The death of the matriarch of the Awolowo family, Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo has created a vacuum which cannot easily be filled.
HID, as she was popularly known, did not only head the family left behind by her husband, the late premier of the old Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, she was also matriarch to the whole Yoruba land. It was a role handed down to her by her husband, late Chief Obafemi Awolowo who was the leader of the then Western Region of Nigeria between 1952 and 1959.
Chief Awolowo had established a distinct political tendency that largely settled into a political culture. His populist political philosophy of democratic socialism later encapsulated as “Awoism”, anchored on a “welfarist” system that emphasized free education, free medical services, rural development, and employment.
Alhough, HID did not really participate in active politics, she played a key supportive role in Awolowo’s politics. But at his death, she naturally inherited the role of a matriarch for the region, especially, for the followers of the Awolowo philosophy. She became a unifying factor and a symbolic political pillar for the South-west. Source: ThisDayLive
The former Governor and present Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Governor Ambode, in the company of Gov. Aregbesola of Osun, former Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi were all in Ikenne, Ogun State to commiserate with the family of Awolowo on the death of their Matriach.
Mama HID Awolowo passed away at age 99 (Nov 1915- Sept 2015)
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