Ikenne, a small but historic town in Ikenne local government area of Ogun State, is much renowned for the sage and former Premier of the defunct Western Region of Nigeria, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
The local government, which is about 144 kilometres in size, was created in September 1991 from the defunct Remo local government. It is semi-urban, comprising five major towns namely Iperu, Ilishan, Ogere, Irolu and Ikenne, which is the headquarters.
The people of the council are mainly of Remo stock, with trading and farming as their predominant occupation. Though Ikenne boasts of some highly placed personalities, including the late Tai Solarin, none has practically drawn more attention to it than the late Chief (Mrs) Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, the Yeye Oodua and matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty, who died on September 19. Since her demise, the town has surged with heavy traffic of Nigerians from all walks of life.
Those who called to sympathize with the family, include serving and former government functionaries, political bigwigs, business moguls, captains of industries, members of professional bodies and notable clerics.
Mama Awolowo, popularly known as HID, was born in Ikenne on November 25, 1915. Her parents were the late Chief Moses Odugbemi Adelana and late Deaconess Elizabeth Adelana (nee Oyesile).
She was of royal descent on both her paternal and maternal sides and the only survivor of her mother’s seven children. Her maternal grandmother, Erelu Adebowale Oyesile, belonged to the Ijagba Ruling House, Sagamu. Her paternal grandmother, Sadeke, belonged to the Obara Ruling House in Ikenne while her paternal grandfather belonged to Owobagbe Royal Family of the Liyangu Akarigbo, Sagamu.
She was head of the Liyangu Ruling House until her death. In 1921, HID started her elementary education at Saint Saviour’s (Anglican) School, Ikenne. She later moved to Saint Peter’s (Anglican) School, Faji, Lagos from where she proceeded to Methodist Girls’ High School (MGHS), Lagos for her secondary education.
She passed out of MGHS in 1933 and returned to Ikenne to teach at her alma mater from January 1934 to December 1936. Thereafter, she took up trading, the traditional occupation of her mother and grandmother. She got married to Chief Awolowo on December 26, 1937 and the marriage was blessed with five children – Olusegun, Omotola, Oluwole, Ayodele and Olatokunbo. Three of the children, however, died before her passing on.
At the instance of her husband, Mama Awolowo gave up trading and became a full-time housewife in 1939. However, some years later, when Chief Awolowo travelled to London to study law, she resumed trading. Her business prospered and she became a reputable and renowned business woman. Through good times and turbulent periods, Mama was always there for Chief Awolowo.
She ensured a happy and peaceful home and also participated actively in her husband’s political campaigns and activities. Awolowo acknowledged his wife’s invaluable contributions when he attributed his success in life to three factors – the grace of God, a Spartan self-discipline and a good wife. He went on to describe the late HID as his “jewel of inestimable value.”
After the death of Chief Awolowo in 1987, HID held the fort and went on to become a quintessential leader and rallying point for the people of Ikenne and even, the South West geopolitical zone. She expanded the scope of her husband’s political legacy to the extent that a courtesy visit to her in Ikenne became a rite of passage for aspiring and incumbent political leaders from all parts of the country. But Mama’s contributions to social and community life extended beyond party politics.
Mama Awolowo touched the lives of those around and beyond her. Her personal assistant and secretary for 11 years, Mrs. Chinwe Ero-Phillips, said this much in an interview with Sunday Telegraph.
She described her boss as “honest, straight-forward, hardworking, strong, organizer, fair, firm, perfectionist and God-fearing.” Also, a renowned poet and author, Odia Ofeimun, who was one-time private secretary to Chief Obafemi Awolowo, said the late HID was a good wife. Ofeimun noted that Awolowo might not have recorded enduring achievements without the input of his wife.
Among those that benefitted from good deeds of the deceased was the current National Chairman of Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Professor Bankole Okuwa. Okuwa, while recalling his relationship with the late HID, said she upheld the political principles of her husband till death. But now that the Awolowo’s matriarch has passed on, what becomes of Ikenne town?
Who fills the vacuum created by the exit of the late HID? These appear to be the questions agitating the minds of many people in the town as well as keen observers. However, there are some eminent indigenes of Ikenne local government who may just fit the bill and attempt to step into the large shoes. On the list are the incumbent Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; billionaire and philanthropist, Chief Kesington Adebutu; and members of the popular Sofola family.
Osinbajo, who hails from Ikenne, is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and professor of Law. He is married to Awolowo’s granddaughter, Dolapo. He served as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State between 1999 and 2007.
As an in-law to the Awolowos, the vice president is expected to be another rallying point in Ikenne. Though he has been attending several community programmes in the town, some observes opine that he may not effectively match HID’s impact because he is more rooted in Lagos than Ikenne. Adebutu is another person that many people look up to in the local government.
The billionaire pools magnate, popularly known as ‘Baba Ijebu,’ hails from Iperu in the local government. Adebutu, who recently celebrated his 80th birthday, has contributed immensely with his wealth to the development of his hometown, Ikenne, Ogun State and the nation at large.
Adebutu’s son, Oladipupo, who is a member of the House of Representatives, has also taken after his father in terms of generosity and public spiritedness. But it remains to be seen if they can surpass that of Mama Awolowo. Apart from the Awolowo family, the Sofola family is also one of the most prominent in Ikenne. This is a family of the Senior Advocates and legal luminaries.
Of note are the late Chief Kehinde Sofola and Chief Idowu Sofola. Although the Awolowos and Sofolas have been embroiled in age-long acrimony, observers believe the latter family may now be well positioned in the limelight since the major pillars of the rival family have passed on.
However, the eldest daughter of the late HID Awolowo, Revd (Mrs) Omotola Oyediran, thinks it is too early to decipher who steps into her mother’s shoes. She said only God can determine who would be up to the task while noting that Mama Awolowo’s legacies remain indelible.
