HID Awolowo’s Death, Personal Loss – IBB

Immediate past Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, at the weekend mourned the matriarch of the Awolowo Family, Chief (Mrs.) Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo saying the mother of a nation has translated to immortality.

“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”.

“I have enjoyed a personal and warm relationship from the Awolowos including the late matriarch especially from my days in office at Dodan Barracks, when she accompanied her husband to pay me a visit when I returned from a medical trip overseas “.

Asked whether her supposed centenary birthday coming up on November 25, would be used for her burial celebration, Awolowo-Dosunmu said the family had yet to decide on the format or the day she would be buried.

He condoled with the entire members of the Awolowo family, the family of the Vice President and the entire Yoruba nation and prayed God to grant the deceased eternal rest.

“She was a stabilizing factor across the country and for different governments at the local, state and federal levels”, he added.

The governors under the aegis of PDP Governors Forum in a statement in Abuja by Earl Osaro Onawiu, coordinator, on behalf of the chairman of the forum, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, described HID’s death as the passage of the last amazon.

In a condolence message, Babangida said it was not an accident that the late matriarch was being celebrated in death, noting that she lived an exemplary and selfless life, promoting the common good.

The statement reads in part: “I personally will miss Mama whose life and commitment had a great effect on me”. She had entrepreneurial heritage and believed in being a complete woman who must be hardworking; take good care of her job and also build her home.

Buhari, expressed regrets that Mama Awolowo, died before her son-in-law, Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, could make impactful transformation in Nigeria.

“Mama Awolowo advocated for women emancipation and youth development. She was a mother’s mother, with exceptional milk of human kindness”.