President Goodluck Jonathan: Oluwole Awolowo served humanity

Late Oluwole Awolowo

ABUJA—President Goodluck Jonathan, state governors and other eminent Nigerians, yesterday, continued to mourn the death of the Publisher and Vice Chairman of the African Newspaper, publishers of Nigerian Tribune newspapers, Evangelist Oluwole Awolowo, saying his demise was a loss not only to the late Obafemi Awolowo’s family, but to all the supporters of the late sage.

 This came as Segun, one of the grand-children of the late sage, said the news of the death of the only surviving son of the family Chief Oluwole Awolowo, had devastated the matriarch, Mrs. H. I. D. Awolowo. The news, Vanguard gathered, had worsened the health condition of the nonagenarian, who was said to have been kept in the dark during the illness of his late son.
 The family members were said to have become confused on how to break the news to their mother. According to Segun Awolowo, some men of God were said to have been used to break the news.

 Late Oluwole Awolowo Telling HID Awolowo Vanguard correspondent, who was at the Ikenne home of the Awolowos, gathered that former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and a Vicar of Our Saviour Anglican Church, Ikenne-Remo, Ven. Folusho Babatunji, and other men of God were used by the deceased sisters Tola Oyediran and Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu to break the news to Mama Awolowo.
 It was further gathered that Governor Ibikunle Amosun of the state, joined them in breaking the sad news to HID who was said to have been devastated. A family source told Vanguard that immediately the news filtered into the country, all mass communication media such as radio, television and newspapers were taken away from the aged woman to prevent her from getting the information about the death of her only son. Speaking with newsmen at the family house yesterday, Segun Awolowo, said the family received the news of the death of Oluwole Awolowo with saddened heart. He said:
 “We received it with saddened heart. But thank God he has gone to rest because he had been in pain. The sad thing is that mama is still alive. But we give glory to the God.” On how the family got the news, the grandson of the family said: “His eldest daughter, Yejide, had been in London with him in the hospital. We had been communicating. She called me and broke the news.” Reacting to the question on how the aged mother received the news, he said: “She was devastated. She had been trying to get across to him.
But since she had been in the hospital we had been hiding his condition from her. But it had become unavoidable. She is devastated. “Well he has children and it is a great loss. Like I said, we move on. He had been bed-ridden two years ago with various illnesses.
So we thank God that he made him rest.” He hinted that the remains of Oluwole Awolowo would soon arrive the country for burial, saying “as soon as possible. That is going to be the family decision and together with the Church everything will be arranged as soon as possible.” Jonathan’s condolence message President Goodluck Jonathan, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, governors Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, former Governor of Anambra State, Senator Chris Ngige and Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, expressed sadness over the incident. In a statement yesterday in Abuja by Dr. Reuben Abati, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, he said the death of Oluwole Awolowo, a distinguished evangelist, humanist and community leader, was sad and painful. He also described the deceased as a worthy and honoured member of the Awolowo dynasty, who diligently served God and humanity to the best of his ability.
 On behalf of himself, his family and the Federal Government, Jonathan extended his heartfelt condolences to Chief Awolowo’s immediate family and the matriarch of the Awolowo family, Mrs. HID Awolowo. Atiku said: “Decades after the death of his father, Chief Oluwole Awolowo did his best to keep the kite of the African Newspaper of Nigeria, publishers of the Nigerian Tribune flying. He will be remembered as a man of peace, who was committed to his family.” Governors mourn Governor Amosun described his death as a sad occurrence, which had thrown the entire state into mourning. Amosun said the fact that late Wole Awolowo was survived by his mother, the revered matriarch of the family, who is seen by all Nigerians as symbol of nationalism, made the departure of the Second Republic legislator an irreparable loss even more painful. Oshiomhole described the death as a great loss to the nation and to the media in particular, saying

 “I learnt with rude shock and grief news of the death of Chief Oluwole Awolowo. “On behalf of the people and Government of Edo State, I offer my heartfelt condolences. We share in the grief and pain of the Awolowo family at this very difficult period, knowing how closely knit the family is.” Governor Uduaghan described late Oluwole Awolowo as a humble, easy-going and focused personality, who spent almost his entire life for the good of humanity. Governor Mimiko said the death came as a blow to many like him, considering the fact that the departed is survived by an aged mother, the matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty,
Mama H.I.D. Awolowo. Governor Ajimobi described the passage of the only surviving male child of Chief Obafemi Awolowo as shocking and a great loss to Yorubaland. Ngige, Daniel, Alao Former Governor of Anambra State, Senator Chris Ngige, in his own condolence message to the Awolowo family, described Oluwole’s death as shocking. Ngige said: “His death is shocking, tragic and sad. He, however, effectively filled the gap left by his elder brother, Segun, who died during Awolowo’s sojourn in prison in the sixties. May God grant his soul eternal rest. Former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, said: “Chief Oluwole Awolowo lived his life in the service of the people. He was a quiet philanthropist and an exemplary leader, who impacted the lives of those who came in contact with him positively.” Alhaji Arisekola Alao said though the demise was “painful and devastating, death is inevitable. It is more than tragedy to lose Egbon Wole. “His public relation is second to none. Very nice a man and a rallying point. Egbon and I have been together for almost 50 years.” Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, said he particularly shares his admiration for the managerial and entrepreneurial capabilities of the late publisher and called on his successor and management of the newspaper to keep the flag flying higher. Also, a lawmaker representing Egbado South/ Ipokia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Abiodun Akinlade, said the deceased lived a good life worthy of emulation. Other callers, yesterday, were Gen. Oladipo Diya (rtd), Prince Bola Ajibola, Professor Timothy Ogunlesi, Ogun State Secretary of Action Congress of Nigeria, Alhaji Abimbola Awofeso; Alakene of Ikenne-Remo, Oba Adeyinka Onakade; representatives of the Ooni of Ife, led by Apetumodu of Ipetumodu, Oba Elijah Adegoke; Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, Justice Owolabi Sonoiki (rtd) and Chief GOK Ajayi and wife. Also members of Awolowo political family, Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, Senators Femi Okurounmu and Anthony Adefuye all described Oluwole’s death as sad. Ajimobi, through his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo said: “Chief Oluwole Awolowo’s passage, shortly after the demise of his sister, Mrs. Ayo Soyode, is a great blow to a Yorubaland.” Bishop of Remo Diocese (Anglican Communion), The Right Reverend (Dr) Olusina Fape, in his tribute said the death of Tribune’s publisher was a great loss to him and the Diocese. Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on National Planning, Economic Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, said: “An average Nigerian, who cherishes good name and enviable track record of service, resourcefulness and patriotism, would naturally be pained.” Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the South-West has condoled with the family of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, over the death of the scion of the family, Chief Oluwole Awolowo. In a statement by the Zonal Publicity Secretary, Mr. Waheed Lawal, the party described Awolowo’s death as painful and regrettable, noting that it came as a rude shock.