HID Awolowo begins final journey home (Photos)

Tributes flow for the late Chief Hannah Id­owu Dideolu Awolowo as her final journey home be­gan yesterday in Lagos with a lying-in-state of a woman described by many as ‘pillar of success’ of her husband.

The venue was 31 Park Lane, Apapa, one of the po­litical homes of her late hus­band and former premier of the defunct Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

She died on Saturday, Sep­tember 19, in Ikenne, Ogun State, precisely 67 days to her centenary birthday.

The black hearse bear­ing the remains of Mama Awolowo was forced to stop at about 500 metres to the family house.

Thereafter, six pallbear­ers from the TOS Funeral Undertakers lifted the glass-casket amid singing, dancing and drumming with family members singing praises of the late woman.

On arrival at the family house, two Anglican priests, who described her as a pious woman who served God till her death, also prayed for the family.

Thereafter, people of di­verse background, young and old, filed past the re­mains of the ‘jewel of in­estimable value’ dressed in white and yellow iro and buba.

Prominent among those who paid their last respect was Lagos State Gover­nor, Akinwunmi Ambode, who described her as a rare mother.

“For us, this is a Lagos loss; it is not even about Yoruba loss alone. So, com­ing here is just to show that Mama for every good thing, she has been very humble. We would miss her greatly.”

National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinu­bu, who arrived with a reti­nue of aides, urged Nigerian women to emulate Mama Awolowo.

“Mama was supportive of Papa Awolowo. Nigerians, particularly the women, folk need to learn from this rare virtue. She was someone that needs to be emulated.”

Pastor Matthew Ashi­molowo of King Internation­al Christian Centre (KICC), after paying his last respect, said there was need for Nige­rians to celebrate the exit of Chief Awolowo because of how she touched many lives during her lifetime.

A Christian interdenomi­national service later held at the Apapa home of,the Awolowos. Her remains will, this morning, depart Lagos for Ibadan, where a lying-in-state will later hold at the Oke Bola home of the Awolowos and at the Tri­bune House

She would be buried af­ter a funeral service at the Saints. Saviours Anglican Church on Wednesday, No­vember 25 in Ikenne after se­ries of funeral programmes.