President Jonathan Pays Condolence Visit To The Awolowo Family.

President Goodluck Jonathan and Chief Hannah Awolowo 

   Amid heavy security within and the outside the Ikenne home of the pantheon of Yoruba politics, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday paid a condolence visit to the matriarch of Awo’s family, Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu (HID) Awolowo, over the death of Chief Oluwole Awolowo. Jonathan who was ushered into the sprawling Awolowo’s compound by the Ogun State Deputy Governor, Prince Segun Adesegun, where he met Mama HID, assured the family that his administration would render necessary support to the children of the deceased. The late Awolowo, until his death last Wednesday at Wellington Hospital, St. Johnswood, London, was Mama and the late Papa Awo’s only surviving son and Publisher/ Vice Chairman, African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc, (publishers of Tribune titles). He was aged 70. The former Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, and the family members were on ground to receive the President. Earlier before his arrival around 2: 55p.m in a military chopper marked NAF 571, heavy security - undercover agents, operatives of the State Security Service(SSS), the Nigerian Army, the Police and the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were sighted keeping vigil at strategic locations in Awo’s home and streets leading to it. Visitors and vehicles in the area were frisked and asked to keep moving. Jonathan who sounded philosophical over the death of Oluwole said it was painful but added that only God knows why it happened at the time it did. He condoled with Mama, the family and prayed that God grant them the fortitude to bear the loss. He said:”Mama accept our condolence. It’s a period that we lack words even though as a teacher and politician in some cases though I’m generally somebody of very few words. But in some situations, even the very few words disappear. “So we really lack words to express our feelings. Ordinarily at 70, which is why I have said that from Biblical injunction, three scores and ten, is an age where you thank God to attain, especially in a country where the average life span is quite below 50. “But under the circumstances, his death is painful to all of us. To me, I’ve seen the way the Awolowo family has taken me as their own and I would have loved to be here almost every day. “Gbenga Daniel can attest to that. You have taken me as your own; this is not the period to say it and I have the opportunity to say that and the whole world can know. I remain grateful to you for integrating me into the great Awolowo family.