President Muhammadu Buhari and Senate President Bukola Saraki joined other Nigerians on Saturday to mourn the late wife of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who passed on Saturday at the age of 99.
The President, who condoled the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of Chief Mrs Hannah Dideolu Awolowo, in a statement by his media adviser, Femi Adesina, said he received with immense sadness, news of the passing away of Hannah Dideolu Awolowo.
“On behalf of the Federal Government and people of Nigeria, President Buhari extends sincere commiserations to the children, grand children and great grand children of the ‘Jewel of Inestimable Value’ on the death of their famed matriarch, just a few weeks before her hundredth birthday.
“The President joins them 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 and sage.
“President Buhari believes that Chief (Mrs.) Awolowo will always be honoured too for the indelible legacy of very significant, behind-the-scene contributions to communal, state, regional and national development which she has left behind.
“The President prays that God will comfort Chief (Mrs.) Awolowo’s family, relatives, friends, associates and admirers, and grant them the fortitude to bear her irreparable loss,” the President said.
SARAKI: OUR NATION HAS LOST A PRE-EMINENT MOTHER
Senate President Bukola Saraki said he was looking forward to join the 100th birthday anniversary celebration of Mrs. Awolowo before the sad incident occurred.
“I have been enthusiastically looking forward to making a big but surprise visit to Ikenne, Ogun State to be part of the Centenary birthday celebration of Mama H.I. D. Awolowo, knowing that she is the last woman standing among the wives and mothers who truly contributed by supporting their spouses in laying the foundation for our nation building.
“To think that she will not be there during the period of the celebration, which is just about two months away, makes me sad, in spite of her ripe age filled with achievements.
“Mama Awolowo truly distinguished herself among her contemporaries and not only because she lived longer but because she served God and humanity to the end.
“Even as a nonagenarian, she kept on hosting different fora and contributing to ideas on the unity of the Yoruba people in particular and Nigeria in general.
“She was an epitome of a good wife and mother and I have no doubt that as she reunites with her darling Husband, Pa Obafemi Awolowo, she would have good account to give of how far she had held forte in the absence of the late sage.
“On behalf of my family and the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I commiserate with the Awolowo family, the government and people of Ogun State and Nigeria in general on thedeath of this of this great woman.
“They should all take solace in the fact that Mama lived a good life. May her soul rest in peace.
FAYOSE: CONSCIENCE OF OODUA NATION IS GONE
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, described the death of the matriarch of the Awolowo Dynasty, Chief (Mrs) Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, as the loss of the real conscience of the Oodua nation, saying her untiring efforts at building and sustaining the unity of the Yoruba nation and ensuring its worthy pride of place within the context of Nigeria’s federal structure will be sorely missed by all.
He also described the death of Mama Awolowo as the end of an era.
In a condolence message in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday, by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, the governor said Mama Awolowo not only wrote her name in gold in the history of the Yoruba race and Nigeria at large, but proved truly that behind a successful man, there must be a good woman.
Fayose said: “the Holy Bible says he who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favour from the Lord. That was true and real in the life of the late sage Baba Obafemi Awolowo who found a good thing in our dear Mama and called her ‘My jewel of inestimable value.’
“The good qualities of a dutiful wife and caring mother shown by Mama are worthy of emulation. She stood solidly by her husband during those trying moments. She showed resilience when it seemed all chips were down.
“After the demise of her husband, Mama stood tall to carry on with the great legacies of Baba Awolowo. Even when the vicissitudes of life brought some challenging issues across her path, despite that there was no Baba to lean on, she stood like a rock.
“Mama Awolowo’s life was not only exemplary, but one that provided great lessons of life to the discerning mind. She has fought a good fight. She came and conquered. She left footprints in the sands of time and she has gone to a deserved rest.
“Mama Awolowo was a quintessence of honesty, discipline, integrity, modesty and compassion. With Mama’s death, no doubt, the biggest iroko tree in the forest of Yorubaland has fallen and the jewel of inestimable value has finally gone to meet the sage.
“Despite her old age and failing health, she never stopped to harp on an egalitarian society, a nation of equity, justice and fairness.
“Mama remained undaunted in her commitment to the unity and wellness of the Yoruba race in particular and Nigeria as a whole. She will be sorely missed by all.
