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Tag: governors

Governors’ unholy alliance on minimum wage
SIR: Never in the history of Nigeria has hope been hopelessly dashed, faith rudely compromised, promises wilfully and consciously broken, resources squandered, priorities brazenly misplaced and confidence betrayed as witnessed today in Nigeria.

I salute the resilience and courage of the Nigerian workers who have suffered for too long. Nigerian workers are the most abused and undervalued in the world because their salary is grossly inadequate and not being paid as and when due. With ¦ 18,000 monthly, they still run a mini-government for themselves by providing for their family what the government ought to provide for them such as light, water, security, transport, apart from their normal feeding and school fees, medicals etc.

With all these responsibility shifted to them by the government, it is pure wickedness akin to terrorism for any governor to say that ¦ 18,000 is too much for the lowest worker in Nigeria. When a leader is suffering from mental fatigue, his only option to economic challenges is reducing the salaries of poor innocent civil servants whose take home pay cannot take them home. In civilised climes, leaders are reviewing wages upward, creating employment to discourage the youth from terrorism, kidnapping and other type of social vices which are all siblings of unemployment. A society like Nigeria that ought to create employment due to the high spate of insecurity that has skyrocketed to unprecedented proportion in the country is now contemplating policies that will compound the security situation. You don’t solve a small problem by creating a bigger one.

It must be made abundantly clear that when the economy was in boom, instead of them to create an enabling environment where economic activities would thrive, governors were busy fashioning out economic policies that promote private selfish acquisition. They were busy measuring their success with the number of latest cars, houses in choice areas, concubines etc against one another. It was enjoyment galore for them.

Also, it is important to recall that when the oil boom was at its peak, Nigeria was selling its crude above its benchmark price. That necessitated the establishment of the Excess Crude Account by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration to act as a stabilization fund, closing budget deficits caused by oil price volatility. The fund was designed to enable savings for the rainy day. The governors under the umbrella of “Nigerian Governors Forum” led by the now Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki in 2008 instituted a lawsuit at the Supreme Court against the Yar’Adua government calling for the sharing of $15 billion from the ECA. From that moment it was sharing galore. Such funds would have been very useful now that the price of crude is on a free fall.

I will like to emphasise that most of these governors rose to the apex of power by dint of sheer luck and got overwhelmed by the behemoth of the office. Leadership is not a snap. It is a position that is gruelling and tedious. Unfortunately, we have leaders who do not like the grind but preferred the grandeur of the office.

My advice for these governors is to sacrifice by cutting down all wastefulness under any guise such as security vote, irrelevant ceremonies, numerous special aides and assistants, humongous allowances, and other inflated contracts which have constituted the drain-pipe of resources.

Any attempt to form a cartel against the minimum wage will be resisted by Nigerian workers. This might just be the last straw that will break the camel’s back.
- Abiodun Aladetan
Lagos
December 24, 2015
APC accuses PDP governors of trying to polarise Nigeria

The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday accused governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of trying to polarise the country along oil producing and non-oil producing areas.

A statement issued by the APC National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni, flayed the allegation by the PDP Governors Forum that the nullification of elections of PDP governors was a plot by the APC to take control of “oil-producing states by all means necessary”.

Buni said the decision of the Court of Appeal nullifying elections of the PDP governors and lawmakers was a confirmation of PDP’s brazen election malpractices, manipulation and intimidation perpetuated during the 2015 general elections.

“We advise the PDP to wake up to the new Nigeria, where a few will no longer stifle the voices and collective decision of the majority,” the statement indicated.

It also reads: “The APC and indeed Nigerians are increasingly worried by the clannish and sectional positions being canvassed by the PDP governors. We reject the PDP governors’ attempt to polarise the country along oil-producing and non-producing lines.

“All geo-political regions of the country are important and equal partners in progress in efforts by the APC and President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to return Nigeria to its respected position in the comity of nations.

“During the 2015 general elections, in many parts of the Southsouth, particularly Rivers and Akwa Ibom, Nigerians and the international community watched in horror how the PDP used a combination of security operatives, thugs and party agents to rig elections against the popular will of the electorate.

“Nigerians are still recovering from the last 16 years of locust under the PDP. We invite the PDP to supports current efforts aimed at social, economic and institutional reforms. Change has come.

“The judiciary remains the last hope of the common man. Recent court decisions in Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Taraba states are not partisan, but simply a confirmation of PDP’s brazen election malpractices, manipulation and intimidation perpetuated during the 2015 general elections. We advise the PDP to wake up to the new Nigeria, where a few will no longer stifle the voices and collective decision of the majority.”

