Matriarch of the Awolowo family, Hannah Idowu Awolowo, died in her Ikenne home on Saturday. Already, Nigerians all across the nation have been offering tributes to the woman who stood behind her late husband, Obafemi Awolowo one of Nigeria’s founding fathers, through his political career.
Visitors have also trooped to her home to pay tribute and condole the family, while celebrating the life of the woman who would have clocked 100 years old in November.
Among the early callers were former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Acting Governor of Ogun state, Princess Yetunde Onanuga; wife of the governor, Mrs Olufunso Amosun; ex – governor Gbenga Daniel and Secretary to the Ogun state government, Mr Taiwo Adeoluwa.
According to the family, Mama Awolowo died in the company of her children and also prayed for them as they planned for her centenary birthday.
The Nation newspaper reports that:
Her first daughter, Mrs Omotola Oyediran said HID Awolowo spent five minutes with her family, had her routine daily chores – meetings, prayers among others, before she breathed her last by 3:5pm
“It is with gratitude to God for her remarkable and illustrious life, the entire Awolowo family announce the glorious home calling of our dear Matriach, Yeye Oodua, Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo on Saturday afternoon.
“Mama died as gloriously as she lived. She spent the day in the company of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
“She shared a precious five minutes with them when she went in to pray for them as they met to plan her centennary birthday.
” She died a couple of hours later as she had always wished, surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great grand children.”
Obasanjo said HID’s death is the passing of an Icon, a mother and matriarch of the yorubas.
Obasanjo said: “on occasion like this, for all of us in Ogun and Yorubaland nay Nigeria, it is passing of an icon. Normally for us it should be a mixed feelings, mixed feelings because Mama had lived a life most of us would envy.
“However, it doesn’t matter how long our loved ones may stay we will love they stay with us. We must thank God because mama has experienced the vicsitude of life but she died in peace.
“When I heard, I decided to come because I wanted to be sure. All II was thinking of was the centennary birthday. Mama has been a joy to many, she is the matriarch of the Yorubaland, faithful and loyal to her husband, supporter and pillar of the family.
“She was somebody people run to for advise and counsel and they get the best from her. I pray that God will give the family the courage and wherewithal to bear the challenges of Mama’s death. Each and every one of us must learn a lesson from the good life of Mama and may her soul rest in perfect peace.”
