The Nation Newspaper

Tag: mourns

  • 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.

     

  • TUC mourns HID Awolowo

    The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) mourns Chief (Mrs) Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, the matriarch of the Awolowo family and wife of late Obafemi Awolowo, who reportedly died last week in her sleep at her Ikenne, Ogun state home.

    In a statement signed by its President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama and Secretary-General, Comrade Musa Lawal, said the woman once described as “ jewel of inestimable value” by her husband has left so much to be desired.

    According to the congress, the nonagenarian until her husband’s demise on May 9, 1987 was his pillar of strength, adding that though mama was old yet “we had wished she lived more years to see the dream of her husband concerning Nigeria come to pass.”

    While we mourn Mama’s demise, we take solace in the fact that she left a worthy legacy behind. There was no doubt that she was a woman of uncommon strength and virtue. It takes a lot of gut to sustain the laudable political legacies and values of her husband, the great Chief Awolowo.

  • Ambode mourns ‘backbone of progressive ideas’

    Ambode mourns ‘backbone of progressive ideas’

    Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has described the late Mrs. Hannah Awolowo, wife of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo as a “backbone of progressive ideas.”

    The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna, said he was one of mama’s many followers looking forward to celebrating her 100th birthday just few months away.

    “Mama would have clocked 100 on November 25 this year. It was going to be a milestone, not just for her but for our great country. “She was the matriarch of the Awolowo family, a well respected dynasty in the history of Nigeria.”

    He added: “Mama’s demise at this time is painful, especially coming at a period when Nigeria is gradually enjoying democratic bliss, which her late husband, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, fought for till his death.

    “We, however, take solace in the fact that she lived a fulfilled life. We celebrate her for what she stood for, uniting the Yoruba race for a common course and keeping her family together since the demise of her husband.

    “She was the pillar behind Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s legacies. She was the backbone of the brand of progressive ideas that defined the politics of the South West in the First Republic and in subsequent Republics.”

    The governor prayed for the peaceful repose of her soul, urging her family to draw strength from the legacies she stood for while she was alive.

     

     

  • Enugu monarch mourns Ooni

    Enugu monarch mourns Ooni

    An Enugu State monarch has described the departure of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, as “a fall of an Iroko tree”

    Igwe Charles Nwoye, the Obioha II of Amurri in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, in a statement, by his media adviser, Nze Sam Nwanze, said the contributions of the late monarch to the peace and development of the country and Yoruba tradition and culture, “cannot be forgotten in a hurry”.

    “Ooni Sijuwade was a colossus and one of the highly respected royal fathers in the country. He championed many peaceful and development initiatives in his domain and beyond, which is why he will be greatly missed not only by Yoruba people or those directly under his influence, but by many Nigerians across the nation who saw in him a reference point of tradition and culture and as father of all.

    Nwoye, who a successful business man,  prayed God to grant the Ooni eternal rest “as he joins his ancestors after 85 years on earth”.

  • ACF mourns Bauchi monarch

    Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has expressed shock at the death of a Bauchi State monarch, the Emir of Misau, Alhaji Muhammadu Manga III, who died on Monday.

    The northern socio-cultural group, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim, said: “ACF learnt with total submission to the will of Allah (SWT), the death of the Emir of Misau, Alhaji Muhammadu Manga III, on Monday.”

    It described the late monarch, who ascended the throne in 1979, as a promoter of peaceful coexistence.

    The statement reads: “The late Emir aged 79 had been on the throne since 1979. He devoted his life to the progress of his people in agriculture, education and socio-economic development of the Misau Emirate and Bauchi State.

  • Amosun mourns

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has expressed his condolence to the government and people of Borno State on the death of the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Zannah Umar Mustapha.

    In a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa, the governor described the death as shocking and lamentable.

    The statement said: “Until his death, Alhaji Zannah Mustapha displayed unwavering commitment to the restoration of peace  and tranquility to every part of Borno State. His demise at this time is a big loss to the state in particular and Nigeria in general.”

    The governor commiserated with Governor Kashim Shettima and the family of Zannah, urging them to seek solace that he led a good life.