December 21, 2015
NUT faults call by governors to reduce minimum wage

…..frowns at move to employ graduates as teachers

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has faulted calls by some state governors to reduce the N18, 000 minimum wages for workers following the crash in the global price of oil.

The union described the move by the governors as unfortunate and unpatriotic.

The NUT said this in a communiqué jointly signed by its National President, Michael Olukoya, and the General Secretary, Obong Obong, at the end of a meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) held in Abuja on Wednesday.

NEC said that the minimum wage, which was negotiated in 2011, had already lost its value in the face of hyper-inflation in the country.

It said that rather than for the governors to call for a review of the wage which had long been overdue for an upward review, some of them are contemplating its downward review.

The NUT NEC also commended the federal government for raising the retirement age of teachers of Colleges of Education, Polytechnics and the Universities from 60 to 65 and 70 years respectively.

At the end of the meeting, the NEC unanimously demanded that the retirement age of teachers of primary and secondary schools in the country should also be raised from 60 to 65 years.

However, the union frowned at moves by the federal government to employ some graduates as teachers.

It said that hiring the services of untrained, unskilled and non- professional graduates as teachers in schools instead of hiring the services of qualified educational experts that abound in the labour market, would worsen the education standard in the country.

The communiqué reads: “The NEC-in-session viewed as most unfortunate and unpatriotic, the unwarranted agitations by governors to reduce the legislated N18, 000 National Minimum Wage using the untenable argument of dwindling oil revenue.

“The NEC-in-session viewed the proponents for the reduction of the already bastardised minimum wage as lacking in ingenuity to resolve the massive socio-economic problems of the Nigerian society without causing further afflictions to the suffering masses.”

“The NEC-in-session noted with regret that, whereas many state governors have already flagrantly flouted the extant laws on minimum wage by either refusing to implement the wage or by percentage implementation, particularly for Nigerian teachers, the current agitation for the reduction of the minimum wage is tantamount to the proverbial “adding of salt to injury.

The NEC-in-session applauded and fully supported the prompt reaction of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to the anti-people plan of the governors and pledged the Union’s unalloyed cooperation with the labour centre in the fight against these unwholesome agitations.

The statement added, “The NEC-in-session noted that the rot and decay already witnessed in the school system is traceable to the use of quacks, auxiliary and non professional teachers who were employed under similar unevaluated policies of the years past and wondered why government would prefer quackery to the skilled man power that abound.

“The NEC-in-session strongly resolved that the Union will resist any attempt to flood the school system with quacks that may worsen the already precarious educational standards in the country and advised government to rescind its decision forthwith”

December 20, 2015
PenCom urges governors to eschew pension liabilities, join CPS

The embrace of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) by states is one effective tool of managing finances by paying monthly pension contributions into employees’ retirement savings accounts (RSAs) as opposed to settling huge liabilities at retirement, like the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS), Director-General, National Pension Commission (PenCom), Chinelo Anohu-Amazu has said.

Speaking at a Stakeholders’ Sensitisation Conference, Northwest Zone on Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2014 organised by the Commission in Kaduna with: The Pension Reform Act, 2014 – Innovations and improvements to Nigeria’s pension sector, as its theme, she said only three states in the zone, including Kaduna, have commenced implementation of the CPS. She appealed to all the states and local governments areas in the zone that are yet to adopt or implement the CPS to immediately comply.

According to her, this is in order to avail their employees of the numerous benefits of the scheme, while avoiding future pension liabilities.

She said the need for more efficiency in managing finances has never been greater than now, given the lean available public resources.

She noted that many states in the federation have adopted the CPS and are at various stages of its implementation.

According to her, the PRA 2014 gives additional impetus for participation in the CPS by prescribing the coverage of states and local government employees, in addition to the Federal Public service and private sector.

She further stated that the PRA 2014 re-enacted the fundamental provisions of the repealed PRA 2004.

December 14, 2015
Ojo to governors: Don’t reduce minimum wage

The General Overseer and Presiding Bishop of Calvary Kingdom Church International, Archbishop Joseph Ojo, has charged state governors to jettison the idea of reducing the minimum wage of civil servants as that would throw civil servants into greater hardship.

Ojo said this last Sunday at the end of the year thanksgiving service of the church at the church headquarters in Lagos.

The event which was tagged double grace pooled together thousands of Christian faithful, church leaders, captains of industries. It featured song renditions, prayers, thanksgiving, and bible teachings.

