One of the surviving children of the late Yeye Oodua Hannah Idowu Dideolu (H.I.D.) Awolowo, Dr Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu, on Sunday revealed that the late matriarch was pious in prayers till she breathed her last.
Describing how her mother died in her arms, Awolowo-Dosunmu told reporters at the family home in Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State, that the late business woman was devoted to God until her last breath.
Awolowo-Dosunmu, a former Ambassador of Nigeria to Holland, said that the family was happy over the accolades her late mother received following her passage on Saturday afternoon.
She said her mother impacted positively on the lives of both the high and low, promising that her legacy would be kept by the family.
“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.
“Whether she had a premonition about her death, we will never know for sure as she kept singing and praising God. It was her voice of prayer that we heard last.
“That moment was huge and we are glad to receive her final blessings. Mama eventually breathed her last in my arms,’’ she said.
Asked what she would miss most about her mother, Awolowo-Dosunmu, the last child of the matriarch, said: “Her wise counsel and motherly care obviously.’’
She expressed sadness that the late Awolowo could not live to mark her centennial birthday scheduled for November 25.
“This is very sudden for us. If anyone had told us that Mama would breathe her last yesterday, we would have argued till thy kingdom come.
“ I am still trying to come to terms with the fact that she’s gone. I feel very disappointed and wished she had the opportunity to see how much she meant to everyone,’’ she said.
Meanwhile, the governors of Lagos, Osun and Oyo States, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, Mr Rauf Aregbesola and Senator Abiola Ajimobi also paid their tributes to Awolowo in their separate condolence visits to the home of the deceased.
Others present at the residence were the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the former governors of Lagos and Ekiti states, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Dr Kayode Fayemi.
Ambode, in his tribute, said the deceased contributed to the development and unity of Nigeria.
“We are here to celebrate a woman of honour and not to mourn in whatever capacity,” Ambode said.
Similarly, Fayemi described Awolowo as a “ warrior’’ who fought side-by-side with the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, in ensuring independence of Nigeria and laying the foundation for the country’s prosperity and growth.
“I can’t remember how many times I heard words of wisdom and counsel from her.
“In the dark days of Nigerian politics, Mama stood firm on the side of the truth, ensuring that we remained united as a nation and clan.
“We are not mourning, this is a moment for celebration and a moment for Yoruba people to reflect on and see how far we have come and what new heights to attain,” Fayemi said.
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo eulogised the late Yeye Oodua, saying she always stood for the unity of the nation all her life.
Osinbajo, who is a son-in-law to the deceased, spoke while commiserating with sympathisers at the Awolowo’s residence in Ikenne-Remo, Ogun.
The vice-president expressed regret that the matriarch, who died at the age of 99, did not live long enough to witness her centennial birthday celebration scheduled for November 25.
He told the gathering that the deceased was a repository of knowledge and a custodian of information who was always concerned about the well being of her loved ones.
“We are in mourning and at the same time in celebration of the life of a woman who stood all her life for the unity of this nation.
“I think that one of the great things that has been said about her was her great love for people.
“She had a personal relationship with practically everybody, those who were her family members and those who were not.
“Mama was always a very caring, devoted and loving mother. She was a woman with so much fortitude, such strength of character and everything that you know about her.
“I pray that with her passage, all will be well with each and every one of us,” Osinbajo said.
The vice-president said Awolowo envisaged a Nigeria where people would not be defined by their tribe but by their interests in seeing the nation prosper without prejudice.
“She lived for this nation, everyday of her life, she wanted to see a great nation and I know that she had begun to see that great nation.
“The evolution of this nation in the past years had shown that we were on the right path and would get to our deserved destination.
“I believe that her memory would best be served by the kind of nation we would want to see – a united nation,’’ he said.
On the vice president’s entourage during the visit were Mr Babachir Lawal, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Dr Olusegun Mimiko, the governor of Ondo State.
Others were former Ogun governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, and wife, Derin.
To Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, the impact of the death will take generations to heal.
This is contained in a statement by his spokesman, Imam Imam, in Sokoto on Sunday.
Tambuwal described the matriarch of the Awolowo family as a unique human being whose virtuosity, influence and charisma would be sorely missed.
He also said all categories of Nigerians had benefitted from late HID’s wise counsel at different times, and urged the Federal Government to immortalise her.
While expressing the condolence of the people and government of Sokoto State over the sad loss, Tambuwal also prayed to God to give her immediate family the fortitude to bear the loss.
Immediate past Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, in his condolence message to the Awolowo family, said “the Mother of a nation has translated to immortality”.
Fashola expressed grief at the passage of the widow of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, noting that the nation would sorely miss her wise counsel.
“I condole with with the Awolowo family at this moment of physical separation and bereavement,” he stated.
Fashola urged the family to take solace in the memory of the departed matriarch’s decades of patriotic service to the nation even without seeking any title.
“No words will suffice to describe how sorely Mama will be missed. But I am confident that the memory of Mama’s legacy, her national service without a title, and the pride of her life’s work will build bridges of comfort for the entire family,” he stated.
While condoling with the Government and people of Ogun State, Fashola prayed that the soul of Yeye Oodua Awolowo finds “favour with her Creator and rest in His bosom peacefully.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC) described her as a colossus of her time who will always be remembered for good.
In a statement in Ikenne on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said Yeye Oodua Awolowo was an ideal wife, a great mother and indeed a jewel of inestimable value, as her husband once fondly described her.
”While we understand that death is inevitable, there are times that we secretly wish that our loved and great ones would live forever. Mama gave us reasons for such a secret wish, with her sterling personal and public life that made her a strong pillar behind one of the country’s foremost nationalists,” it said.
APC commiserated with the children, grand children, great grand children and the entire Awolowo family, and prayed that God will take Mama into his bosom and also give all those she left behind the strength to carry on without her.
The party said the best tribute that can be paid to Mrs Awolowo is for the new generation of Nigerian women to emulate her love of family and nation, life of industry, selflessness as well as a strong and abiding faith in God, all attributes that served her well and made her a colossus among men and women.
Sympathisers on Sunday continued to throng the Ikenne-Remo residence of the Awolowos to commiserate with the family over her death.
Among the early callers were a former member of the National Assembly, Senator Adegbenga Kaka, former Minister of Transport, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, and former governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande.
They all signed the condolence register opened in honour of Awolowo at the residence.
A short service was held in the Family Chapel of the Awolowos in honour of the late matriarch.
The service was conducted by Venerable Emmanuel Adegbuyi and officiating ministers from the Diocese of Remo, Anglican Communion.
A minute silence was also observed in her honour during the service.
Adegbuyi urged those in attendance to utilise their resources, time and name in promoting humanitarian services like the deceased did in her lifetime.
“Mama Awolowo was a respecter of time and people in all her endeavours while on earth.
“Time and tide wait for no one and there is time for everything, a time of birth and departure. We should all make good use of our time like we saw in mama’s life.
“We thank God for the way He gave her the opportunity to maximise her potentials.
“ This serves as a lesson to all of us that we should make good use of our time because we shall all give account of our stewardship one day,’’ he said.
The APC, Accord Party and PDP in Oyo State lamented the death, describing her demise as a great loss to the Yoruba race and the country at large.
The parties’ officials all affirmed that the vacuum left by the late matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty would be difficult to fill.
Chief Akin Oke, the APC Chairman in Oyo State, who described the death of the deceased as a great loss, expressed the hope that the country would accord her a befitting burial.
“To God be the glory for sparing her life till 99. Mama lived a fulfilled life and I hope Nigeria will give her a befitting burial,” he said.
Mr Bashiru Lawal, the Accord Party Chairman in Oyo State, also described Awolowo’s death as a great loss.
Lawal said that it was unfortunate that Awolowo would leave behind a vacuum difficult to fill, saying she was a symbol of Yoruba unity.
“Her support to the Yoruba race and the nation at large would be greatly missed. I pray that God gives us a new leader of her kind in the Yoruba race at this time, ” he said.
Similarly, Mr Kehinde Salawu, the Public Relations Officer of the PDP in Oyo State, described Awolowo’s demise as shocking, saying her advice on national issues was greatly needed.
Salawu said that the contribution of the deceased to the national issues at a time when there was change of leadership in the country was very important.
He said that the deceased had lived a fulfilled life and deserved to be celebrated.
The parties condoled with President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State as well as the Awolowo family on the death.
Meanwhile, the Awolowo political family has been urged to use the death to reunite and reaffirm Awo’s governance ideals for the common good of the country.
A former Lagos State APC governorship aspirant, Dr Leke Pitan, gave the advice in a statement his Media Aide, Mr Afolayan Adebiyi, issued in Lagos on Sunday.
Pitan said that the progressive family, the Yoruba race and indeed the country, had lost a stabilising force and a moral voice with the passage of HID.
The medical doctor, who is now the Special Advisor for Africa, International Hospital Federation, Geneva, said he was full of admiration “for mama’s strength of character”.
He also paid tribute to depth of wisdom in all her dealings since the struggle for independence.
“She has shown her strength in character and wisdom in all her dealings through the political crises of the 1960s even up till the time of her demise,’’ he said.
Pitan said that mama admirably stood by the late sage, Papa Obafemi Awolowo, through the thick and thin of his political career.
He further urged the present leaders in the country to emulate most dignified and scandal-free life mama led in all her life.
“Neither mama nor papa was short of courage, self-discipline, wisdom and above all selfless service to the common man.’’
Pitan commiserated with the Awolowo’s family and progressive movement in the country over the passing on of the matriarch of the family.
