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Chief Mrs HID Awolowo: Jewel Of Inestimable Value
By Adegbenro Adebanjo
Newsdiaryonline Wed Nov 16,2011
HID,Ooni and ex Gov Daniel
“No matter how old a mother is,she watches her middle-aged
children for signs of improvement”. (Florida Scott-Maxwell:
U.S-born, British writer.)
Chief Jeremiah Oyeniyi Obafemi Awolowo, frontline nationalist,
elder statesman, philosopher, Senior Advocate of Nigeria and
distinguished politician, spent most of his adult life in the
struggle for the political emancipation and economic development
of Nigeria. From his days in the Egbe Omo Oduduwa to the
principled fight for Independence from the colonial masters,
Chief Awolowo played a prominent role in the making of modern
Nigeria, deploying everything in his arsenal in the quest for a
better life for his countrymen. Chief Awolowo continued the
struggle even in the post colonial era. The Action Group and
Unity Party of Nigeria, which he founded, became platforms to
spread his gospel of good governance. Like all principled men,
Chief Awolowo’s Spartan life, moral rectitude and campaign
against bad governance earned him criticisms from the
establishment and periods of incarceration. Through it all,
Chief Awolowo was never cowed; he came out the better for it
becoming the lone voice of reason in his generation.
Chief Awolowo was able to face his many travails with equanimity
mainly because he had peace and solid support from the home
front where his wife of many years held sway.Hannah Idowu
Dideolu Awolowo is a personification of the good wife, the
caring mother and the woman with enough deep conviction to
weather the storm of life without giving up. Indeed, Chief
(Mrs.) H.I.D. Awolowo was never overawed in the face of
calculated and concerted efforts to destroy whatever Chief
Awolowo stood for. Chief (Mrs.) Awolowo was with her husband
through thick and thin. She never wavered in her support for the
good cause her husband stood for. And when Chief Obafemi Awolowo
described her as his “Jewel of Inestimable value” there was
general concurrence in the polity that it was a fitting tribute
to a woman of courage and solid pedigree.
Even after the departure of Papa, Mama has been able to hold the
Awolowo dynasty together. The elder stateswoman has also become
a stabilizing force in Yoruba land working quietly behind the
scenes for the unity and progress of the race. A lover of good
governance she has been relentless in her campaign for
responsible and responsive government at all tiers.
And at a time when other
nationalities are coming together to present a common front in
the ongoing jostling for National political relevance, Chief
Mrs. Awolowo is deeply troubled that
the children of Oduduwa are at war with one another.
Some have blamed the downward spiral of the Yoruba on the
selfish politics being played by some leading lights of the
race. It is almost a case of things fall apart and the centre
cannot hold for the race.
The matriarch of the race , Chief (Mrs.) HID Awolowo wants a
change and she is working with the Ooni of Ife to ensure that
the Yoruba speak with one voice and reclaim its leading position
in the scheme of things in the country.
Recently in Ikenne, sons
and daughters of the race met under the guidance of
Mama Awolowo to chart
the way forward.
As Mama celebrates her 96th birthday this Friday, nobody can
deny the fact that she has contributed her quota to the
development of her State and Country. Her life of total
dedication to her family, patriotism, solid support for her
husband, and moral chastity is worth celebrating. And that is
exactly what the people of Ogun State and her admirers at home
and abroad will do. Certainly other Nigerians will join in the
celebration of Yeye Oba of Ife and one of the country’s most
enduring personalities.
Adebanjo,
a journalist , lives in Abeokuta
Th
This is the document referred to in the Witness
Statement on Oath of Clifford O. Kokogho as
“Exhibit
COK.2”
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