The Nobel laureate was the first caller of the day to the country home of the Awolowos to condole with the family over last Saturday’s passage of the martriach 67 days to her centenary. Soyinka who arrived at the Ikenne home of the Awolowos at about 8.50 am was received by the deceased’s eldest child, Reverend (Mrs.) Omotola Oyediran and her sister, Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu.
In his short condolence message in the register, Soyinka simply wrote:
“An enviable life! A memorable existence.”
Also, the Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife,Osun State, Professor Bamitale Omole led the other members of the institution’s management team to pay a condolence visit to the Awolowos.
Omole described the death of the Awolowo martriach as an end to glorious years of a “great national leader.”
The OAU vice chancellor further said in his condolence message, “She was a quintessential biblical woman who not only supported her husband, but held forth the home front in time of peace and in time of crisis. OAU will surely miss her counsel and her indomitable spirit.”
In his own tribute, the Founder of the Lagos Business School, Professor Pat Utomi said the deceased spent her entire life in the service of others.
He said, “We come here to recognise passionate commitment, to recognise a great mother, a remarkable woman who sacrificially gave her life for the service of others. It must be a pride to show example of oneself to the next generation that life is about sacrificial giving; that if one does it, one would be immortalised right here on earth because immortality is living in the hearts of others long after you have become dust.”
Also, the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Olu Onagoruwa, said that the late HID Awolowo was a heroine. “It was Papa Awolowo himself who stated that he owed his success of life to three things; God, a spartan and discipline life and my wife. There is no doubt Mama was a great woman,” Onagoruwa said in his condolence message.
Former Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Abdul-Jelili Adesiyan said the deceased lived her life like that of Khadijat, one of the wives of Prophet Muhammed. He said, “Just like Khadijat was to Prophet Muhammed, so also was Mama HID to Papa Awolowo. Papa Awolowo was sent to Yoruba race just as Prophet Muhammed was sent to mankind. He sent Papa Awolowo and gave him a wife, Khadijat- Mama HID. There can never be another Khadijat and there can never be another HID Awolowo. She is the mother of the nation for the next 100 years.”
The National Association of Nigerian Students led by its National President, Tijani Usman Shehu also visited Ikenne to commiserate with the Awolowo family. Shehu, while presenting a plaque to the Awolowo family on behalf of NANS, described the deceased as a mother of the student association who also inspired them to learn and achieve greatness in life. The former Executive Director of the African Newspapers of Nigeria, Mr. Folu Olamiti said the deceased mentored him and ensured that he became what he is today. In his tribute, Olamiti wrote, “You came, saw and conquered. You mentored me to what I am today. I will eternally be grateful for the love and care you showered on me. Mama, sun re o. Definitely, you are now in the bosom of our Lord. May your soul rest in peace.”
The Bishop of Remo Diocese (Anglican Communion), The Right Reverend (Dr) Olusina Fape said that HID Awolowo lived a fulfilled and rewarding life. Fape said this during a daily prayer session organized inside the family chapel in Ikenne by the Diocese since the departure of the martriach of the Awolowo family.
The cleric who led other priests in the diocese during the prayer stated that God granted deceased request not to witness any tribulations or trials before her death.
He lamented that HID Awolowo’s death had left a big vacuum in the diocese, regretting that the space would be difficult to fill, especially when her generosity and wise counsel are put into consideration.
The cleric said, “Honestly, Mama HID lived a fulfilled life from my point of view as evident in her home call. Though, we are looking forward to celebrating her centenary birthday, yet dying close to the all important day makes me to be confident that her life was a fulfilled one. Mama has a church built in her name, not a memorial one.
“Her exit was just like reliving the old testament triumphant exit of the saints of the yesteryears, that you have your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren around you and you prayed for them and thereafter transited is indeed a great thing. It couldn’t have been better than this. “Some people don’t have the grace, they bark, curse and do all sorts of things before they die, wishing they died even before death came calling. Mama went home peacefully the way God took away those who faithfully served him.”
Source: The Sun
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