Eminent Nigerians converged in Ikenne, Ogun State last week to pay their last respects to the matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty, Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo before her remains were committed to mother earth. LEKE SALAUDEEN, who was there, reports.
It was a glorious exit for the late Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu (HID) Awolowo, whose remains were committed to the mother earth at the family house last Wednesday after a colourful funeral service in Ikenne Ogun State. The turn-out was massive. It was a gathering of who is who in Nigeria. The calibre of personalities that attended the funeral and the outpouring of love from all over the country, cutting across the socio-political and economic spheres was a demonstration of how well she was revered.
It was a national burial of sort, given the number of federal and state government functionaries at the session organised to give matriarch of the Awolowo family a befitting burial. The weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting was put off to enable President Muhammadu Buhari and some of the ministers pay their last respect to a woman described by her late husband as “My jewel of inestimable value”. Twelve ministers and 16 governors from across the six geo-political zones were in Ikenne to attend the funeral service.
Ikenne community had not witnessed the presence of such eminent Nigerians for a long time. It was probably when the late Awolowo was buried in 1987 that a fiesta of that magnitude took place in the town. An excited guest, Dr Tunde Adekunsibe, remarked: “If Mrs. Awolowo had been a First Lady of this country, she couldn’t have had a better burial than what we are witnessing today. I don’t know when last I have seen the crowd of eminent personalities attending a funeral programme just like we have today in honour of HID. Mrs Awolowo was the First Lady when her husband was the Premier of the old Western Region. There was no woman in this country that her funeral attracted such dignitaries, particularly top government functionaries. I don’t know when last Ikenne community had seen the calibre of people that came here to pay their last respect to the matriarch of Awolowo family; may be in 1987 when Chief Obafemi Awolowo died.”
Buhari’s homage
It was a befitting tribute to Mrs. Awolowo, as it was the first time that a serving Head of State had paid homage to the wife of a politician at her funeral instead of sending delegation, as was the norm in the past. President Muhammadu Buhari kept his promise that he would be physically present on the day of funeral.
The funeral momentarily broke ethnic and political barriers, as politicians from across the divide came together and put aside their differences in honour of the late HID. They exchanged pleasantries and made space for one another on the long, wooden benches, in which they squeezed themselves.
An indication that Buhari was on his way to Ikenne came when security personnel practically shut down movement within the community. Similarly, the forecourt in front of the model school, recently named after Mrs. Awolowo by the Ogun State Government, was cleared for the President’s helicopter to land.
On arrival President Buhari met with the Awolowo clan to pay his condolences, after which he was taken by his deputy and other family members to the marble tomb of the late Chief Awolowo into which his wife’s casket had already been lowered, to pay his last respects. The President’s arrival elicited the shouts of “Sai Baba”, “Sai Buhari,” the slogan used to drum up support for him during the last presidential campaign. It was an opportunity for many to come near and exchange pleasantries with him. Evangelist Ebenezer Obey and his band also welcomed the President with special lyrics.
Addressing Awo’s family, his friends, associates and prominent Nigerians in the family house, Buhari said he had to delay his departure for Malta for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) so that he could be part of the ceremony marking the last rites for Mrs. Awolowo, noting that the deceased deserve the attention she got at home and from abroad.
Buhari recalled how the late Mrs. Awolowo effectively took care of the home front while her husband was busy around the country and throughout the world. He praised her family and urged them to stick together as they have over the years.
He said: “Let me appreciate those who have come to participate in this ceremony. When I was in the car, I discussed with the governor of Ogun State that the late Mrs. Awolowo deserved all that the nation is doing for her. While Chief Obafemi Awolowo was all over the country and the world, she was effectively managing the family, so she has earned this. May her soul rest in perfect peace, (amen).
“And for you the family that has for weeks been receiving friends, associates and facing all the logistics problems day and night, I congratulate you for a very successful burial. I came back yesterday evening from Iran and I had to make sure I do not miss the last rites for Mrs Awolowo because she earned it. This is my third time here and I hope the family will try and continue to remain united.”
Osinbajo/APC factor
Observers say Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s relationship with the Awolowo family facilitated the role played by the Federal Government at the funeral. Osinbajo is married to Dolapo, the grand-daughter of the deceased. When he was asked to address the audience during the church service, the Vice President declined, saying he was at the occasion as a child of the late Mrs. Awolowo; not in his capacity as Vice President. Rather, he requested that the representative of the President, Senator Bukola Saraki, should speak.
