Buhari regrets that Mrs Awolowo did not live to see his regime emulate her husband

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has expressed regret at the fact that the late Hanna Awolowo did not live to witness his administration deliver the kind of governance her late husband Chief Obafemi Awolowo wanted for Nigeria.

 

On Saturday, Mrs Awolowo, 99, passed away quietly in her sleep in Ikenne, in Ogun State and since then her home has been besieged by well-wishers. President Buhari has sent a presidential delegation to visit the family and in his message, he said his government was seeking to deliver the kind of changes Chief Awolowo wanted to bring to Nigeria.

 

A former premier of the Western Region, Chief Awolowo revolutionised Nigeria by building Africa's first ever television station, its first sky scrapper and Nigeria's inaugural stadium all in Ibadan. He also introduced free education and built numerous schools and colleges, including the University of Ife, which is now named after him.

 

Represented by the secretary to the government of the federation, Babachir Lawal, President Buhari said: “Our regret in government is that mama did not live long enough to feel the transformation this country will undergo with the active participation of her son-in-law, with the active participation of her granddaughter. This is something that saddens us as had she waited well for one or two more years, I’m sure she would have left this world a very happy woman indeed, because the fulfilment of what her husband stood for would have finally come to fruition.”

 

Vice president Yemi Osinbajo's wife Dolapo is Chief Awolowo's grand-daughter. Mr Lawal said the president has also offered to participate in all activities leading to Mrs Awolowo's final internment if the family is gracious enough to give him the opportunity to so do.

 

Other members of the federal government delegation were the chief of staff to the president, Abba Kyari, the chief of defence staff General Abayomi Olonisakin and the former secretary to the government of the federation, Baba Gana Kingibe. Others sympathisers who visited the home of the Awolowo's yesterday include a former judge at the International Criminal Court at the Hague, Bola Ajibola, and Afenifere leader, Ayo Adebanjo.

 

On Saturday, former president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo had visited the family. Mrs Awolowo died on Saturday, two months to her 100th birthday and almost 30 years after the death of her husband Obafemi Awolowo.