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Tag: HID

  • Aladura churches mourn HID

    Aladura churches mourn HID

    The United Aladura Churches (UAC) has described the death of Mrs. HID Awolowo as a loss to Nigeria and the body of Christ.

    In a statement by UAC’s Director of National Issues, Mother Captain Yetunde Ukiri-Esho, the UAC described the late Mama Awolowo as a lover of God, a great worker in His vineyard, a true jewel, a unifying factor in Yoruba land and a mother.

    “We commiserate with the Awolowo family, the people and government of Ogun State and all Nigerians on the passing on of a matriarch, an astute businesswoman, a trustworthy and disciplined woman and a true nationalist.

    “The body of Christ will, no doubt, miss her untiring contributions and wise counsel. We, however, take solace in the fact that she lived a good life and she is resting with her Maker,” the statement said.

    The United Aladura Churches (UAC) comprises of white garment churches, Cherubim and Seraphim churches, The Church of the Lord (Aladura), Celestial Church of Christ and the Fellowship of Christ Disciples.

     

  • Group extols HID’s virtues

    A group, Asiwaju Change Movement (ACM) International, has commiserated with the Awolowo family on the demise of its matriarch, Mrs. Hannah Idowu Dideolu (HID) Awolowo.

    In a statement by its National Coordinator, Mrs. Simisola Jegede-Ayoade and Secretary Feyi Duyile, the group described her death as a loss.

    The statement reads: “Mama, God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be, so he put His arms around you and whispered come to me my daughter.

    “Although the ACM loves you dearly, if we had our way we will make you stay a little longer. You are worth celebrating for sustaining the good legacies of your late husband, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

    The group urged women to emulate the Yeyeoba  by supporting their husbands in all aspects.

  • Shonekan, Fayose, Olubadan mourn HID

    Shonekan, Fayose, Olubadan mourn HID

    Chairman of the defunct Interim National Government (ING), Chief Ernest Shonekan, the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana, and foremost industrialist, Oba Otudeko, yesterday visited the Ikenne,  Ogun State home of the late Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu (HID) Awolowo to condole with the family.

    Other dignitaries who were also at Ikenne on a condolence visit yesterday included Governor Ayodele Fayose and Senator Murray Ben-Bruce.

    Chief Shonekan and Oba Odulana who extolled the virtues of Mama HID and Yeye Oodua, said her lifestyle should be emulated by people, particularly Nigerian women.

    The Olubadan, who was represented by the Osi  Olubadan,  Senator Lekan Balogun, and Ekerin Olubadan, High Chief Abimbola Ajibola, said Mama would be missed for her contribution to growth, development and unity of Yorubaland.

    Also, Chief Shonekan who described HID Awolowo as a forthright personality and a strong supportive pillar to her husband and to Nigeria, said her name would remain indelible in the annals of the country.

    “Awo’s name cannot be deleted from the history of the nation. Both Papa and Mama had something that could be emulated,” Shonekan said.

    On his part, Senator Murray-Bruce condemned the nation’s failure to adequately chronicle  the lives of prominent Nigerians,  saying  the lack of a sense of history among Nigerians had continued to deny the younger generations  vital lessons that ought to have been properly learnt from the nation’s past heroes and heroines.

    For Fayose, the matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty was the idol of the Yoruba nation.

    The govenor, who noted that Mama HID and her husband, the late Pa Obafemi Awolowo, contributed greatly to the education and enlightenment  of Nigerians, particularly the Southwesterners, said the family should not be forgotten.

    According to him, the indelible contributions of the duo to the development of the Southwest region should be communicated to future genetations.

    “We’ll remember Mama Awolowo and her husband for their contributions to education in Nigeria, particularly in the South West.

    “So, for us, it’s  a celebration of life; celebration of ideology and belief in generation like ours and beyond us. We’ll continue to celebrate him; we’ll continue to represent  all he stood for.

    “There is one thing with  our politicians. It is in our ways to make politics out of people’s lives, to celebrate them for political reasons. But I want to counsel that this should not be the case with this family. We should continue to be here; we should continue to stand up.

    “Physically, Awo is gone. Mama is also gone. But they remain in our hearts and we should do everything to sustain this legacy. Not taking pictures alone; not even rushing to Ikenne for today alone. We should remember that for us, Awolowo is an eternity.

    “Our children’s children must hear this. We must give them all the nod rather than come here and dance and show remorse and make politics out of this thing.

    “For me, it’s a great thing to be here. I want to assure everybody that we all have roles to play and the  role that I want to play will be played  well and Ekiti people will join me in playing it well.

    ” I congratulate everybody for a life well lived by the Awolowos and I want to say that the Lord would keep and preserve those they have left behind.

    “We can never, ever forget them. They remain our idols. They have left unforgettable legacies for us and for our children’s children. We love them and we are going to celebrate them. It’s about celebration, not mourning. And God will bless and keep all they’ve left behind.

    “All I’m trying to say is that it should not be a one-off visit where politicians would come around and celebrate. But they leave here, never to return. They only make politics out of this kind of life; that is not the spirit.