He said that the present hardships facing Nigerians are enormous and reducing the minimum wage will further aggravate their suffering, groaning and frustration, and this could have serious effect on the polity.

He noted that it is disheartening as state governors get over N100million as security votes and are not ready to reduce their votes to cater for the shortfall in the revenue accrued to their state but expect the civil servants to bear the brunt of the problem.

“State governors must show empathy and good example by publicly declaring their security votes and reduce the same and let their salaries be equivalent with the salaries of the permanent secretaries in the interest of the hapless civil servants in their states,”he said.

He opined that the state governors should look inward and raise funds through tax, public private partnership programmes, grants, cut down on unnecessary travels and block all the loop holes in their states so they can raise enough money to deliver on their campaign promises.

On whether Nigerians will suffer a lot from the removal of oil subsidy, he said, “it will affect the common man but with time it will stabilise but nobody or group of persons should continue to eat fat on our common wealth.”

He said oil subsidy is a scam and a fraudulent practice against the people of Nigeria.

He said it is sad that middlemen are feeding fat on subsidy and many of the perpetrators belong to the various political divides which is injurious to the wellbeing of Nigeria.

Secretary of the Pentecoatal Fellowship of Nigeria asserted that the subsidy removed on diesel and kerosene has made the product available for Nigerians who need them.

Ojo, declared that continuous long queues at our fuel/gas stations, bad road, dilapidated schools and gross underdevelopment ravaging our society need urgent attention in the interest of the people.

He went further to charged Nigerians to continue to pray for the country and the new administration for it to succeed.

He said, “people like us have hope and we are praying. Let us pray for the government to succeed and they will succeed and do the right thing. It is only the fool that will fail to pray but let the government do what is right.”

Speaking on his 40th wedding anniversary, Ojo said that God has brought him and his wife together under a covenant of grace and they have been enjoying it for this long. God indeed has been faithful.

He said that mutual and respectful relationship in a garden experience is very germane for the sustenance of a godly marriage.

The cleric, who noted that there were times of storms in his marriage, said “trust, appreciation, love and living together without suspicion will keep the home even in the most turbulent times.”

December 13, 2015
‘Governors should prepare for mother of all battles’

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, spoke to reporters on national issues, including the shortage of premium motor spirit (PMS), the clamour for withdrawal of subsidy on petroleum products and the declaration that states cannot pay N18, 000 minimum wage. At the event, an enraged Wabba said workers would embark on an indefinite nationwide strike, if governors make good their threat to stop the payment of N18, 000 minimum wage. Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI was there.

What is the latest on the face-off between the NLC and governors over the threat to stop the payment of N18, 000 minimum wage?

We are still in a state of shock that our governors could make such pronouncement. What is N18, 000, considering the current economic challenges in the country? We were thinking that these governors will make an upward review of the minimum wage, but what we got in return was a shock; N18, 000 is not a living wage and our leaders know this. Yet, they are now saying they can’t even pay it.

But, Nigerian workers are no fools. It is not as if the governors don’t have the financial wherewithal to pay this money; their problem is that of misplaced priorities. There are lots of leakages in the system, which when blocked will ensure that there are sufficient funds to pay workers. For example, look at duplication of political offices and political appointees by many state governors? What about jumbo salaries, allowances and other perks of offices these political appointees collect every month? The money runs into hundreds of millions of naira.

Why should the NLC fold its arms and allow workers to be made sacrificial lambs by governors? Never! Some of these governors apart from living opulent lifestyles have also embarked on projects that have no direct relevance to the lives of the people. The cost of governance needs to be drastically cut down at all levels.

Has there been any move for an amicable settlement of the crisis?

We are open to dialogue. However, the sustenance of N18, 000 minimum wage is not negotiable. We are even planning to demand for an upward review of the minimum wage in view of the present economic hardships. Many states are in dire straits today because of the priorities they have chosen, which has nothing to do with public good.

We, however, believe and still insist that workers salaries can’t be sacrificed on the altar of challenges of the economy, because it is not the making of workers. It has never happened in the history of this country and it will not be said that it is during our leadership of the NLC that this calamity was allowed to happen to Nigerian workers. The governors should re-order their priorities and again instead of going cap in hand to Abuja at the end of every month to collect allocation, they should look inwards by increasing their Internally Generated Revenues( IGR).

In the ’60s when Nigeria didn’t have oil as the main source of her revenue, the country’s founding fathers raised funds through efficient tax system and other forms of internally generated revenue for development and also pay living wages to workers. Our current crop of leaders who put themselves up for election for different elective positions must not only endeavour to deliver on their electoral promises, they must also pay workers living wages. This is not negotiable.

