28th March, 2013
Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has described the death of Chief Oluwole Awolowo, the son of the late sage, Obafemi Awolowo, as a big loss.
Mr. Edward Dickson, the Managing Director of African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc, had on Wednesday night announced that Oluwole, the Publisher of the Tribune titles, had died in a London hospital at the age of 70.
Amosun, in a statement issued on Thursday in Abeokuta by Mrs. Funmi Wakama, his Senior Special Assistant on Media, said the death was a sad occurrence which had thrown the state into mourning.
Speaking with our correspondent this morning, wife of the first civilian governor of Ogun State, Chief Olabisi Onabanjo, Mama Lucia Onabanjo said she is short of word for now as the death came to her as a big shock.
“I was not informed earlier, it was not quite long now that I got the information and it came to me as a big shock. I could not believe my ears that Wole has passed on. I can’t say anything for now but I will speak later. The news is still a shock,” Mama Onabanjo said.
The former deputy governor of the State, Alhaji Rafiu Ogunleye described the death as a rude shock, adding that the entire people of Ogun State have lost one of their great sons. His death is saddening, it came to me as a big shock but who are we to query God. The fact remains that he lived an exemplary life, may his soul rest in perfect peace and God should grant the family, especially his mother, our Mama, the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,” Ogunleye stated.
The factional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Ogun State, Senator Dipo Odujinrin said the death is a big blow and a great upset for the Awolowo family, praying that God will grant his family members the strength to bear the loss.“He was a distinguished man and a true son of Ogun State, he had been holding forte in the family since the death of his father, our late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and he demonstrated every good things one will expect from Baba. May his gentle soul rest in the bosom of the Lord,” Odujinrin prayed.
The Oru of Imoru town in Odogbolu local government area of the State, Oba (Engr.) Munirudeen Adepoosi Bashorun described the death as a big loss, while commiserating with the family and staff of the Tribune titles.In his own reaction, the lawmaker representing Ijebu Central at the Green House in Abuja, Kehinde Odeneye said Ogun State has lost one of his finest and intelligent brains who raised the bar of the Tribune titles beyond where his father left it.
Chief Semiu Sodipo, the factional Secretary of the PDP in Ogun State told our correspondent this morning that the State has lost another gem.
“We have lost another gem in the State again. He was a great politician, great community leader and great religious leader. By every measure, he was a great man and in reality, Ogun State has lost another big fish again, a gem has gone in the State again. May the good Lord grant the family, his mother, our Mama, Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo and his sister, Mrs Awolowo- Dosunmu the fortitude to bear the loss,” Sodipo said.
Governor Amosun, Gbenga Daniel and dignataries from all walks of life have besieged the Awolowo residence in Ikenne to mourn Wole.
Among the early callers this morning were the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse 2 who led some traditional rulers from Osun State to the historical home of the Awolowos, the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, his deputy and some lawmakers, traditional rulers from Ogun and Lagos State, artisans, students, politicians, market men and women among others.
Meanwhile, a condolence register has been opened at the resident of the Awolowos and as at the time of filing this report, many people including the Chairman of Ikenne Local Government, Mr Tajudeen Salako and his cabinet members, Chief Imam of Ikenne on behalf of the Muslim Community, Chief Imam of Ereke town, clergymen and many others had signed the register.
—Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta