Activities marking the final journey home of late Chief (Mrs.) Hannah Dideolu Awolowo, the wife of the late sage and former Premier of Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, began yesterday with lying-instate and service of songs at her Lagos residence in Park Lane, Apapa area of the state. Mrs. Awolowo died in Ikenne, Ogun State on September 19. She was aged 99.
Her remains, which was driven into Lagos in a black ambulance inside a golden casket by TOS Funeral officials, was accompanied by six traditional staffs and daughters of the deceased – Revd (Mrs) Tola Oyediran and Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu and other family members and well-wishers.
The ambulance was forced to stop about 500 meters to the deceased residence by a crowd of sympathisers who were itching to catch a glimpse of the woman popularly called ‘Mama HID’. Six pallbearers from the funeral company lifted the remains of HID Awolowo in an open glass casket, amidst singing, dancing and drumming.
The casket was later heralded to the deceased residence at 31/33 Park Lane, Apapa at 12: 47p.m. The deceased was dressed in white Yoruba traditional attire with yellow headgear to match. The procession had in attendance dignitaries across the country, especially politicians and Awolowo associates, who filed past the deceased during lying-in-state and service of songs to pay their last respect to the late matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty. Speaking to journalists after meeting the Awolowo family, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said the exit of Mama HID Awolowo is a huge loss to Lagosians.
“The fact that the final journey of Mama is commencing from Lagos signifies that this is a huge loss to the whole of Lagosians. Also, that we are remembering Mama from Park Lane, Apapa also shows that she has been a major bastion of commerce and trade and the whole development of Lagos State.
For us, this is a Lagos loss; it is not even about Yoruba loss alone. “We are here to show the togetherness in all of us that we would remember Mama for every good thing that she has been able to do us. She has been very generous and we would miss her greatly,” he said. The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, said the progressives have lost a mother figure, adding that Awolowo’s contribution to the unity of Nigeria was enormous.
His words: “Nigeria will miss her sterling qualities, dedication to the cause of humanity and commitment to the ideals of the progressives. There is no doubt that we have lost a great and virtuous woman, mother of the progressives and unifier of the country.”
They have touched many lives. If not for Papa Awolowo, many people would not have been professors today. A lot of people, especially in the Western Region benefited immensely from Awolowo’s free education. We must celebrate Mama’s exit,” he said. Afenifere’s chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, said the deceased was a pillar of support to her husband, who many people regarded as Yoruba hero till date.
Former deputy governor of Osun State, Erelu Olusola Obada, urged Nigerians to take a cue from Mama Awolowo. Speaking during the service, the Archbishop of Lagos Province (Anglican Communion), Most (Revd) Adebayo Akande, who took his sermon from the book of Ecclesiastes 7, charged people to live with the fear of God.
The deceased daughters read the bible passages. Students of Methodist Girls High School, Yaba, who were joined by their alumni, rendered a special renditions at the service. The corpse will leave Lagos today for Ibadan for a commendation service.
Meanwhile, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has directed that the popular Agbeni Market in Ibadan, the state capital, be shut today in honour of the late matriarch. The Methodist Church, Agbeni, Ibadan will receive the remains of the Awolowo matriarch for a farewell service holding this morning.
