*Lagos Speaker, Olanrewaju Oshun also mourn the departed matriarch

hannah Awolowo

Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo has been described as an inimitable personality who could only be described in superlatives.

In his condolence message on the passing of the matriarch of the Awolowo family, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, a former governor of Ogun State  said she was a woman of charm, humility, generosity, courage, resilience, industry and vision.

She was so strong a personality and so magnetic impressing  herself indelibly on the minds of not only her family and kinsmen but her race and the nation in general, he said in his condolence message to the Awolowo family.

“Kind, compassionate, strict but loving, caring and sensitive, Mama was a great humanitarian and strong believer in service to the community. Undoubtedly, she was born into a man’s world, arguably to play a man’s role”.

“Mama’s support ignited the flame of Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s  long held visions as she was ready to spend her life side by side her husband in their patriotic, humanitarian and political dreams”.

“Mama’s life was one selfless devotion as she sacrificed so much of her youth, her adult years and ultimately her life for the benefit of her people in spite of  harassment, arrest and even death which were very real possibilities”.

“For a woman of remarkable bravery,  she surmounted all odds following her husband and staying by him through all vicissitudes; imprisonment inclusive.

“Firm but noble, full of charm, grace and beauty, her intellect combined with her unique resilience made her one of a kind. Even at almost a century old, Mama was still cheerful and as sharp as a tack”.

“Rather than mourn, we should celebrate her life so full of love an the way we can best honour her is to pray Almighty God to grant her eternal rest and the family the strength to bear the great loss,” Daniel said.

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, a well as the member of the House respresenting Lagos Mainland Constituency 2 at the House, Moshood Olarenwaju Oshun, have described the death of Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo as a collosal loss not only to the Yoruba nation but also to the Nigerian federation and Africa at large.

Obasa and Oshun who reacted separately, expressed shock at the incident.

“Personally, despite the fact that mama died at a very ripe age, we will still miss her, the Nigerian federation will miss her most because this is the moment her words of wisdom, advice and motherly role is most critically needed to contribute to the growth of our democracy which her great husband with her by his side, lived and died for,” the Lagos Assembly Speaker said.

Obasa described the deceased as a loving, obedient, loyal, committed and persevering wife who stood strongly by her late husband, Chief Obafemi Awolowo during his political travails.

“Even after his death almost three decades ago, she has been strong, keeping the family together and playing a motherly role to the Yoruba nation and the Nigerian federation.

“In all these, she never forsake her love for our dear papa, late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Suffice to add that the evidence of their everlasting togetherness is confirmed in the fact that both husband and wife died on a Saturday,” he said.

The Speaker condoled with the Awolowo family of Ikenne Remo, the government and people of Ogun State and the entire Nigerian federation.

“Her death coming at this critical point in our democracy is very painful but we take solace in the fact that she lived a fulfilled life and played her role wonderfully. May Almighty God will grant her soul eternal rest,” he said

On his part, Oshun said this matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty would be greatly missed by all who have had the opportunity to receive her blessing at one time or the other while she was alive.

“I am very pained because she is leaving this sinful world with a wealth of knowledge and experience that could have helped the younger generation shape the world.

“This woman, even in death, remains the true example of what a woman should be. Through thick and thin, she remained glued to her husband, whom she loved with all her heart.

“This was very obvious. Her husband died in 1987, HID remained steadfast and became the umbrella that brought the family together,” Oshun said.