19th September, 2015
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, has described the death of the
matriarch of the Awolowo Dynasty, Chief (Mrs) Hannah Idowu
Dideolu Awolowo, as the loss of the real conscience of the Oodua
nation.
The Governor said her untiring efforts at building and sustaining the
unity of the Yoruba nation and ensuring its worthy pride of place
within the context of Nigeria’s federal structure will be sorely
missed by all.
He also described the death of Mama Awolowo as the end of an era.
In a condolence message in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday, by the governor’s
Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, the governor said Mama
Awolowo not only wrote her name in gold in the history of the Yoruba
race and Nigeria at large, but proved truly that behind a successful
man, there must be a good woman.
“The Holy Bible says he who finds a wife finds a good thing and
obtains favour from the Lord. That was true and real in the life of
the late sage Baba Obafemi Awolowo who found a good thing in our dear
Mama and called her ‘My jewel of inestimable value.’
“The good qualities of a dutiful wife and caring mother shown by Mama
are worthy of emulation. She stood solidly by her husband during those
trying moments. She showed resilience when it seemed all chips were
down.
“After the demise of her husband, Mama stood tall to carry on with the
great legacies of Baba Awolowo. Even when the vicissitudes of life
brought some challenging issues across her path, despite that there
was no Baba to lean on, she stood like a rock.
“Mama Awolowo’s life was not only exemplary, but one that provided
great lessons of life to the discerning mind. She has fought a good
fight. She came and conquered. She left footprints in the sands of
time and she has gone to a deserved rest.
“Mama Awolowo was a quintessence of honesty, discipline, integrity,
modesty and compassion. With Mama’s death, no doubt, the biggest iroko
tree in the forest of Yorubaland has fallen and the jewel of inestimable value has
finally gone to meet the sage.
“Despite her old age and failing health, she never stopped to harp on
an egalitarian society, a nation of equity, justice and fairness.
“Mama remained undaunted in her commitment to the unity and wellness
of the Yoruba race in particular and Nigeria as a whole. She will be
sorely missed by all.
“On behalf of my family, government and people of Ekiti State, I wish
the entire Awolowo family the continued support and guidance
of the Almighty God and the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”