The ministers present at the event included Rotimi Amaechi (Transport); Mrs Kemi Adeosun (Finance); Adebayo Shittu (Communications); Alhaji Lai Mohammed (Information and Culture); Dr Kayode Fayemi (Solid Minerals); Mr. Babatunde Fashola (Power, Works an Housing); Professor Isaac Adewole (Health); Amina Muhammed (Environment); Abubakar Buhari (Solid Minerals-State); Dan Ali (Defence); Dr Ogbonnaya Onu (Science and Technology) and Chief Audu Ogbeh (Agriculture).
The burial compelled the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) to postpone the meeting of its National Working Committee (NWC). The National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, explained that the decision to shelve the meeting to discuss the choice of a substitute candidate for the Kogi supplementary governorship election was to enable the leadership of the party in the Southwest attend the funeral.
The APC National Leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, led the party’s chieftains in the Southwest. They included Senators Olabiyi Durojaiye, Olorunnimbe Mamora, Anthony Adefuye, Oluremi Tinubu, Monsurat Sunmonu, and Lanre Tejuoso, as well as Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Chief Niyi Adebayo and Chief Segun Oni.
The state chief executives who added colour to the memorable event are: Ibikunle Amosun and his wife, Funso (Ogun); Abiola Ajimobi and his wife, Florence (Oyo); Rauf Aregbesola and his wife, Sherifat (Osun); Olusegun Mimiko and his wife, Kemi (Ondo); Ben Ayade (Cross River); Adams Oshiomhole and his wife, Lara (Edo); Rochas Okorocha (Imo); Abdul-Azees Yari (Zamfara); Mohammed Jibrila (Adamawa); Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa); Nasiru El-Rufai (Kaduna); Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) and Kashim Shettima (Borno).
Captains of industry were not left out. Those who graced the occasion include: President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Oba Otudeko; Tunde Ayeni; and Otunba Subomi Balogun.
Other eminent personalities present were: former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon and his wife, Victoria; former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his wife, Bola; Gen. Oladipo Diya; Chief Ernest Shonekan; Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki. Others are: Chief Olaniwun Ajayi, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Olu Falae, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Chief Olusegun Osoba, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Senator Daisy Danjuma, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Chief Tunji Ayanlaja (SAN), Chief Supo Sonibare, Dr Fredrick Fasehun, Prof. T.O. Ogunlesi and Chief Michael Ayodele.
Church service
The church service started with the procession from Awo’s home to church. HID’s children, grandchildren and great grandchildren joined by a horde of well-wishers accompanied the casket to Our Saviour Anglican Church, Ikenne, venue of the funeral service. They were later joined mid-way by some dignitaries, including Governors Rochas Okorocha and Aminu Tambuwal.
The church was not spacious enough to contain all guests. Many dignitaries who could not have space within the church, watched the programme on circuit TV positioned within the church premises. The casket arrived church by 10am and the programme took off by 10.15 am.
The church service was conducted by the Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of all Nigerian Anglican Communion, the Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh, along with other 36 bishops. In his sermon, Okoh extolled Mrs. Awolowo’s virtues, describing her as a great wife who stood by her husband throughout his sojourn on earth. Okoh extolled the virtues of the late HID as a committed Christian, whom he said fought the good fight of faith and finished victoriously. He said Mama was a supportive and good wife which informed why her husband, the late Chief Awolowo described her glowingly as his “jewel of inestimable value.”
Reception
The guests were treated to a modest reception. Food and drinks were sumptuous. Governor Amosun expressed delight at the presence of President Buhari in Ikenne, saying it was an honour not only to the late matriarch, her family and womenfolk, but to the whole of the Yoruba race and the nation.
Speaking on behalf of the Awolowo family, the eldest surviving child, Mrs Omotola Oyediran said: “Judging by the life that Mama led, little did we know that she was so loved by all Nigerians and you all have demonstrated it this afternoon. So, we warmly welcome you into our midst.” While thanking President Buhari and the governors who took part in the burial activities, she stated: “You have been extremely wonderful to this family.”
In her vote of thanks, another daughter, Dr Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu, disclosed that Mrs. Awolowo had in the last 20 years discussed her funeral, telling members of her family that it was not an affair for the family alone, but the whole world. She said the way the final rites had gone were beyond the imagination of the deceased family.