    He prayed to the Almighty Allah to grant his soul Aljanah Firdaus.

  • Olubadan mourns monarch

    The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1, has expressed sadness over the passing away of Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade.

    In a statement issued yesterday on his behalf by his Personal Assistant, Chief Isiaka Akinpelu, Olubadan described Oba Sijuwade’s death as a huge loss to the people of Ile-Ife and the nation in general.

    “The 35-year reign of Oba Sijuwade was highly remarkable for its contribution to the peace, progress and development of Yorubaland in particular and the country as a whole.

    “The late Ooni of Ife’s wise counsel and timely personal interventions which contributed in no small measure towards resolving national issues and questions at critical periods in the nation’s history would be sorely missed,” he said.

    Olubadan noted that Oba Sijuwade’s historic role and efforts aimed at forging bonds of unity between the Yoruba in Nigeria and the Yoruba in the Diaspora, especially in West Africa, Brazil and the Carribean, will remain forever in the history of the Yoruba race.

  • FUTA mourns murdered, ex-VC, Ilemobade

    FUTA mourns murdered, ex-VC, Ilemobade

    The management of the Federal University of Technology (FUTA) in Akure, the Ondo State capital, at the weekend, paid a condolence visit to the family of the former Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Albert Adeoye Ilemobade, who was gruesomely murdered by two of his domestic staff.

    At the home of the late don, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebiyi Daramola, who led a delegation of the institution’s Principal Officers, was received by the widow of the deceased and his children.

    Daramola described the late don as a patriarch of FUTA whose immense contributions and sacrifice for the development of the institution will remain evergreen.

    He said in and out of office, Ilemobade showed keen interest in the development of FUTA. He further said the late Vice Chancellor would be sorely missed for his valuable counsel as an elder statesman and a renowned academic who boasted an enviable track record in university administration.

    While paying his tribute to the deceased, Daramola wrote in the condolence register: “The last few days have been very terrible for us at the Federal University of Technology, Akure.  This is particularly so given the fact that our former Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ilemobade was in the University less than 24 hours before his death  to grace a wedding ceremony. The news of his kidnap and eventual death under a most gruesome condition has left us all in shock and grief.  On behalf of the Governing Council, Staff and Students of FUTA, we say ADIEU OUR DADDY. May your gentle soul rest in peace in Jesus name.”

    He said the University was in close liaison with the family in order to give the former Vice-Chancellor a befitting burial.

     

    The Daramola-led delegation included the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Development, Professor Tolulope Akinbogun; Registrar, Dr. (Mrs.) Modupe Ajayil; Bursar, Mr. Emmanuel Oresegun; the Chief Librarian, Dr. Femi Oguntuase and the Principal Assistant Registrar, Public Relations, Mr. Adegbenro Adebanjo.

  • Amosun mourns OOU 12

    Amosun mourns OOU 12

    Ogun State Governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun has commiserated with the management of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, on the loss of 12 students who died in an auto crash last Friday on the Lagos/Benin Express way.

    The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga , led a delegation to the Governing Council.

    Mrs Onanuga said: ‘’It is sad that the students died in their prime, at a time the country needs the younger generation to contribute their knowledge towards the growth of the society.’’

    She prayed to God to grant their families the fortitude to bear the losses. The deputy governor read a riot act to motorists driving recklessly on the road, adding that the government would sanction any motorist caught driving against traffic.

    She urged the public to intimate government on any erring drivers and pleaded with the students to remain calm as they mourn their colleagues.

    Mrs Onanuga also led the delegation to visit the only survivor of the accident, Miss Akinbo Laughter Ibukunoluwa at the Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilishan Remo and expressed satisfaction on her health. She thanked the management of the hospital for the prompt attention to her medical needs.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Saburi Adesanya, thanked the Amosun-led administration for sympathising with the management and families of the bereaved.

    A truck carrying a container drove against traffic last Friday and ran into a Toyota Hiace bus in which the students were travelling to Lagos. The container fell on the bus and killed 12 of the passengers, including the driver.