together in one Foundation to make sure that the memory of these great people is kept.”

  • FUNAAB mourns Mama Awolowo

    The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), has joined individuals, groups and corporate organisations to mourn the demise of Chief Hannah Dideolu Awolowo, the Matriarch of the Awolowo family, at the ripe age of 99.

    In a Condolence Letter addressed to the family of the deceased, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Olusola Oyewole, on behalf of the Governing Council, Management, staff and students of the university, said: “There is no doubt that Mama lived an exemplary life as a great mediator within the political amphitheatre in Nigeria and contributed immensely to its development as a pillar and inestimable jewel to the Late Sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.”

     

  • ALGON mourns HID Awolowo

    The Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) has condoled with the family of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Nigerians over the death of Mrs. Dideolu Awolowo, wife of the late sage.

    President of ALGON Hon. Micah Jiba said he received the news of her passing with sadness, adding that Mrs Awolowo will be greatly missed.

    “On behalf of the 774 local governments’ chairmen and residents of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), we sincerely commiserate with the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of their mother.

    “She was a jewel of inestimable value to this great country. Nigerians will missed her, because of motherly role to many people who knew her and the role she played with her husband,  Chief Obafemi Awolowo in ensuring the unity of this country, is something that can never be over emphasises.

    “We join the family and millions of admirers of her late revered husband, Chief Obafemi Awolowo in mourning Chief (Mrs.) Awolowo who will be long remembered and celebrated as the famous spouse and pillar of strength of the late nationalist, political leader of our great country Nigeria,” he said.

    Jiba, who is also the chairman of AMAC added that the history of the nation will forever remember that Mrs. Awolowo was a great woman of substance and has left an indelible impression and very significant legacy both in the country and the minds of her admirers.

    “We prayed that God will comfort Chief (Mrs.) Awolowo’s family, relatives, friends, associates and admirers, and grant them the fortitude to bear the loss and uncommon vacuum she has left behind.

    “We also pray that God will receive the soul of the late mother of the nation and grant her eternal rest from her long, earthly service to her renowned spouse, family, community and the entire country,” he stated.

     

  • HID’s nonagenarian sibling in tears over sister’s death

    HID’s nonagenarian sibling in tears over sister’s death

    The 94-year-old brother of the late Mrs. Hannah Idowu Dideolu (HID) Awolowo, Pa Festus Taiwo Adelano, wept profusely yesterday at the Awolowos’ Ikenne home.

    Adelana, who was brought into the Efunyela Hall inside the sprawling compound at 3:20pm on a wheelchair , said he had been having dreams about his sister’s death.

    “Ha! Ha! Ha! I have been dreaming about my sister, that was why I decided to come to Ikenne to see things for myself.

    “She (HID) had always said I would be the one to bury her. Oh, now she’s gone!,” he said in tears.

    The nonagenarian, who was given a handkerchief to clean his face, said the late matriarch took good care of him.

    He was one of the many Nigerians and groups, who have continued to visit to condole with the family.

    The visitors include the former Ambassador to the Philippines, Dr. Yemi Farounbi; former minister of education Prof. Tunde Adeniran; Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan Prof. Isaac Adewole; the President of the Campaign for Democracy and Women Arise, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin and the former chairman of Punch Nigeria Limited, Chief Ajibola Ogunshola.

    The first grandson of the late Mrs. Awolowo, Segun, said his grandmother lived an exceptional and extraordinary life.

    Segun, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, described the lateHID as a pillar of support to her husband.

    “For me, Mama was more than a grandmother because I lived here with both of them. I grew up here. They were like parents to me. She lived a good life.

    “When I reflect on her life, I realise it was extraordinary to marry a man like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, to live with his ideals and to support and make him strong when he was weak. She covered for him and the family.

    “We are thankful to God for her life. She was not sick. She was not in the hospital for years. She was frail but alert.

    “For her to pass on peacefully is a thing of joy. We, in our human ways and selfishness, wanted her to be alive for her 100th birthday, which we were preparing for, but it is not to be. This is God’s wish for her.

    “It is a thing of great joy and it calls for celebration. She was an epitome of great womanhood. She had become an example to mothers and wives for her devotion to her husband, family and country.

    “I am not going to reveal to reporters memorable moments with Mama because I am writing a tribute.

    “For her and Papa, they have made the name Awolowo synonymous with service, service to the country.

    “Her shoes are too big to fill, but it is my hope that the legacy of service to the country which the name Awolowo symbolises will forever be upheld.”

    The president of African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, said: “Mama was an epitome of resilience, tenacity and commitment in immortalising the great and enduring legacy and achievements of her husband.

    “As a boy, I benefited from the free primary education under Awolowo’s  visionary policy.

    “The free primary education laid the early foundation for millions of us. We will remain forever grateful for the opportunities you gave to us.”