    “The spirit is to stay with this family and keep Baba’s legacy within Ikenne and beyond Ikenne and in Nigeria.  He wants us to be together, he wants us to do things rightly and he wants us as a Yoruba nation to remain united,” Fayose said.

  • HID to be immortalised with foundation

    HID to be immortalised with foundation

    The late Chief HID Awolowo will be immortalised with the setting up of a foundation in her name.

    A statement on behalf of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation by its Executive Director, Dr. Olatokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu said: “The Obafemi Awolowo Foundation reports with sadness the passing of its Chairperson and moving spirit, Yeye Oodua HID Awolowo. She died on September 19 at 99.

    The Foundation hereby informs the public that an HID Awolowo Foundation will be inaugurated shortly, to celebrate and commemorate in perpetuity the outstanding contributions of Mama HID to family values, entrepreneurship and perseverance in the face of adversity.

    “Although the details and fine points of this initiative are being worked out, it takes no great insight to appreciate the synergy between the values that Mama stood for and exemplified and the legacy of the sage, from which the Foundation has derived its core mandate and competencies.

    “It is pertinent to recall Mama’s fortitude and exemplary forte in keeping the faith both at a time when her husband was unjustly persecuted by political authorities and in the years since the sage passed on.

    “It ought to be remarked that her business acumen, organisational intelligence and hard work stood her in good stead throughout her remarkable life. It is in recognition of these virtues and the need to underline the careers of role models and visionaries in a morally adrift generation that the HID Awolowo Foundation is being instituted under the aegis of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation.”

  • 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 adopted my wife and I, says Danjuma

    HID adopted my wife and I, says Danjuma

    •More Nigerians condole with family

    Former Defence Minister Gen. Theophilus Danjuma declared yesterday in Ikenne that the late Chief HID Awolowo was his and his wife Daisy’s adopted mother.

    According tom him, the consolation he got from her death is that she departed with dignity.

    “My wife Daisy and I were adopted by Mama some 10 years ago. We still miss her loving maternal guidance.

    “Severally mama was a remarkable woman who refined her faculty to the very end of her long life. She departed with dignity and majesty. May mama’s soul rest in perfect peace,” he told reporters at the Awolowos’ residence after paying a condolence visit.

    Eminent Nigerians continued to pour into the house to condole with the family over last Saturday’s death of the Yeye Oodua.

    The dignitaries include Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Lasun Yussuf, ex – Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola and former Foreign Affairs Minister, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi.

    There were also Mrs Bola Obasanjo, Senator Mamora Olorunnimbe, Lagos state Deputy Governor, Idiat Adebule, Head of Administration, Amorc (Nigeria), Dr Kenneth Idiodi and an Egba High Chief and Physician, Dr. Femi Majekodunmi.

    There was a brief church service at the Efunyela Hall family chapel with Dr Tokunbo Awolowo in attendance.

    Rev. Moses Famosunwa of the Remo Anglican Church enjoined people to live a life pleasing to God and service to other for which the late HID Awolowo was known.

    “The world, not only Nigeria is celebrating the demise of mama, her life was a perfect example of how human being should be,” Famosunwa said.

    The Deputy Speaker said the late Papa Awolowo and his wife left legacies in the Southwest and Nigeria which every generation after them should strive to sustain.

    Oyinlola said: “The only tribute that we can say to retain the memory of mama is for us to honor her by ensuring the actualisation of her dream, particularly to see all Yorubas united under the same umbrella I think it will be a worthwhile testimony to her memory if we can achieve that.”

    Similarly, Senator Mamora described as Mama one who was supportive of her late husband, caring and loving not only of her biological children but also everyone around her who also considered himself or herself as a child of mama.

    According to Mamora, “Mama was a rallying point for the entire Yoruba race, particularly after the demise of the Sage himself, Papa Awolowo.”

    Lagos State Deputy Governor, Idiat Adebule, who said she and her entourage were around on behalf of women of Lagos, condoled with the Awolowos, saying their beloved mother was an icon and a great supporter of her husband.

    “And for those of us who are younger, who were very young when Papa was still alive and we read that God gave him the enablement to lead the progressives, based on this we continue to pray for the family,” Mrs Adebule said.

    Chief Majekodunmi wrote in the condolence register:” The all time greatness of the Awolowos has been exemplified and personified by Mama since the demise of Awo. Our prayer is that those left behind will continue to raise the banner high. May Mama gentle soul rest in peace.”

     

  • State burial likely for HID

    State burial likely for HID

    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.”

  • Awo’s love letter to HID

    Awo’s love letter to HID

    She was described by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, as ‘my jewel of inestimable value’. She passed through her husband’s school of thought and was baptised in the  democratic norms.

    The jewel’s journey into the heart of Awolowo started in 1934; she was just 22 years old, beautiful and charming. HID’s irresistible disposition, coupled with motherly mystic, became a fountain where many learn the fundamentals of successful home.   Chief Awolowo with an uncanny insight noticed the alluring character of his jewel and never wasted time to express this in a letter he wrote to HID expressing his profound desire to spend the rest of his life with her.

