By Gbenga Oke
LAGOS—FAMILY members, friends and
political associates, yesterday, gathered in Lagos to mark the one-year
anniversary of the demise of the Awolowo matriarch, Chief Mrs. Hannah Idowu
Dideolu and to remember her life, struggles and role in the unity of Yoruba
nation. HID Awolowo HID Awolowo HID Awolowo passed away on September 19, 2015.
The event which was tagged ‘One Year Memorial Anniversary Lecture’, was
organized by the Yoruba Unity Forum, YUF. Notable Nigerians present at the
event include, Chairman of the YUF, Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi; Arch. Bishop Ayo
Ladigbolu, former deputy governor of Osun State, Erelu Obada; former deputy
governor of Lagos State, Senator Kofoworola Bucknor; Senator Anthony Adefuye,
Senator Femi Okurounmun, founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, Dr Fedrick
Fasheun; National Coordinator of OPC, Otunba Gani Adams; one of the surviving
children of the late HID, Dr Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu; Senator Muniru Muse,
Princess Olabisi Sangodoyin and Chief Ogunsuyi. She fought Yoruba unity—Gbonigi
In his welcome address, chairman of YUF, Bishop Gbonigi, said HID Awolowo
fought so much to ensure the unity among Yoruba nation. The cleric said, “Mama
Awolowo fought for the unity of Yoruba nation until her death. When YUF was
formed, she and late Okunade Sijuwade maintained that the first assignment as a
group is to ensure the unity among the Yoruba nation”. She was a foremost
Yoruba woman— Okurounmun Paying glowing tributes to the late matriarch, Senator
Femi Okurounmun, described Awolowo as a foremost Yoruba woman in Nigeria.
Okurounmun said, “HID Awolowo stepped into the shoes of her husband and played
that role respectfully, gently without being arrogant. She was a fantastic
politician and had a good knowledge of Nigeria politics even at her old age.
She was the first among many within the Yoruba Unity Forum and she played the
role of the Chairman of the forum while she was assisted by the late Ooni of
Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade. They both fought for the unity among Yoruba kings.”
A uniting force among the Yoruba nation— Adefuye In his remarks, Senator
Anthony Adefuye, said HID Awolowo during her life demonstrated that what a man
can do, a woman can do better. He said, “Mama was the uniting force among the
Yoruba nation. She played that fantastic role and brought all the Yoruba
leaders under one umbrella and that is why she cannot be forgotten several
years to come.” She left an indelible mark in Yoruba education—Prof Afolayan
Speaking on the theme: “Eternal Sustenance of Yoruba language and culture”,
Professor Adebisi Afolayan, said the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his
wife, Mama HID Awolowo left an indelible mark in the Yoruba education and
academics. Afolayan, who is the chief consultant for Language Education and
Development, Ile-Ife, noted that “the late sage and his wife played a major
role in the development of Yoruba education in the South-West but it
unfortunate that today the standards of education has declined while the Yoruba
language itself is being relegated by the people who should champion the
cause.” He, however, insisted that “the study of our language should not
relegated simply because we now speak other borrowed languages from other
nations of the world. That is why we are calling for the usage of Yoruba
language even in the primary schools.” In addition the university don said,
“for the South-west and Yoruba nation to continually remember the late Awolowo
and his wife, Yoruba leaders still living today must play a major role at ensuring
that Yoruba education is promoted in our schools and free education is provided
just like it was during the days of Awolowo.”
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