But, the governors claim that the minimum wage was imposed on them. What is your view on this?

It is not correct that the minimum wage was imposed on the governors. For the records, the 2011 National Minimum Wage came into existence after almost two years of agitation and eventual negotiation by the tripartite stakeholders: the Federal and state governments, the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association representing other employers in the private sector and the organized labour.

As organized labour, we submitted a request for N52, 000 minimum wage, but out of our patriotic disposition and consideration, we reluctantly agreed to the N18, 000 minimum wage, even though it was grossly inadequate as a living wage. Many of the state governments who submitted memoranda then to that tripartite committee even recommended figures that were far above the N18, 000 that was eventually agreed upon. The governors can’t therefore claim that the current national minimum wage was imposed on them. The records are there. We kept records of all these negotiations.

But, as you are aware, things are not rosy with the governors; that is why they sought and were given bail-outs by the federal government…

Like I said earlier, we strongly believe that there is no state in Nigeria today that can’t pay N18, 000 minimum wage. The problems with the governors is about getting or setting their priorities right. With regards to the bail-outs, the NLC has to raise alarm when we discovered that some state governors were making attempts to divert it to other uses. Some of them were diverting the bail-outs into fixed deposit accounts for personal gains.

It is sad that some of the governors elected to play politics with the welfare of their workers; some of them were even quoted as saying that they reserve the right to do whatever they like with the intervention fund from the federal government since it wasn’t a loan. This kind of attitude is unacceptable to the NLC.

What is the way out of the current fuel scarcity?

As an oil producing nation, we have no reason to suffer fuel crisis. I will like to appeal to the federal government to find a way to identify and deal with the cabal behind the energy crisis. Obviously, some interests are benefitting from the current import regime we are running. But is this supposed to be so? We have no business importing petroleum products as an oil-producing nation. I also disagree with those clamouring for the removal of subsidy; these elements are anti-masses.

Thank God, President Muhammadu Buhari has stated that subsidy is not going to be removed. He has not caved in to the pressure by anti-people elements. Removal of subsidy will trigger social unrest.

To get out of the problem, the federal government should build more refineries even outside Nigeria; this will increase the supply of petroleum products in the market. The NLC is outraged by continued fuel scarcity resulting in skyrocketing prices and long queues at filling stations in different parts of the country.

December 9, 2015
Wage war: Governors fight ‘common enemy’ –workers

It is yet winter of our revenue crunch and many states are already unravelling before our eyes. The fall in oil prices, which started about a year ago, is already taking its toll. Hardball fears it may begin to claim casualties soon. Nigerians, in our lackadaisical style, must have thought all the hoopla about crude oil glut and shale technology was one of those Western world hypes to bamboozle us. This must explain why nearly one year down the line, neither the federal nor state governments have fashioned out and presented a concrete and realisable plan of action to surmount the petro-dollars squeeze.

One would expect to be seeing now, immediate, medium and long-term plans to navigate this difficult period and indeed, steer the country away from perpetual dependence on crude oil revenues. But none of such has happened; instead, we have seen governors eagerly toeing the line of least resistance.

While some have surreptitiously increased taxes, others are already fiddling with workers’ salaries, paying varied sums each month. And yet some are in default of salaries for varying number of months.

As if all these antics are not working (and of course they won’t work, says Hardball) governors have been bonding lately, holding a series of meetings with unusual frequency. Under the aegis of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), they are not meeting to strategise and think through Nigeria’s current fiscal challenge, but to fight a common enemy – the Nigerian worker, it seems.

The nation’s minimum wage of N18,000 is too much, they seem to agree; it must be the cause of our current distress, they say. It must be slashed, they insist. They will not be placated and reason may have taken flight.

For instance, this minimum wage law was passed four years ago and is actually due for a review. Again, it is only worth about $80 a month translating to about $2 a day. This is worse than a slave wage, isn’t it? Would the governors cut it to 50 cents a day? That would be sub-poverty level.

Although few governors have repudiated the position of the NGF, but the point is that most governors have not proved to be truly accountable. You have to be a spirit to fathom what they take as first charge every month as security vote. Second, hardly any of them is faithful to his budget; they hardly return to the document after the formality of presenting to the legislature. Third, hardly any governor has displayed such frugality that ought to attend this fiscally-trying period.

