President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the family of late Premier of the Western Region and nationalist, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, over the passing of Tola Oyediran, eldest daughter of the sage.
President Buhari, in a statement issued on Friday by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, also condoled with friends and associates of Oyediran, particularly her only surviving sister, Tokunbo Awolowo, over the sad loss.
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Family sources confirmed the incident to our correspondent in Ibadan on Friday.
Oyediran, who was billed to mark her 80th birthday on December 1, passed away in her sleep at age 79 on Friday
Until her death, she served as the chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Newspapers of Nigeria, the publishers of Nigerian Tribune.
Revd Oyediran was married to Professor A. B. O. O. Oyediran, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan.
Her death leaves Dr Olatokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu as the only surviving child of Awolowo.
Condolences
Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola has expressed sadness over her death.
“On behalf of my family, the government and people of the State of Osun, I sympathise with the immediate family of the late Mrs. Omotola Oyediran, the late Chief Awolowo’s family, the Nigerian Tribune family, her friends and associates,” he said.
“I also commiserate with my brother, Governor Dapo Abiodun, the government and people of Ogun State over the loss of one of their illustrious daughters.
“The death of mama Omotola is also no doubt, a huge loss to the media industry and the country at large. While she was alive, she distinguished herself as an intellectual and seasoned administrator. We’ll surely miss her wise counsel.
“I urge her immediate and the Awolowo families as well as the Nigerian Tribune family to take solace in the fact that mama lived a good life by impacting positively on her younger professional colleagues, the media industry and the society at large.”
All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has expressed sadness over the passing of Oyediran, saying her “humble, amiable and graceful disposition endeared her to many of us.”
He said, “I commiserate with all those she left behind particularly her children, grandchildren including my Special Assistant, Damilotun Aderemi, and the entire Awolowo and Oyediran families. May God Almighty comfort them over this loss.
“I also mourn with the management and staff of Tribune newspapers. My condolences to the governors of Ogun and Oyo states, Prince Dapo Abiodun and Mr. Seyi Makinde respectively, as well as the government and people of the two states over the demise of their illustrious daughter.”