    Recalling with nostalgia how the sage won her heart, she said, one of the first things Chief Awolowo did was to write her a letter. “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.”

    The lette,r which the sage crafted with choice words and flowery language, swept HID off her feet as she caved in for the man, who meant so many things to her and took her through the journey of life ensuring that she was well protected. Though many women of her category would probably miss the point and play to the gallery, undermining the very essence of their first contact, but HID in her wisdom,  knew when to cave in for the late sage’s love letter which sunk to her memory.

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

    Prior to when the wedding bell tolled, they dated from 1934 to 1938. The period of courtship enabled them to build trust and love. The courtship offered HID the opportunity to understand that the person she was offering hands to was political giant who she would later share in his pains and triumphs.

    The marital bliss, which stated in 1934, when they had their first contact, was solemnised on December 28, 1937 when Chief Awolowo got married to his better half. When the marital vows were taken to remain for   each other until death do them part, it was very obvious that HID was ready and fully committed to her husband of many years.

    The marriage which was witnessed by friends and well wishers and family members was solemnised in the traditional and Christian fashion. His 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 the support, but had 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 needs and never hesitated to share whatever she had with them. She offered wise counsel to those who approached her for their marital challenges

    Awolowo said her charm notwithstanding, HID was a humble spouse who is very generous and was ever ready to give helping hands to his friends and acquaintances.

    She was equally an epitome of courage, which according to the late sage, was very rare. He 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.

  • HID and vicissitudes of life

    HID and vicissitudes of life

    For Yeyeoba HID Awolowo, life was full of ups and downs. Like her husband, she bore the vicissitudes of life with uncanny courage and philosophical calmness.

    Awo and HID were one soul in one body. From the onset, she was prepared and determined to weather the storm with him. Their fruitful marriage was still young when the teacher, journalist, stenographer transporter and produce buyer from Ilishan Remo left the country for the United Kingdom for legal studies. He was armed with a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce, which he had earned as an external candidate. Awo could not raise enough money, despite the efforts to get bonds from the late Chief H.O Davies and the Ogbeni-Oja of Ijebu-Ode, Chief Adeola Odutola. He had to sell his building.

    The lot fell on HID to raise the children-Segun, who later entered Igbobi College in 1948, Omotola, and Oluwole. Awo returned to political activism and legal practice, following the completion of his studies abroad. He founded the Action Group (AG), became the Premier and Leader of Federal Opposition. He sought to served as the Prime Minister, but he lost his deposit at the 1959 poll. AG could not win the majority of the parliamentary seats. Then, hell was let loose in his party. The AG split into two camps in 1962.

    Tragedy hit the family. The Coker Commission of Enquiry was set up to probe the finances of the Western Regional Government, which Awo headed between 1951 and December 1959. The tribunal was manipulated to discredit Awo. It has not completed the task when the Federal Government of Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa announced that it has uncovered an arm plot. A state of emergency had been declared in the region, with the Federal Government detaining Awolowo at a mosquito-infested area of Lekki.

    One day, policemen invaded Awo’s residence at Apapa for a search. They could not find any incriminating material. After that, they informed him that a similar search will be conducted at Ikenne. The policemen insisted that HID had to follow them that night to Ikenne. Awo objected. When they arrived the residence the second day, the female officer who searched Mama Awo unleashed a psychological torture. She asked HID to off her dress completely as part of the search. It was an agonising experience.

    During the treason felony trial, Awo’s first son, Segun, the British-trained promising lawyer, who had completed her Master’s Degree in International Law, was involved in an auto crash at Shagamu. He died instantly. The news was broken to her mother by Awo’s associates. She was heart-broken. Then, it was broken to Awo in detention. When the husband and wife met inside the prison where Awo was held, she wept uncontrollably. Awo did not succumb to emotion. He comforted her, saying that she should take heart. The deceased left behind two children-Segun and Funmilola.

    Awo played a prominent role in the life of the country as the war time Minister of Finance and Vice Chairman of Federal Executive Council led by the Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon. But, efforts to rule the country in the post-military years were aborted in 1979 and 1983. He died without realising this lofty dream of transforming the country as he did as the Premier of the defunct Western Region.

    In post-Awolowo years, the political family was in disarray. Things fell apart and the centre could not hold again, especially after the demise of Chief Adekunle Ajasin and Senator Abraham Adesanya, who wielded the family together under Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political group.

    Four years ago, death sneaked into the Awo family again, snatching the fourth child, Mrs. Ayodele Soyode. She was a successful lawyer who managed the chambers left behind her father. It was a painful death which hit Mama HID in her twilight of life. Mourners thronged her residence at Ikenne Remo, Ogun State, There was an outpouring of grief. Mrs. Ayodele was married to a political activist, Tayo Soyode.

    In 2012, Ayo’s brother, unbreakable Oluwole, also passed on. Almost five years before his death, he had been confined to a wheel chair, following the spinal cord injuries sustained in an auto crash. Thus, in her life time, the great woman had to endure the pains of losing three adult  children to death.

  • 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.