The interment scheduled for November 25 of Chief HID Awolowo, the late matriarch of the Awolowo family, has sparked off a wave of celebrations at Ikenne amidst the final burial rites of the woman considered to be the most influential in Yorubaland who died on September 19, 2015, weeks to her centenary birthday.
The streets of Ikenne are adorned with colourful posters and banners while commercial motorcyclists popularly called okada appear to have a boom in their business as a result of increased patronage. The Awolowo family says it is a celebration of the life of HID.
“We have witnessed increased turnover because of the influx of visitors who are coming for the burial ceremony,” an okada operator said.
Other residents said that the passage of HID has attracted prominent individuals from far and near to the town. Moreover, according to them, the death has equally brought about a certain level of development as some of the hitherto dilapidated roads have since been tarred and there is also an improved electricity supply to the area along with a beef-up of security.
The Awolowo family house has also received a facelift with a number of renovations of the buildings ahead of the burial. The remains of HID will be lowered in a grave below the brownish sculpture of the mausoleum where the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo lies.
According to Yakub Ismaila, who has worked for the Awolowos for over 25 years, “Another space meant for his wife was recently created. Some other items in the mausoleum are the photograph of the sage’s lying-in-state, the Nigerian flag beside the stairs into the graveside, three wreaths, an altar with two golden candlesticks and a cross, a Bible presented to Papa Awolowo during his 72nd birthday by Honourable Justice S.O. Sogbetun and Mrs C.B. Sogbetun on March 6, 1981.”
The interment, according to the family, will be private as only members of the family will be allowed to witness the final burial rites. But a number of other activities have been on with music from various sources filling the air from different centres including church bands and gospel musicians around the family residence.
As encomiums continue to pour in for HID Awolowo, the Tai Solarin Universiy of Education, Ijagun will confer a posthumous honourary doctorate degree of Business Education on her during the University’s 2015 convocation and 10th anniversary celebrations slated for November 28, 2015. In a letter dated, November 9, 2015 and signed by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Oluyemisi Obilade, the university explained that the decision to honour the late HID was in recognition of her passion for education, her business acumen and service to humanity.
According to the Vice Chancellor, “This award is in recognition of her passion for education, business acumen and numerous contributions to the advancement of the human race in Nigeria. The University takes special cognizance of her being a role model and legendary example of womanhood, leadership and family support. The university joins well-meaning Nigerians in celebrating the enviable worth of Mama and her outstanding legacies in the service of humanity.”
Prominent Yoruba socio-cultural and political groups have also continued to shower praises on HID. Some of them include, the Afenifere, Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF) and the Oodua Foundation.
Some of the dignitaries who have also attended some of the events in connection with the burial rites include, former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Senator Adegbenga Kaka, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi, Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, Chief Idowu Sofola (SAN), Senator Femi Okurounmu, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Chief Seinde Arogbofa, Senator Tony Adefuye, Senator Babafemi Ojudu and Mr Jimi Agbaje, Chief Supo Shonibare, Rear Admiral Akin Aduwo (rtd), Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, Chief (Mrs.) Bola Doherty and Prince Sade Sangodoyin.
In his tribute, the Afenifere leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, described the late Mama Awolowo as an “irreplaceable, indefatigable, unforgettable mother” whose deeds will forever remain evergreen.”
Fasoranti, whose tribute was delivered by the Secretary-General of Afenifere, Chief Seinde Arogbofa, noted that there is no way the story of Chief Obafemi Awolowo will be told without reference to HID.
He said, “Mama was not just a woman who stood beside her husband in the days of prosperity, she showed the real woman in her as Papa’s First Lady in adversity as she never wavered in all his years of persecutions – the Coker Inquiry, the treasonable felony trial and the period of imprisonment.
“In fact, the death of (Barrister) Olusegun Awolowo in his days of travail was enough for any woman to pile pressure on her husband to quit politics. But Mama still went ahead to campaign for her husband in two unsuccessful bids for the the presidency in 1979 and 1983.”
Speaking on behalf of YUF, Senator Okurounmu said, “it is most appropriate, if not an understatement, to describe Mama HID Awolowo as the quintessential heroine, one of only a very few that have emerged from within Nigeria in the last century.
“By her life, she has demonstrated the qualities of a truly virtuous wife and a dutiful mother. Papa Awolowo intended no hyperbole when he described her as his jewel of inestimable value.”
On his part, Kaka described the late Mama Awolowo as a unifying factor in Yorubaland.
Also featuring at the 19 days’ long activities was the Pastor of Latter Rain Assembly Tunde Bakare, who warned Nigerian politicians not to put on sale the legacies of the former Premier of old Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
Bakare said this while delivering his sermon at the service of thanksgiving held at Ikenne-Remo in honour of HID. He stated that he was a product of Awolowo’s free education policy, declaring that his legacies in the country cannot be bought.
The event was attended by wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs Olufunso Amosun, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, and Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, among others.
The cleric said Awolowo’s free education saved him and numerous other Nigerians from the clutches of poverty and illiteracy. He said that he would have been a carpenter but for the opportunity the free education introduced by the late Awolowo.
“If not for Awolowo’s free education, I won’t be here tonight. I am standing on the legacy of Awolowo. This legacy is not for sale. That legacy cannot be bought by men,” Bakare said.
-Vanguard