Jonathan condoles with Awolowo family

Former President Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has expressed his sadness over the news of the demise of Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, at the age of 99 years, just two months shy of 100th birthday.
In a condolence message released yesterday, former President said:
“She will eternally be remembered as the pillar and backbone  of the
late chief Obafemi Awolowo, foremost nationalist and former premier of
the Western Region.
“She was a true warrior who stood solidly behind her husband during
the epic struggle for self rule, through the crusade for the
enthronement of good governance in the First Republic, the fight
against military dictatorship  to  the campaign for a united,
prosperous Nigeria before, during and after the civil war years.
“As the matron of the family, she provided the necessary support which
ensured that her husband made a success of his time as the deputy head
of the Federal Executive Council and finance minister during the civil
war years.
“It was this strong support that guaranteed her an enviable place in
Awolowo’s autobiography, ‘My Adventures in Power’ where she was
appropriately identified as the “jewel of inestimable value.”
“The matriarch of Awolowo family remained, till her death, the
political conscience of the nation,sustaining the fight for equity,
egalitarianism,  representative democracy, true federalism, good
governance and sustainable development which remained the hallmark of
her late husband’s political ideals.
“Through her hard work and political sagacity, she turned Ikenne her
homestead in Ogun state a political Mecca of sorts, where every
political office holder or those seeking  leadership positions of any
kind, came to her for endorsement.
“She will also be remembered for the way she had guided Awolowo’s
estate like a good shepherd, uniting the family and maintaining his
legacies, especially the Tribune newspapers which has endured as the
oldest surviving newspaper in Nigeria, through her visionary
leadership and direction.
“A self-made woman and successful businesswoman, she lived her life as
a shining star and role model to all our women and youths and will in
deed be missed by the nation.”