“On behalf of my family, government and people of Ekiti State, I wish the entire Awolowo family the continued support and guidance of the Almighty God and the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”
OBASA:HID AWOLOWO’S DEATH, A COLLOSAL LOSS
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has described the death of the Awolowo matriach, Chief Mrs Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awoowo, as a collosal loss not only to the Yoruba nation but also to the Nigerian federation and Africa at large.
Rt. Hon. Obasa while reacting to Mrs. Awolowo’s death on Saturday afternoon, said he was shocked by the news. “I was shocked when I learnt of the news,” he said.
“Personally, despite the fact that Mama died at a very ripe age, we will still miss her and the Nigerian federation will miss most her because this is the moment her words of wisdom, advice and motherly role is most critically needed to contribute to the growth of our democracy which her great husband with her by his side, lived and died for,” the Lagos Assembly Speaker said.
The Lagos Assembly Speaker described the deceased as a loving, obedient, loyal, committed and persevering wife who stood strongly by her late husband, Chief Obafemi Awolowo during his political travails.
“Even after his death almost three decades ago, she has been strong, keeping the family together and playing motherly role to the Yoruba nation and the Nigerian federation.
“In all these, she never forsake her love for our dear Papa, late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Suffice to add that the evidence of their everlasting is confirmed in the fact that both husband and wife died on a Saturday,” he said.
Rt. Hon. Obasa condoled with the Awolowo family of Ikenne Remo, the government and people of Ogun State and the entire Nigerian federation.
“Her death coming at this critical point in our democracy is very painful but we take solace in the fact that she lived a fulfilled life and played her role wonderfully well as the mother of the nation. Almighty God will grant her soul eternal rest,” he said.
Rt. Hon. Obasa stated further that the entire Nigerian nation will miss the woman her globally acclaimed husband described as ‘Jewel of Inestimable Value’ due to her commitment, loyalty, love and perseverance during his incaceration.
GBENGA DANIEL: HID AWOLOWO A SUPERWOMAN
Former Governor Gbenga Daniel, in his condolence message on the passing of the matriarch of the Awolowo family, described the late Madam Awolowo as a woman of charm, humility, generosity, courage, resilience, industry and vision.
She was so strong a personality and so magnetic impressing herself indelibly on the minds of not only her family and kinsmen but her race and the nation in general, he said in his condolence message to the Awolowo family.
“Kind, compassionate, strict but loving, caring and sensitive, Mama was a great humanitarian and strong believer in service to the community. Undoubtedly, she was born into a man’s world, arguably to play a man’s role.
“Mama’s support ignited the flame of Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s long held visions as she was ready to spend her life side by side her husband in their patriotic, humanitarian and political dreams.
“Mama’s life was one selfless devotion as she sacrificed so much of her youth, her adult years and ultimately her life for the benefit of her people in spite of harassment, arrest and even death which were very real possibilities.
“For a woman of remarkable bravery, she surmounted all odds following her husband and staying by him through all vicissitudes; imprisonment inclusive.
“Firm but noble, full of charm, grace and beauty, her intellect combined with her unique resilience made her one of a kind. Even at almost a century old, Mama was still cheerful and as sharp as a tack.
“Rather than mourn, we should celebrate her life so full of love an the way we can best honour her is to pray Almighty God to grant her eternal rest and the family the strength to bear the great loss,” Daniel said.
OSHUN: WE’LL MISS HID AWOLOWO
The lawmaker representing Lagos Mainland Constituency 2, Moshood Olarenwaju Oshun, said the late Mrs. Awolowo would be greatly missed by all who have had the opportunity to receive her blessing at one time or the other while she was alive.
“I am very pained because she is leaving this sinful world with a wealth of knowledge and experience that could have helped the younger generation shape the world.
“This woman, even in death, remains the true example of what a woman should be. Through thick and thin, she remained glued to her husband, whom she loved with all her heart.
“This was very obvious. Her husband died in 1987, HID remained steadfast and became the umbrella that brought the family together,” Oshun said.
ARG MOURNS
The Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) described the late Madam Awolowo as the avatar of progressive politics in Nigeria.
“The news of her death came as a shock as no one would ever wanted to lose a jewel but we are comforted by the kind of life Mama lived.
“Like Chief Awolowo, whose philosophies will forever remain a guidepost for progressive politics, Mama HID lived out and left behind a strong legacy, as an agent of peace and personification of bravery and tenacity.
“She dedicated her life as the critical support needed by her husband in the pursuit of common good and the building of an egalitarian society.