The other day, a state listed about 29 commissioners; to be followed by uncountable number of special and non-special assistants and advisers. We have not seen that clinical downsizing of government which will free up cash for work. Most states have been so ravaged over the years by brigand governors they are bereft of nary a revenue-yielding shop.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister, Chief Audu Ogbe, has said Nigeria expends N1.3 trillion on food importation annually. This consists of rice, wheat, poultry products, tomato puree, etc.

Which governor has taken a position here against the next agric production cycle? Hardly any, one dares say.

December 8, 2015
Governors who can’t pay salary should resign -Aremu

Former Vice President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Issa Aremu has said that any of the 36 States Governors who cannot pay the minimum wage of N18, 000.00 to workers, should resign from office.

Aremu who is the General Secretary, National Union of Textile Garment Workers of Nigeria (NUTGWN) said such governor has no reason to be in the business of governance.

He spoke Thursday as the Guest Speaker at the 18th Joint Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2015 edition of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN).

The topic of the paper presentation was, “Government Patronage of Made –in-Nigeria Products, A Panacea for Industrial Growth and Development.”

He argued that one of the ways to judge the performance of the sitting President and all the States governors is their ability to resuscitate the collapsed industries in the country.

“Any State government that cannot pay salary has no reason to be in business of governance, and therefore, any governor that cannot pay the salary should resign,” Aremu said.

He noted that Nigeria is sitting on the keg of gun powder, if its alarming rate of unemployment is not nip in the bud.

He said, “Nigeria is playing with fire because 24 percent of its population is officially unemployed, and 50 percent unofficially unemployed. Some countries have a total of only 12 percent unemployment crisis, the people with on rampage. Nigeria must begin to prevent this by reopening all closed factories to engage the teeming unemployed youths.

“Labour strongly supports the urgent need to rebuild Nigeria through targeted efficient massive productive spending. President Buhari must be weary of the emergency advisers who claim falsely that government has no business in business.

“Government not only has business in business, the art of governance itself is a business that must be done.

“Let me recommend Governor Mallam El Rufai to other states governors in this respect. I learnt that the moribund Kaduna furniture factory is almost back to produce thousands of school desks for public schools in Kaduna.

“The Governor has also promised textile mills to produce school uniforms. And another organisation, Crittal Hope, is also back to life producing windows and needed metals to fix the class rooms.

“We must re-energize “Buy Naija” Campaign to target large private sector corporates and the general consumer public on the need to patronize locally made goods for industrial development.

“I urge President Buhari and the new Ministers of Industry, Trade and Investment, to implement the recommendations of 2014 Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan and the Committee on the Economy, Trade and Investment of the 2014 National Conference.

“The two reports emphasis government patronage as a critical success factor in industrial growth and development,” he said.

December 3, 2015
PDP governors accuse APC of cloning PVCs

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of cloning Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of Saturday’s election.

The governors, under the aegis of the PDP Governors Forum, alleged that APC had concluded plans to rig the poll with the cloned PVCs.

In a statement in Abuja yesterday by Director- General of the PDP Governors Forum Mr. Osaro Onaiwu, they alleged plans by the APC to deploy fake security agents to rig the election.

“The APC has brought Indians to clone the PVCs to circumvent the electoral process since the party knows it cannot win without manipulating the system.

“Five Indians are lodged in a hotel owned by an APC chieftain in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, where the card cloning is ongoing,” the statement added.

The governors said APC was desperate to win the Bayelsa State election because of its oil-rich status, which they noted, fitted into the party’s ambition to take over oil-producing states, as allegedly mooted by Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal.

The statement said: “To achieve this dangerous plan, the APC has brought five Indians, all IT experts, to clone PVCs for the election.

“We cry out to alert Nigerians, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the international community to the machinations of the APC against democracy and the right of the people to elect those that should govern them.

“INEC must demonstrate its independence and commitment to free, fair and credible election by being vigilant and ensure that it does not kowtow to the whim and caprice of the APC by making sure that only authentic cards are used.”

According to the governors, part of the plot by the APC included the procurement of police and military uniforms for agents of the party to wear on Saturday to achieve its plans of rigging.

They urged the Inspector- General of Police (IGP), Mr. Sunday Arase, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the military authorities to prevent the infiltration of their ranks by fake APC personnel.

The statement said: “The forum appeals to the IGP, DSS and military authorities to ensure that only real personnel are on the field on Saturday and not fake APC agents, who are already kitted in police and military uniforms to rig the Bayelsa poll for the party.

