Saraki to lead nine-man Senate delegation to Ikenne

THE Senate yesterday resolved that the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, would be leading a nine-man Senate delegation on a condolence visit to the family of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo over the demise of Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu (HID) Awolowo, who died on September 19, 2015.

Observing a minute-silence in honour of the dead, the Senate also took time to pay glowing tribute to Chief (Mrs.) Awolowo.
Other members of the delegation include Senators Ahmed Lawan, Shehu Sanni, Ben Bruce, Biodun Olujimi, Stella Odua and the three Senators from Ogun State – Olanrewaju Tejuosho (Ogun Central), Buruji Kashamu (Ogun East) as well as Dada Gbolahan (Ogun West.)

The motion on the demise of Chief Hannah Awolowo was sponsored by Senator Olanrewaju Tejuosho and co-sponsored by seven others.
In his words, the Senate President Saraki described the late Mrs. Awolowo as a detribalised Nigerian worthy of emulation for her devotion and simplicity to her late husband, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who died in May 1987.

Saraki said Nigerians would miss her efforts towards promoting peace in the country.
In his contribution, sponsor of the motion, Tejuoso, said that Mrs. Awolowo stood in for her husband in the alliance formed between the National Convention of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) and the Action Group (AG) called the United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA) while he was in jail with the intent of contesting an election and if victorious, would step down for her husband on return in a bye-election.

To see that her husband was elected President of Nigeria, Mama Awolowo toured the length and breadth of this country campaigning and co-ordinating the women’s wing of the party and was always present at all party caucuses and continued to fight for the cause of justice.
“It was her fidelity and total loyalty that led Papa Awolowo to describe her as his jewel of inestimable value.
“Mama Awolowo was a great nationalist, an icon whose life was one of remarkable services to humanity and great achievement”, the lawmaker said.

The senator added that Mama Awolowo was a generous and loving woman whose death is not only a loss to Ogun State, but to the entire nation.
He, therefore, prayed for observation of a minute-silence in her honour and urged the Senate to send a delegation to condole with her family and the people and government of Ogun State.

He also called on the Federal Government to honour her as deemed fit.
Another lawmaker, Monsurat Sunmonu of All Progressives Congress (APC, Oyo North), in her contribution described Mama as a very accommodating woman, adding that she was a progressive who always promote any issue that concerns women, especially those in politics.
She added that she was an inspiration to women for the way she stood by her husband throughout his travails.
“I commiserate with all women in the country on the death of Mama Awolowo”, she stated.