37 HIDAWOLOWO (1915-2015)
Monday, 5 October, 2015
Emulate HID Awolowo to make heaven , Bishop Wale Oke tells Nigerians •FRSC boss, others eulogise Yeye Oodua By Saheed Salawu
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ishop Francis Wale Oke of the Christ Life Bible Church, a.k.a. Sword of the Spirit Ministry and Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), on Sunday, joined the array of eminent Nigerians that have visited the Ikenne, Ogun State home of the Awolowos in respect of the death of Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo. Bishop Wale Oke said that everyone who is desirous of going to Heaven must live a godly life as Mama Awolowo did. In spite of power, riches or fame, without Christ, Bishop Wale Oke submitted, heaven is impossible. The cleric, who described his visit as congratulatory rather than condolence because Mama lived a full, richly Christian life, expressed confidence that Mama Awolowo had not died, but only moved to a better place than this world – “the Land of Glory.” He said, “When I learnt of Mama’s demise, I was convinced that Mama had gone to glory, because believers don’t die, they take their exit to the Land of Glory.” The man of God, who expressed his belief that Mama was already resting in the bosom of the Lord, relived a 1991 experience that underlined Mama’s deep, unflinching love for Christ. According to him, Mama exhibited her distinguished Christian life in the manner she deliberately and purposefully renewed her commitment to Christ during a five-day all-Remo crusade organised by his church. He shared how, on a particular night during the crusade, while he was preaching salvation, Mama, in her own handwriting, committed her life, again, to Christ and then forwarded the “decision slip,” in which Mama expressly stated that she wanted to go to Heaven, to him. “Mama lived a full life. Mama lived a glorious life. Mama fulfilled her destiny and has left a permanent mark on the sands of time. So, I congratulate the family on the glorious home-going of Mama, because not only did Mama live a godly life, she gave her life to Christ, received Christ as her Lord and Saviour and was filled with the Holy Spirit. “At least, I knew that during
a crusade that we did in 1991, and she had lived a consistent godly and Christian life ever since. “Mama is in Heaven because if anybody believes in Christ, he will not see death, he will go to Heaven; he has passed from death to life,” he said. He admonished Nigerians to follow the example of Mama HID Awolowo and dedicate their lives to God. “Let’s shun every crime, every corruption and every evil and let’s live a godly and glorious life like Mama did, and it shall be well with us,” Bishop Wale Oke added. Mr Oyeyemi said that Mama Awolowo lived a good life and described her as a legacy for this generation and
those yet unborn. “She has lived a good life, a Christian life, and she has touched so many lives. So, it behoves us to emulate her and live a good life,” Oyeyemi said. The FRSC boss, who came in company with Commander, Zone 2, Mr Nsenbong Akpabio, an Assistant Corps Marshal; Assistant Corps Marsahal, National Vehicle Identification Scheme, Lagos, Mr Hyginus Foumsow; Corps Commander/Head, Media Relations, Mr Bisi Kazeem and Ogun State Sector Commander of the corps, Mr Adegoke Adetunji, said the fact that people from all walks of life have been saying things devoid of negativity about Mama showed that her 99 years
on earth were a testament to her godliness and fulfilment. Also, a media consultant, Mr Ayo Akinyemi, who visited the Awolowos, on Sunday, with his wife, Ronke, said that Mama HID Awolowo lived a life of service to God and humanity. “We had the rare privilege of close association with Mama in the years I worked in the Nigerian Tribune. “With us, she left a memory of love and care for others. My wife cherished the affectionate love Mama had for Papa and the unwavering support she gave Papa in the days of travails and success as a political leader of international re-
pute. “One cannot exhaust the virtues of Mama. We thank God for her life. May her soul rest in peace in the bosom of the Creator,” Akinyemi said. Bishop Olusina Fape led a prayer after the choir of the Obafemi Awolowo Memorial Anglican Church, Ikenne-Remo, led by Mr Yinka Awoyomi, sang hymns in honour of Mama Awolowo. Sir (Prince) Mabayoje Samuel Oremosu led a delegation from the Nogalu Abara family from Ilisan-Remo to the residence of the Awolowos, just as Mr Adeleke Adebayo led a band of the Boys Brigade, Remo Battalion Council, to pay respects to Mama.