“It is important to remind security agencies that their failure to check any perceived illegality by the APC will undermine their integrity to protect the people and can erode the people’s confidence in the ability of the security organs to guarantee their safety.”

December 1, 2015
Buhari, Osinbajo, Tinubu, governors, ministers see off HID

Amid overwhelming glamour on the ground and a bright sky above, the matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty, Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu(HID), yesterday made her glorious and final exit.

The remains of the late Mrs. Awolowo, who passed on last September 19 at 99, were interred beside her husband Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo’s, inside the 28 years old Awo Mausoleum within the sprawling family compound in Ikenne, Ogun State. The Awo matriach would have been 100 yesterday.

Her surviving daughters – Mrs Omotola Oyediran and Dr. Olatokunbo Awolowo – Dosunmu and a handful of relatives witnessed the interment.

President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbanjo, Senate President Bukola Saraki, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon, Head of the defunct Interim National Government Chief Ernest Shonekan, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade and businessman Aliko Dangote, saw off the iconic woman and Yeye Oba.

President Buhari, who arrived the Awolowo compound at 2:18 pm, proceeded to the Efunyella Hall where he spent a few minutes with the children of the late Mrs Awolowo before heading to the mausoleum by 2:49pm to see the resting place of Mama and her husband, Pa Awolowo. He left two minutes later.

Security Operatives – soldiers, policemen, Department of State Services (DSS) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC) – were in their hundreds but they seemed overwhelmed by the crowd of dignitaries surging to bid Mrs Awolowo a final bye.

Earlier in the morning, her remains encased in a gold- plated casket, arrived at Our Saviour’s Church (Anglican Communion) by 9:55 am in a horse – driven cart, accompanied by six horse riders, 18 music band squads from the NSCDC, Amosun, Mrs Oyediran, Dr. Awolowo-Dosunmu, grand-children and relatives.

The church and its surroundings came alive with the sight of eminent Nigerians who had joined Mama’s family and 34 bishops for the funeral service in Ikenne just like when the late sage and first Premier of Old Western Region passed on in 1987.

The body was received into the church auditorium where Tinubu, Obasanjo, Vice President Osinbajo, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha were already seated for the funeral service as the bell rang at 9:57am.

In his sermon, Arch-Bishop, Metropolitan and Primate of Anglican Church, Nigeria, the Right Rev. Nicholas Okoh, described Mama as a great wife who stood by her husband.

Rev. Okoh said Mama had fought the good fight of faith and finished victoriously, adding that the rest she deserved now is in Christ and quite different from the worldly and ephemeral.

Eulogising her further, the Anglican Primate lauded Mama for her courage in time of adversity, saying even when she lost three of her children, she still stood firm in the Lord.

He urged Nigerians to emulate the late Mrs Awolowo’s strong heart and firm belief in God.

Dr Saraki, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the church service, described the late Mrs Awolowo as a virtuous woman who stood steadfastly behind her husband and also remained relevant since the death of Pa Awo in 1987.

Saraki enjoined the children to sustain the good name and legacies of the Awolowos.

Tinubu, who arrived in Ikenne in the company of some governors from the North, at 9:46am, said they were in the town to celebrate the worthy life of Mama HID, whom he also described as a great mother and pillar of progressive politics.

Tinubu said: “We are here to celebrate her, a wonderful mother and an icon who stood for progressive politics. She was a mother to me.

“Mama HID and my mother (Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji) were great friends. They both struggled together for the independence of Nigeria and progressive politics in this country.

“We will continue to thread on the path of progressive politics played by Mama and her husband, the late sage, Baba Awolowo.”

Okorocha, who extolled the late Mrss Awolowo’s virtues, told reporters that the late matriach of the Awolowo family lived a good life worthy of emulation by Nigerian women.

Dignitaries at the funeral service are: Governor Segun Mimiko(Ondo), Senator Anthony Adefuye, members of the Ogun State Executive Council, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Senator Gbenga Kaka and former Governor Gbenga Daniel and his wife, Olufunke.

Others are former Governor of Lagos State Alh. Lateef Jakande, former Police Inspector General Tafa Balogun, Senaror Biyi Durojaiye, former Ekiti Governor Segun Oni, frontline banker Otunba Subomi Balogun, former Oyo Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, Chief Olu Falae, Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Edo Governor Adams Oshiomhole and his wife, Hon. Patrick Obaghiagbon, former Ekiti Governor Niyi Adebayo, Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun, Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi, Mines and Solid Minerals Dr Kayode Fayemi and Works, Housing and Poer Minister Babatunde Fashola.

November 26, 2015