Anglican Primate To Leaders: Tackle Insecurity, Corruption As Buhari, Osinbajo, Tinubu, Governors, Ministers See Off HID

The Most Revd. Nicholas Dikeriehi Orogodo Okoh, the Archbishop of Abuja and Primate of the Church of Nigeria in the Anglican Communion

It was a funeral service, but for the cleric, it was an opportunity to speak truth to power. The Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, rued the insecurity across the country and the nation’s leaders’ inability to tackle it effectively.

Rev. Okoh said aside the grave risk terrorists pose to Nigerians, social vices, corruption and increasing unemployment were provoking poor health conditions, with many citizens coming down with various noncommunicable diseases.

The Primate was delivering his sermon at the funeral church service for the late matriarch of the Awolowo family, Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu (HID) Awolowo at our Saviour’s Church (Anglican Communion) in Ikenne, Ogun State.

The Nation report continues:

At the service were Vice – President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Bola Tinubu, his wife, Senator Oluremi, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon, Chief Ernest Shonekan, Governor Segun Mimiko (Ondo), Senator Anthony Adefuye, members of the Ogun State Executive Council, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Senator Gbenga Kaka and former Governor Gbenga Daniel and his wife Olufunke.

Others are governors Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), former Governor of Lagos State Alh. Lateef Jakande, former Police Inspector General Tafa Balogun, Senator Biyi Durojaiye, former Governor Segun Oni, Otunba Subomi Balogun,  former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, Chief Olu Falae, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Governor Adams Oshiomhole and his wife, Hon. Patrick Obaghiagbon, former Governor Niyi Adebayo (Ekiti), Finance Minister Mrs Kemi Adeosun,  Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi, Mines and Solid Minerals Minister Dr Kayode Fayemi and Works, Housing and Power Minister Babatunde Fashola.

The Archbishop noted that the scourge of the insurgents had depleted the nation’s resources and pride.

Rev. Okoh said: “Terror has taken over our power, money, our strength, our resources and degraded our infrastructure. It has also taken our peace. Government must do something about it. Corruption in all ramifications, including indiscipline, has ruined the society. So, if you graduate and you are unemployed at 27, you’ll find it difficult to get a job. We have a generation that is pinning away.

“What can we classify as the burdens of the society currently? They are kidnapping, armed robbery, baby factory and corruption, amongst others. Indiscipline has ruined many nations. Unemployment and cultism have ruined the nation.

“Ill-health, such as diabetes, cancer ravaging the land. It affects everybody – civil servants, businessmen amongst others. None is at rest here. Is there actually anybody who can exclude himself from these yokes? It affects bishops, politicians, academics; none is exempted here.”

Rev. Okoh extolled the virtues of Mama HID as a committed Christian, whom he said fought the good fight of faith and finished victoriously.

He said Mama was a supportive and good wife, which informed why her husband, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, described her glowingly as his “jewel of inestimable value”.

“She stood with him throughout his political travails. She was a courageous woman. Having lost three of her children, she was not overwhelmed by grief.

“Mama is now at rest from her labours due to her trust in Christ. She has fought a good fight and has finished the race and now she’s having a final rest,” Rev. Okoh said.

Chief Mrs HID Awolowo who died in September was buried at her husband's home in Ikenne Ogun state today November 25th.

The Nation reports that amid overwhelming glamour on the ground and a bright sky above, the matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty, Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu (HID), yesterday made her glorious and final exit. The remains of the late Mrs. Awolowo, who passed on last September 19 at 99, were interred beside her husband Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo’s, inside the 28 years old Awo Mausoleum within the sprawling family compound in Ikenne, Ogun State. The Awo matriach would have been 100 yesterday.

Her surviving daughters  – Mrs Omotola Oyediran and Dr. Olatokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu and a handful of relatives witnessed the interment.

President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbanjo, Senate President Bukola Saraki, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon, Head of the defunct Interim National Government Chief Ernest Shonekan, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade  and businessman Aliko Dangote, saw off the iconic woman and Yeye Oba.

President Buhari, who arrived the Awolowo compound at 2:18 pm, proceeded to the Efunyella Hall  where he spent a few minutes with the children of the late Mrs Awolowo before heading to the mausoleum by 2:49pm to see the resting place of Mama and her husband, Pa Awolowo. He left two minutes later.

Security Operatives – soldiers, policemen, Department of State Services (DSS) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC) – were in their hundreds but they seemed overwhelmed by the crowd of dignitaries surging to bid Mrs Awolowo a final bye.

Earlier in the morning, her remains encased in a gold- plated casket, arrived at Our Saviour’s Church (Anglican Communion) by 9:55 am in a  horse – driven cart, accompanied by six horse riders, 18 music band squads from the NSCDC, Amosun, Mrs Oyediran, Dr. Awolowo-Dosunmu, grand-children and relatives.

The church and its surroundings came alive with the sight of eminent Nigerians who had joined Mama’s family and 34  bishops for the funeral service in Ikenne just like when the late sage and first Premier of Old Western Region passed on in 1987.

The body was received into the church auditorium where Tinubu, Obasanjo, Vice President Osinbajo, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha were already seated for the funeral service as the bell rang at 9:57am.

In his sermon, Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of Anglican Church, Nigeria, the Right Rev. Nicholas Okoh, described Mama as a great wife who stood by her husband.

Rev. Okoh said Mama had fought the good fight of faith and finished victoriously, adding that the rest she deserved now is in Christ and quite different from the worldly and ephemeral.

Eulogising her further, the Anglican Primate lauded Mama for her courage in time of adversity, saying even when she lost three of her children, she still stood firm in the Lord.

He urged Nigerians to emulate the late Mrs Awolowo’s strong heart and firm belief in God.

Dr Saraki, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the church service, described the late Mrs Awolowo as a virtuous woman who stood steadfastly behind her husband and also remained relevant since the death of Pa Awo in 1987.

Saraki enjoined the children to sustain the good name and legacies of the Awolowos.

Tinubu, who arrived in Ikenne in the company of some governors from the North, at 9:46am, said they were in the town to celebrate the worthy life of Mama HID, whom he also described as a great mother and pillar of progressive politics.

Tinubu said: “We are here to celebrate her, a wonderful mother and an icon who stood for progressive politics. She was a mother to me.

“Mama HID and my mother (Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji) were great friends. They both struggled together for the independence of Nigeria and progressive politics in this country.

“We will continue to thread on the path of progressive politics played by Mama and her husband, the late sage, Baba Awolowo.”

Okorocha, who extolled the late Mrs Awolowo’s virtues, told reporters that the late matriarch of the Awolowo family  lived a good life worthy of emulation by Nigerian women.

Dignitaries at the funeral service are: Governor Segun Mimiko(Ondo), Senator Anthony Adefuye, members of the Ogun State Executive Council, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Senator Gbenga Kaka and former Governor Gbenga Daniel and his wife, Olufunke.

Others are former Governor of Lagos State Alh. Lateef Jakande, former Police Inspector General Tafa Balogun, Senaror Biyi Durojaiye, former Ekiti Governor Segun Oni, frontline banker Otunba Subomi Balogun,  former Oyo Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, Chief Olu Falae, Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Edo Governor Adams Oshiomhole and his wife, Hon. Patrick Obaghiagbon, former Ekiti Governor Niyi Adebayo, Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun,  Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi, Mines and Solid Minerals Dr Kayode  Fayemi and Works, Housing and Poer Minister Babatunde Fashola .