Shonekan, Ibru, Others Pay Tributes To H.I.D Awolowo

IbruIkenne — Publisher, The Guardian, Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru signing the condolence register at the Awolowo compound in Ikenne… yesterday.

EMINENT Nigerians continued to throng Ikenne, Ogun State yesterday to commiserate with the Awolowo family over the demise of their matriarch, Mama Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo.

Publisher of The Guardian, Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru wrote in the condolence register opened for the wife of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo: “Mother to all, you are indeed blessed. As you journey to your God and Creator, travel well, peace profound.”
Managing Director of The Guardian, Mr, Emeka Izeze, said: “Mama lived well and left an enduring legacy for all. She will be surely be missed.”

Former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan said the late matriarch always wanted the best for Nigeria.“All Nigerians will miss her considerably. Mama was very forthright and very loyal to her husband and to the family, Western region and Nigeria. She has people who will carry on from where she left. May the Almighty God give us the strength and the energy to surpass what she has done so that those who are coming after us will do far better,” he said.

Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose said in the condolence register that “Mama lives on, we will miss her”, while Senator Ben Bruce said that her name will never be forgotten in Nigeria’s history.
“First of all, Mama was a great African leader and was married to one of the greatest Nigerians who ever lived. When a woman like that passes on, the first thing we ask is: did we document her life? I don’t think that we did”, Ben Bruce said.

IbruIkenne1 — Managing Director, The Guardian, Mr. Emeka Izeze (left); Publisher, The Guardian, Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru; daughter of the late Chief H.I.D. Awolowo, Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu; and Dr. Gbolahan Dosunmu during their condolence visit to the Awolowos in Ikenne…yesterday PHOTOS: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

On his part, President of Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Productions Association of Nigeria, Dele Odule wrote: “Success is not determined by the volume of what you have in your bank account but the lives you are able to impact. Mama, you have done beautifully well.”

Also yesterday, the Ikenne Peoples’ Forum led by Otunba Adeleke Adesina delivered a letter of condolence to the Awolowo family. “We came here to see Mama. She gave us her support. Ikenne Peoples’ Forum was formed to take care of those who have no jobs; to assist them to find employment in the public and private sectors. The forum is a non-political and non-religious organization.”
Mama who passed on last Saturday, will be buried on November 25, the day she would have turned 100 years.