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“ARG calls on all Yoruba people and indeed all Nigerians to celebrate Mama HID’s lifetime and legacy as we pray for the repose of her soul and eternal blessings on all she left behind.”
Bola Tinubu: APC National Leader
According to Tinubu, who called the late Mrs. Awolowo a jewel of the people, “our Mama, HID Awolowo exemplified the best of the progressive spirit and concern for all of humanity.
“We pause to mourn her passing but we also must continue to move forward in order to celebrate her life and the ideals for which she stood.
“I don’t believe she would have wanted us to respond in any other way.
“She was a devout Christian and her life touched many. May her soul rest in peace.
“Her life spanned nearly a century of change and challenge in the world and in Nigeria. Through it all, she remained true to great and noble ideas and did so with dignity, spirit and compassion.
“Just a few weeks to becoming 100 years of age, she passed on. However, for nearly a century, she remained committed.
“In her gentle but strong way, she held forth the banner and nurtured the progressive legacy after her husband, the revered Obafemi Awolowo passed on.
“This great jewel of the people withstood the test of time and weathered the political storms of dictatorships and mis-governance.
“Never did she bend or reject her principles and beliefs despite the pressures that came. She stood firmly in the courage of her convictions.
“Our Mama, HID Awolowo was the Awolowo philosophy personified. She remained a constant source of knowledge, inspiration and wisdom.
“Her faith in the Nigerian nation was unwavering and revealed an uncommon, visionary political bearing. She gave a mother’s love to all Nigerians irrespective of political differences and through her we learned that unity through diversity is the precious gift we must construct and give ourselves.
“While we mourn, we must also take solace in the fact that she lived long enough to see the advent of progressive government at the federal level.
“She has bequeathed to us a great legacy, a political legacy of intelligence, courage conviction, hope and belief in the goodness of the people. As such, we will miss her presence and are grieved by her departure.
“Yet, the story of her life commands us to do our best to turn Nigeria into the nation she dedicated her life to and that we all honor her every day by each one of us becoming better citizens, better Nigerians.
Prof. Wole Soyinka
On his part, Professor Soyinka said: “an Era recedes. As solace, it leaves in its wake a treasured privilege for those who knew her, who experienced her indomitable spirit at first hand, and drank from her depthless fount of family embrace.”
Adams Oshiomole:Edo State Governor
For Governor Oshiomhole, the late Mrs. Awolowo was a pillar of Christian propriety and fountain of humanism, who was always eager to dispense goodwill to all.”
In a condolence message to the people of Ogun State signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Peter Okhiria, the governor said: “the Awolowo family and indeed the good people of Ogun State and Nigeria have lost a good woman, the compass of the Awolowo family, the towering figure who stood behind her children, an enigma who ensured that the name of Chief Obafemi Awolowo continued to ring out loud, long after his exit.
“Although Mama was advanced in age, we appreciate the depth of the grief of her children and family, knowing how affectionately close and tightly-knitted the family is. Our hearts are with the family at this difficult period.”
“I wish to convey to my brother, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and indeed the good people of Ogun State the deepest condolence of the people and Government of Edo State as well as my personal commiseration on this sad loss.
“Our consolation is the cherished memories of her worthy sojourn on earth and her indelible legacies as a wife, a mother, the ‘jewel of inestimable value’ who upheld the Awolowo family name till the end, a woman never mired in controversy, an avatar.
“I pray God to lay His consoling hand on the entire Awolowo family even as we join in prayers to our Heavenly Father to grant her soul eternal rest in His bosom.”
Olusegun Mimiko: Ondo State Governor
Also, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State expressed shock at the death of Mrs. Hannah Awolowo, through a statement by the Commissioner for Information in the state, Mr Kayode Akinmade.
According to Mimiko, the shock is an understatement as Mrs. Awolowo was one of the notable icons of Nigerian history and that the incident occurred at a time everyone was looking forward to her centenary celebrations.
The governor described the deceased as a supremely intelligent, kind, loving and caring mother of the Yoruba nation.
He said: “Mama, as no one would doubt, remains a Jewel of ‘Inestimable Value’ even in transition to glory.
“It is traditional to recognise the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, as the greatest Nigerian ever, but Awolowo would not have been the colossus that he was if not for the pillar he had in Mama.
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“Mama made invaluable contributions to the Awolowo School of progressive politics encapsulated in the social democratic mantra of ‘Life More Abundant’ during and after the life time of the great sage.”
