The eldest daughter of first Premier of Western Region, late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Mrs. Omotola Oyediran on Tuesday said that the Awolowo family wishes that one of its own becomes President of Nigeria.
Oyediran who said that she had been praying that a descendant of Awolowo became President of Nigeria in the nearest future, stated this while playing host to some prominent dignitaries who visited Awolowo family house in Ikenne, over the death of their matriarch, Chief HID Awolowo.
”I used to pray daily that, one day, a descendant of the Awolowo family will become the President of Nigeria, but I stopped and I do not know why I stopped, but I want to say it again that one day a descendant of the Awolowos will become the President of Nigeria.”
Those who paid tributes at the Awolowo’s Ikenne home Tuesday included Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Chairman of the Yoruba Council of Elders, Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo; Chairman of Oodua Investment Group, Dr. Isaac Akintade; Representatives of traditional rulers of Ife; Kofoworola Akerele-Bucknor; members of the Ogun State House of Assembly, led by the Speaker, Hon. Suraj Adekunbi Ishola; wife of the governor of Ogun State, Olufunsho Amosun; Gen Oladipupo Diya; members of the Yoruba Unity Forum, among others.
In his tributes, chairman of the Council of Yoruba Elders, Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo said: “Mama contributed highly to the unity of Yorubaland. She lived a remarkable life worthy of emulation. Her lifetime is a lesson to the rest of us to teach us how to live our lives.”
Senator Oluremi Tinubu in her remarks said: “We have lost a woman of substance. An enigma, a woman of all seasons that touched virtually all spheres of life. She came, saw and conquered.
“A mother, wife, political icon. A woman of many parts. A role model personified. A mother I loved and admired. A loss not only to her biological children, but to the Yoruba race and Nigeria at large.”
The Ife Traditional Council of Kings led by Oba Adeoye Adefarakan, Oloyere of Iyere Ife said “the Ife Kingdom appreciates the contributions of Papa and Mama to the unity of Yorubaland.
“What we can say of Mama and Papa is that they contributed greatly to the development of Ife kingdom. This place (Ikenne) is the headquarters of Yorubaland in terms of politics and administration while Ife is the home of Yorubas.”
Also, former Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Sen Florence Ita-Giwa has described the late Hannah Dideolu Awolowo as a unifying factor, who contributed immensely to national development. Ita-Giwa in a statement, described the deceased as a nationalist and mother of the nation.
She recalled how she was privileged to have spoken with the matriarch on phone two months ago, adding that Mrs. Awolowo urged her never to give up in her struggle for Bakassi people.
The Bakassi leader also said the deceased made fundamental contributions to the media in her capacity as the Chairman of the Tribune newspapers.
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