Is Longevity A Curse – Mama HID Awolowo Laments After Learning Of Son’s Death

HID AwolowoFor four straight hours, Matriarch of the Awolowo family Chief HID Awolowo, bemoaned her fate when clergymen from Remo Diocese of the Anglican Communion broke the news of the death of her son, Oluwole, who passed on in a London hospital on March 27.

Mama, as she is fondly called, screamed as soon as she saw the clergymen from Remo Diocese in her compound and told them not to bother to break the bad news to her as she broke down and family members including Bishop Olusina Fape of the Anglican Diocese of Remo as well as the erstwhile governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and his wife, Olufunke were also moved to tears.

Amid sobs, she reeled out names of her own parents, saying, “Oh Wole, my dear son! Why now! Is it a sin to live long? My parents lived long, why should longevity become a curse in my own case?”

The matriarch repeatedly told one of the visiting clergymen: “Bishop, you said I would not witness any more unfortunate incident. Bishop, you said I would not witness any sorrow again. Bishop, you said I would not witness any more pain.”

It was learnt that breaking the sad news to the widow of the late sage, Obafemi Awolowo, former Premier of Western Nigeria, was not an easy task with close members making sure that the tragedy was kept secret until the clergymen arrived.

It was learnt that when the news of the incident filtered into the country, all communication devices including telephone sets of Mama Awolowo were discreetly taken away from her. Her radio and television sets were said to have been switched off just to make sure that she did not get wind of the news unexpectedly.

Bishop Fape who had led other clerics to the house to condole Mama led the family in prayers and hymns.

Few minutes later, the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun arrived the house and also commiserated with the family and had a-tete-a-tete with Mama and prayed for the soul of Evangelist Wole.