Police strategise on security for her burial •Others commend her
By BOLA BADMUS, Olayinka Olukoya and GBEMI SOLAJA
DETERMINED to ensure adequate security network for the burial activities of the co-founder/chairman of the African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, Chief Hannah Dideolu Awolowo, the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, has directed Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2, Bala Hassan, to chair security committee. Nigerian Tribune recalled that Arase, during his condolence visit to the Awolowos in Ikenne, had promised adequate security before, during and after the burial programmes of the matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty. The IG also ordered that other relevant stakeholders in the provision of adequate security should be included in the arrangement. According to a statement obtained by the Nigerian Tribune through the office of the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, other members of the committee included Ogun State Commissioner of Police, CP Abdulmajid Ali; a consultant on security matters to the Ogun State Government, CP Olayinka Balogun (rtd); senior police officers, some members of the Awolowo family, security agencies in the state. Adejobi said the AIG had since met with the security sub-committee last Friday, in Abeokuta. The PPRO also said that
Hassan had visited the Ikenne residence of the Awolowos and Ikenne town in general to have on-the-spot-assessment of the environment towards adequate deployment of security operatives before, during and after the burial. The committee is expected to meet today to concretise the security arrangement. Meanwhile, the lawmaker representing Ojo Federal Constituency in the lower legislative chamber, Honourable Tajudeen Obasa, has commiserated with the governor and people of Ogun State on the demise of Mama HID Awolowo, just as he stated that Mama championed good governance. Obasa extended his deepest condolences to the families and friends of the deceased, while also urging the family to be comforted with her legacies. The lawmaker appreciated the matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty for her courage and steadfastness in standing with the Sage during the political crisis of the First Republic. “Death is inevitable; Mama was a righteous person, God purposely created her for the
world. Nigeria and Nigerians will surely miss her,” he said The lawmaker, however, called on the Federal Government and the Ogun State government to do the needful by honouring her for her worthy contributions toward nation building. Otunba Jide Oshinubi a.k.a Sokoyokoto, also recalled how the late Yeye Oodu’a came to his rescue through the late Publisher, African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, Evangelist Oluwole Awolowo. Oshinubi said this while speaking with the Nigerian Tribune at his residence in Lagos, describing the late Yeye Oodu’a as a good woman and mother who wished good for all. According to Oshinubi, who is an intimate and bosom friend of late Evangelist Awolowo, “Mama was instrumental to how my late friend, Oluwole assisted me, at a time I was facing some economic challenges,” even as he recalled the encounter. “I had gone to Ikenne on this day as usual to visit Mama and my friend, Wole. On getting there, I went
straight to greet Mama first and there as usual of her, she inquired about my well-being. I told her I was having some difficult times. She asked what my friend, Wole was doing to help me out of it and I replied that he was yet to do something. “Immediately, Mama called him and said, ‘Wole, you need to help Jide out of his predicament because he is a good friend.’ That was how Wole took my matter to Abuja with the then Vice President Atiku Abubakar who gave me a note to the then Director-General of the Nigeria Customs Service. “It was the help that came through this note that put me back on financial footing and social relevance till today. I cannot forget the role God used Mama to play in my life. She was a good woman. May the Lord grant her eternal rest,” he said. While saying that the vacuum left by the matriarch would be difficult to fill, Oshinubi enjoined Nigerian women to emulate her in order to build a modern Nigeria.
Oodua group wants state burial for HID THE South-West states have been urged to give the late HID Awolowo a state burial. The Oodua Liberation Movement (OLM) said the states should not wait for the Federal Government before taking this decision. The group, in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Mr Gbenga
Awosode, also described the death of the matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty as a victorious omen for the Awolowo family and the entire Yoruba nation. In a statement issued by the Pan-Yoruba group on Tuesday said that HID Awolowo lived almost up to 100 years surviving all the political adversaries of
herself and her husband. “To be almost 100 years is no joke. HID kept faith with her husband, who died in 1987 at the ripe age of 78. That HID could survive this long is a sign of the fact that her husband stood and fought for the greatest good of the highest number with old age and a prosperous life as a reward.”
Ajimobi advocates literacy through radio programmes OYO State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has advocated an improvement on literacy through radio programmes to reduce the level of illiteracy in the state. Governor Ajimobi stated this while receiving the representatives and officials of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) at the Governor’s Office recently. The governor explained that majority of the adults within the society who may be ashamed of attending regular classes would prefer education through radio. He said the state government would be willing to provide the necessary incentives and logistics to ensure mass literacy, stressing that “education is the foundation of any development.” Governor Ajimobi also suggested the inclusion of vocational training and skills acquisition in the mass literacy programme to empower the beneficiaries and also improve on the literacy level. In his earlier remarks, the United Nations Representative, Mr John Edeh, emphasised the need for government at all levels to support adult and youth education.
Helpline Foundation bags award on humanitarian services Christian Okeke - Abuja
AN Abuja-based nongovernmental organisation, Helpline Foundation for the Needy, has bagged an award of excellence in recognition of its services to humanity especially for the less privileged in the society. The award came after it was identified as one of the leading non governmental organisations that focused on empowering the less privileged in the society to attain their God-given goals and aspirations. Presenting the award in Abuja, president of Non Indigene Ethnic Parliament, Prince Raph Clement, said the foundation had assisted indigent students across different ethnic groups to obtain basic education through awards of scholarship. Responding, the president of Helpline Foundation, Mrs Jumai Ahmadu, expressed gratitude for the recognition, even as she promised to do more in the education of less privileged children who are orphaned by HIV/Aids.