HID: Awolowo’s Legacy Must Be Sustained – PMB
In his remark at the church service, the Senate president, Dr Bukola Saraki, who spoke on behalf President Buhari, eulogised the late patriarch of the Awolowo Dynasty, saying that she had left an indelible mark in the sands of time.
He noted that the late HID remained politically relevant since the death of her husband in 1987. He, therefore, urged members of the Awolowo family to keep the flag flying and ensure that the legacies and values left behind by both Awolowo and HID were upheld by them.
Buhari later arrived at the residence of the Awolowos at about 2:16pm and headed straight for Efunyela Hall. Journalists were, however, barred from entering the hall by the security personnel at the reception.
As early as 8am, eminent Nigerians led by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Saraki and 16 governors had started arriving at Ikenne and headed straight for Our Saviour’s Church (Anglican Communion) where the church service for the late HID was held.
By 8:45am, the 690-seater church was filled to capacity as people scrambled for space to pay their last respects to Mrs Awolowo.
To cater for spill-over, canopies were erected within the premises of the church and television screens were hung at strategic points for people far away from the altar to watch and follow the proceedings in the church.
The church service formally commenced at 9am when the white chariot conveying HID’s gold-plated casket arrived at the church and the bell on the belfry tolled for the third time.
The service, which was conducted by the Primate of the Anglican Communion in Nigeria, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, had 36 bishops in attendance.
Speaking during the service, Okoh described the late Mrs Awolowo as a great wife who stood by her husband, the late Obafemi Awolowo, throughout his sojourn on earth.
Okoh explained that she deserved a rest quite different from the worldly rest everybody thinks of, and prayed that she finds eternal rest after living a worthy life.
Eulogising HID further, the Anglican primate lauded her for being courageous even when she lost three of her children, urging the congregation to emulate her strong heart and firm belief in God.
Okoh also lamented the inability of Nigerian leaders to check the spate of terrorism in the country, remarking that the menace of terrorism had negatively affected the image of the nation.
He further stated that the prevalence of social vices, corruption and mass unemployment had worsened the health conditions of Nigerians, resulting in many citizens going down with various terminal diseases.
“Terror has taken over our power, money, our strength, our resources and degraded our infrastructure. It has also taken our peace. Government must do something about it. Corruption in all ramifications, including indiscipline, has ruined the society. So, if you graduate and you are unemployed at 27, you’ll find it difficult to get a job. We have a generation that is pining away.
“What can we classify as the burdens of the society currently? They are kidnapping, armed robbery, baby factories and corruption amongst others. Indiscipline has ruined many nations. Unemployment and cultism have ruined the nation.
“Ill-health such as diabetes, cancer are ravaging the land; it affects everybody – civil servants, businessmen, amongst others. None is at rest here. Is there actually anybody who can exclude himself from these yokes? It affects bishops, politicians, academics; none is exempted here,” he stated.
The ceremony was also witnessed by the former heads of state – Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, General Yakubu Gowon (retd), Chief and Ernest Shonekan, as well as other elder statesmen and ministers.
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