President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday paid a condolence visit to the matriarch of the Awolowo family, Chief H. I. D. Awolowo, over the death of her son and publisher of the Tribune titles, Chief Oluwole Awolowo.
Jonathan, during the visit to the Ikenne Remo, Ogun State home of the Awolowos, prayed that the matriarch would not witness the death of any of her children again.
He promised to stand by the deceased’s family during and after their period of grief.
Jonathan came to Ikenne Remo in a military chopper marked NAF 571 at 2.55pm.
On hand to welcome him were the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Prince Segun Adesegun; former Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Oladipo Diya; the Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada; and a former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.
Jonathan said in his condolence message: “Ordinarily at that 70, it 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.”
He said he decided to personally be in Ikenne Remo because Mama Awolowo had integrated him into the Awolowo family.
He said: “I’ve seen the way the Awolowo family has taken me as their own and I would have loved to be here almost everyday.
“Gbenga Daniel can attest to that.
“You have taken me as your own.
“I remain grateful to you for integrating me into the great Awolowo family.
“God knows everything and he knows the reason for everything.
“On our part, we will continue to be members of the family and any little thing that God has given us the privilege, we’ll do to the children.
“So mama, it is painful but God knows best and we pray that you don’t experience this again and God will see you through.
“Mama, I’m your son, I will continue to be with you.”
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