The death of the matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty, Chief (Mrs) Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, has been described as a loss of the real conscience of the Oodua nation.
Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose made the statement in Ado-Ekiti Saturday while reacting to the demise of the wife of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, saying 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 HID Awolowo as the end of an era.
In the condolence message made available to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, Saturday, by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, the governor said Mama HID 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 HID 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 HID 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.”