TheGuardian
10 | THE GUARDIAN, Saturday, March 30, 2013
Conscience, Nurtured by Truth
Politics Oluwole Awolowo’s Demise: A Matriarch’s Agony N Wednesday, March 27, the eldest survivO ing son of Late sage and nationalist, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Oluwole Awolowo passed on. He was 70 years old. Awolowo, who is the Publisher/ Vice Chairman of the African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, Publishers of the Tribune titles, reportedly died at about 5.40pm Nigerian time at Wellington hospital, St Johnswood, London following complications arising from a car crash that occurred on September 30, 2006. He had earlier been on admission for about a year at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State. Notwithstanding his health challenges following the accident, he devoted his life to the service of God and was deeply involved in evangelical activities. In the past four years, he authored a Christian column, Oba’s Lectern, in the
Sunday Tribune. Born on December 3, 1942, Oluwole attended the prestigious Ibadan Grammar School in Oyo State and the Leighton Park School, Reading, Berdshire, England. He studied Business Studies at the Leeds College of Commerce and worked with the Nigerian Tobacco Company, Ibadan, the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation and the Nigerian Television Service, Lagos. In the aftermath of his death, there has been an outpouring of condolences from Nigerians to the Awolowo dynasty. Chief among them has been President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who described the death of the Publisher of the Tribune Newspapers, Chief Awolowo as sad and painful, noting that he was a distinguished evangelist, humanist and community leader. The President described the late Awolowo as a
worthy and honoured member of the Awolowo dynasty who diligently served God and humanity to the best of his abilities. President Jonathan commended his steadfast, life-long commitment to upholding, maintaining and continually improving the Tribune newspapers which ensured that the Nigerian Tribune and its sister publications have remained an objective voice of reason in Nigeria’s media space and continue to offer invaluable services to the nation. “It is not a mean feat to have sustained the Tribune newspapers over the years,” the President said in praise of the late scion of the Awolowo family On behalf of himself, his family and the Federal Government, President Jonathan extended heartfelt condolences to Chief Awolowo’s immediate family, the matriarch of the Awolowo family, Mrs. Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, other family members, the Ikenne community, the management and staff of Tribune newspapers, as well as the people and government of Ogun State. But the Tribune Publisher’s death has been made more painful given that he is survived by his mother and matriarch of the family, Chief
H.I.D Awolowo. Mama turns 98 later in November. And it is indeed nightmarish to outlive your wards. This is however not the first time the Matriarch has gone through such gloomy experience. She had a similar experience of mourning one of her children in 2011 following the death of her daughter, Otunba Ayodele Olubusola Soyode on Sunday, April 10 after a brief illness. She was a dedicated lawyer who held forth first as a Partner and later Principal Partner in her late father’s legal firm, Obafemi Awolowo and co. thus ensuring that the legacies of our darling Pa Awolowo lived on. At death, Otunba Soyode was aged 66 and was survived by her husband, Mr Tayo Soyode, three children (Mrs Dolapo Osibajo, Mr Ladipo Soyode and Dr Femi Soyode) and many grandchildren. As condolences continue to pour in torrents for the departed scion of the Awolowo dynasty, it is hoped that the matriarch would draw strength from the praises and good words that have been used to describe her departed son in different quarters, and pull through yet another trying moment for the family.
Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi reading a condolence letter to the Matriarch of the Awolowo Dynasty, Mama HID Awolowo, during a condolence visit to the Awolowo Country home, Ikenne, over the demise of her son, Chief Oluwole Awolowo, in Ogun State... yesterday.
