H I D AWOLOWO TAKES HER FINAL BOW FROM MOTHER EARTH

PRES. BUHARI & VP OSINBAJO AT THE AWOLOWO MAUSOLEUM

The late Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s wife and jewel of inestimable value and matriarch of the Awolowo family, Mrs. HID Awolowo yesterday took her final bow from earth as she was interred at about 1:45 pm beside her husband in her home town Ikenne.

Her two surviving children, Rev. Omotola Oyediran and Ambassador Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu and their spouses, almost all the grandchildren and great-grand children were at the graveside with some bishops for her interment in a mausoleum within the Awolowo country home. The interment was basically a family affair while other activities were open to others.

President Buhari with Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and his wife at the tomb of Late Mrs HID Awolowo

Dignitaries in attendance included President Muhammadu Buhari who put up an appearance and about 16 state governors. Others were former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former head of State, General Yakubu Gowon and Head of Interim National Government, Chief Earnest Shonekan.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who came in after the internment, later visited the mausoleum accompanied by Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and spent about two minutes there before leaving. He was also earlier at the Efunyela Hall where he met the Awolowo family behind closed doors for about 30 minutes

The late Mrs. Awolowo’s final funeral rites were held at Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Ikenne with many dignitaries from the state and federal government in attendance, the Federal Government was headed by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who was accompanied by his wife, a grand-daughter of the late Mrs. Awolowo. Senate President, Bukola Saraki was also present with some senators and members of the House of Representatives.

Those who were at the church service presided over by Archbishop, Primate and Metropolitan, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh included former presidents and heads of state such as Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Yakubu Gowon, Ernest Shonekan and Oladipo Diya. Other attendees were serving and past governors, including national leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. Also at the event were Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, former governors of Ogun State Aremo Olusegun Osoba and Otunba Gbenga Daniel. Also present were governors of Ondo, Cross River, Imo, Osun, Oyo, Kaduna and Sokoto states.