  • HID’s death forced my wife and I out of hidding, says Jonathan

    HID’s death forced my wife and I out of hidding, says Jonathan

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan has disclosed that he opted to remain out of public glare since leaving office last May 29 but was forced along with the wife to come out due to death of Mama HID Awolowo.
    Jonathan made this known in Ikenne home of the Awolowos after he led a delegation to the family over the death of HID Awolowo.
    “Within this period, myself and my wife have been hiding; we don’t even go out. We thought we’ll be hiding for at least twelve months. But in this particular case, we cannot hide. So, we’ve come for the condolence and to encourage our brothers and sisters that we are together.”
    The ex – President was accompanied to Ikenne by his wife, Patience Jonathan, the former chairman of Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, Jide Adeniji, former Leader, House of Representatives, Hon. Mulikat Adeola, former governor of Ogun state, Gbenga Daniel and Mrs. Kuku from Bayelsa state.
    According to Jonathan, Mama’s death was so powerful that it shook both him and his wife out of hiding.

  • HID Awolowo for burial November 25 – daughter

    HID Awolowo for burial November 25 – daughter

    The eldest daughter of the matriarch of the Awolowo family, Chief ( Mrs) Hannah Idowu Dideolu, Mrs Omotola Oyediran, on Wednesday disclosed that their mother would be burried on her 100th birthday – November 25.
    Mrs Oyediran made this known in Ikenne, Ogun state, while thanking Nigerians including former President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife; Dame Patience Jonathan, Afenifere, christians among others for the show affection upon the family since the death of their mother.
    “What can we say but to give God all the glory for a very beautiful life she lived. She has done so much and it is impossible for us to put all that she has done together.
    “I want to assure you that though some of you have received letters in the past about the centenary inorder to write tributes for her. I want to assure you that those tributes will be printing.
    “I want to assure Christians Association of Nigeria that we are going to give them a special time when the time comes.
    “I want to appeal to all of you to be part of celebrating mama, by the grace of God, we haven’t concluded the arrangements but I would let you know that the very day that she was supposed to be 100 years, she would be buried.
    “There will be dancing amid tears at the burial of who I call Iya niwura. There is no way you can separate papa from mama and mama from papa, the story is one. It is interesting that papa passed on Saturday, 9th of May, 1987 and mama also passed on Saturday, 19th of September, 2015, we give God all the glory, ” Mrs Oyeniran stated.

  • HID Awolowo: We are still in a state of shock, says daughter

    HID Awolowo: We are still in a state of shock, says daughter

    The eldest daughter of the late matriarch of the Awolowo family, Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu(HID) Awolowo, Mrs Omotola Oyediran, has given more insights on her mother’s last moment before she passed away on Saturday afternoon.
    Mrs Oyediran said Mama had requested for pounded yam with vegetable soup for her breakfast which she objected to on the grounds that the 99 years old Yeye Oba of Yorubaland shouldn’t have a heavy meal for a breakfast.
    The daughter added that a light food, pap was prepared instead and served the deceased as breakfast after which she began to hold series of meeting with family members and other relatives in respect of the Centennary birthday slated for November 25.
    Mrs Oyediran spoke at the Efunyela Hall at the Ikenne home of the Awolowos while briefing the Vice – President Yemi Osinbajo, the All Progressives Congress(APC) National leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Rauf Aregbesola(Osun), his Lagos state counterpart, Akinwunmi Ambode and Governor Abiola Ajumobi(Oyo).
    According to HID’s eldest daughter, at launch time, mama ate pounded yam and vegetable soup before retiring to the bed to observe her siesta. Shortly after, someone called to notify the family that Mama was having difficulty with breathing.
    Expectedly, she, Dr Tokunbo Awolowo – Dosunmu, four of her grandchildren and a representative of the great grandchildren rallied round Mama on her bed before passing on by 3:15pm.
    “We are still in shock about the death of Mama because she was full of health and beauty yesterday no wonder my father married her and also described her as my jewel of inestimable value.
    “In the morning she demanded to eat pounded yam with vegetable soup and I told Mama, you cant have a heavy meal in the morning. So, mama had pap before pounded yam (iyan) and efon(vegetable soup) and went to bed.
    “Later, somebody called us to say she was not breathing properly, two of us – Tokunbo and I were present. I told Tokunbo, you are a doctor, why don’t you do something?
    “You can’t sit watching Mama, pick your tools and begin to massage her because we were disturbed about the breathing but she couldn’t make it and died on Saturday afternoon. We will certainly miss her.
    “She pased away in the presence of three generations. Her life is big challenge to us. She kept the faith, kept the Nigerian Tribune since 27 years after the death of Papa, we are still in a state of shock.”
    Others present during the visit included APC National Publicity Secretary, Alh. Lai Mohammed, Commissioner of Police in the state, Abdulmajid Ali, Chief Bisi Akande, Pa Olanihun Ajayi, Govenor Okusegun Mimiko, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Senator Biyi Durojaiye, Senator Anthony Adefuye, and a delegation of the Federal Government led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.