‘Committed, Selfless, Compassionate, Strict’, Gbenga Daniel,Orji Kalu, Akinwunmi Ambode, Nyesom Wike, Ayo Fayose, Adams Oshiomole Others Mourn HID Awolowo

Nigerians of different classes from top to bottom continue to mourn the passage of uncommon matriarch, Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo.

Among them were a former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; the Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose; the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike; and eminent businessman and former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Kalu.

Daniel described Awolowo as an inimitable personality who could only be described in superlatives.HID Awolowo

In his condolence message on the passing of the matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty, Otunba Daniel said she was a woman of charm, humility, generosity, courage, resilience, industry and vision.

According to to the two-term governor of Ogun State, 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: “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.”

Kalu described the matriarch of the Awolowo family and Chairman of African Newspapers of Nigeria, publishers of the Nigerian Tribune titles, as an uncommon personality whose demise was a huge loss to the nation.

In a condolence message signed by his Special Adviser, Kunle Oyewumi, Kalu acknowledged the role played by the late renowned philanthropist and media entrepreneur in the social, economic and political development of Nigeria.

In his words: “The demise of Mama Awolowo is painful and disheartening at this time the country needs her counselling on national issues. She was not only a rallying and reference point to the womenfolk but Nigerians in general. Mama was generous and committed to the enthronement and sustenance of democracy in Nigeria. She committed her resources to the uplift of the less-privileged in the society. Above all, she lived a fulfilled life worth emulating.”

The former governor noted that the late Yeye Oodua of Yorubaland demonstrated selflessness in different capacities in the society.

He urged the Awolowo clan to take solace in the fact that the deceased lived a fulfilled life in the service of God and humanity and left behind a good legacy for her family members to uphold.
Kalu, while commiserating with the government and people of Ogun State, prayed God to grant the departed soul a blissful rest.

The Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, described Awolowo as an avatar and a “pillar of Christian propriety and fountain of humanism, who was always eager to dispense goodwill to all”.

In a letter of condolence message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Peter Okhiria, Oshiomhole 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 strong behind her children, an enigma who ensured that the name of Chief Obafemi Awolowo continued to ring out loud, long after his exit.
“Mama H.I.D was a pillar of Christian propriety and fountain of humanism, always eager to dispense goodwill to all who came to her. However, much as we mourn her, we believe that she deserves to be celebrated in deserved tribute to her laudable life as a mother, devout Christian and an exemplary Nigerian.
“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.”
Wike stated that Awolowo lived a development centred life, worthy of emulation by Nigerians, irrespective of ethnicity and political affiliation.
Governor Wike described the passing away of the Matriarch of the Awolowo family and the co-founder of the Nigerian Tribune as an irreparable loss to the entire nation.
He stated that Awolowo was a pillar of support to the late nationalist, Dr. Obafemi Awolowo, noting that Nigerians would always have fond memories of her contributions to national development.
The governor noted that she was a voice of reason and a stabilising force who will be missed by the nation.

Governor Wike, who condoled the members of the Awolowo family and the entire nation over the death of Mama Awolowo, urged the nation to take solace in the fact that she lived a fulfilled life and dedicated her life to the service of the nation.

Fayose described the death of 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, Idowu Adelusi, Fayose 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.

He 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.”
The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Saturday expressed shock and sadness over the death of Awolowo.

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

“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.

“On behalf of my family and the good people of Lagos state, I want to express our heartfelt condolence to the family of Mama Awolowo, the people of Ogun state and Nigerians on this great and irreparable loss,” he said.