Fayemi, Akande Visit HID Awolowo, Condoles Family KITI State Governor, Dr E Kayode Fayemi and the national Chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Chief Bisi Akande on Friday, paid a condolence visit to the matriarch of the Awolowo family, Chief HID Awolowo on the passing on of her son and Publisher of Nigerian Tribune, Evangelist Oluwole Awolowo. The Governor who was accompanied to the Ikenne, Ogun State country home of the Awolowos, by Senator Babafemi Ojudu (Ekiti Central), Commissioner for Culture, Arts and Tourism, Chief Ronke Okusanya and the Special Adviser on MDG, Mrs Bunmi Dipo-Salami,
described the death of Chief Oluwole as a great loss. He said the deceased was an embodiment of humility, courage and service to humanity, adding that he was never overwhelmed by the pressure of difficult times. Fayemi, who had a private audience with Chief HID Awolowo before presenting her a condolence letter, also met with the two siblings of the deceased, Ambassador Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu and Rev (Mrs) Tola Oyediran, as well as children of the late publisher. Governor Fayemi said the late Chief Oluwole Awolowo emulated his father and late sage,
Chief Obafemi Awolowo in seeking the progress and betterment of the society. He urged the children of the deceased to take heart and build on the legacy of their father. Also speaking at the Awolowo residence, Chief Akande, who lamented the death of the late Oluwole Awolowo, prayed that God would grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss. Prayers were offered for the family by the Anglican Bishop of Remo Diocese, Most Revd Olusina Fape. The Governor later signed the condolence register placed at the Efunyela Hall within the compound.
ACN Condoles With Awolowo Family HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has extended its deep condolences to the Awolowo family, especially to its matriarch, over the death of the family’s scion, Chief Oluwole Awolowo. In a statement issued in Lagos on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said it received the news of Chief Awolowo’s death with great shock and
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much sadness, and prayed that God will grant him eternal rest and comfort those he left behind. It hailed the late Chief Awolowo’s contribution to deepening the freedom of speech, a key ingredient of democracy, through his great efforts in sustaining one of the country’s oldest surviving newspapers, Tribune. “Sustaining the rich legacy of the Tribune, which was found-
ed by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, is a remarkable achievement, especially at a time that the newspaper publishing industry is facing great challenges, including from the so-called New Media. “It is therefore to Chief Oluwole Awolowo’s credit, as the publisher of the irrepressible Tribune for many years, that he ensured the paper has continued to wax stronger and stronger,” ACN said.
Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko with the Matriarch of the Awolowo Dynasty, Mama Hannah Awolowo, during the Governor’s condolence visit to the Awolowo family over the death of Chief Oluwole Awolowo, in Ikenne, Ogun state…yesterday
Yoruba Unity Forum Mourns From Iyabo Lawal, Ibadan HE Yoruba Unity Forum T (YUF) yesterday joined others to commiserate with the Awolowo family over the death of the scion of the family, Chief Oluwole Awolowo. The vice chairman of the group, Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi, in a statement, said the YUF of which Mrs H.I.D Awolowo is the founder and chairman, mourns the passage of Oluwole. The Publisher of the Tribune titles died on Wednesday in a London hospital at the age of 70. The statement read in part, “The YUF received with deep shock but with gratitude to God the news of the death of Chief Oluwole Awolowo. The deceased lived a very simple life. He was a very hardworking man and a silent achiever with unobtrusive personality. “For about four decades, he held forte successfully as the Publisher and Vice Chairman of the inimitable Tribune
titles, effectively steering the ship of the organization. Even in very difficult times for the print media in Nigeria, Oluwole Awolowo was always on top of the situation ensuring that the Tribune titles remain vibrant and independent. In the tradition of the Awolowo Heritage, he was a detribalized Nigerian patriot and a very committed Yoruba leader. “In the last two decades, he
devoted his time and resources to the work of God propagating the gospel as a renowned evangelist. He was a philanthropist, always ready to assist the needy. It is heart rending and most painful to believe that my good old friend “Unbreakable” is no more.” The group prayed God for the repose of the deceased soul and grant the matriarch of Awolowo dynasty the strength and fortitude to bear
Akpabio Sympathizes With Tribune OVERNOR Godswill G Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State has described the death of Oluwole Awolowo, publisher of the Tribune titles as a great loss to the nation. He maintained that under the watch of the late Awolowo, the Tribune, one of Nigeria’s most enduring newspapers, gained greater national relevance and became a veritable tool of unity and a paragon of quality journalism.
He said the legacies of the deceased publisher would outlive him and his place would be cemented in the history of our nation as a man who did all the good he can and paid his dues to build a great nation. He added that he was “extending to the family of the deceased and the management and staff of Tribune, the heartfelt condolences of the Government and good people of Akwa Ibom State.”