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Mama Awo at 97

I was with Mama few weeks ago in Ikenne, as we discussed on today’s celebration, Mama enthused, “Folu, I give God all the glory for…

I was with Mama few weeks ago in Ikenne, as we discussed on today’s celebration, Mama enthused, “Folu, I give God all the glory for allowing me to stay alive till today, someone told  me days ago that he is  warming  up to my centenary anniversary and I replied Mama: “So shall it be in Jesus Name.”

For Mama, the “Jewel of inestimable value,” has  her ancestry in the Obara ruling house of Ikenne Remo, having been born to Chief Moses Odugbemi Adelana, the Ayangbuwa of Ikenne and Deaconess Elizabeth Oyesile Adelana on November 25th 1915, life took her through elementary and high school education in both Ikenne and Lagos, a three-year teaching stint in Ikenne until a blissful and happy married life which began on December 26, 1937 with the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and was later blessed with children, grand children and great grand children.

Mama’s siblings are always quick to share the loving and helpful way in which she had been and still is a great pillar and pride to them.  Prince Oluwole Awolowo describes Mama in her biography titled: “The jewel” as “a mother in a billion”.  He goes on: “As for her strength of character, I continue to marvel at the degree of her resilience, endurance and patience when confronted with a grave situation.  I should recall that Mama Single-handedly took care of all our needs as little kids when Papa was away to the United Kingdom in the mid-forties in search of the Golden Fleece.  Equally, she also rose to the occasion in a marvelous and exemplary manner to the eternal admiration of all.  When all things turned terribly bleak for the family, when Papa as the head of the family was being persecuted in the early sixties.  We the children lacked nothing in terms of material comfort during those very dark days”.

Mama is not only a loving and caring mother, she is also a disciplined and enterprising business guru, who stays committed to whatever she believes is right.  Her perpetual disciplinarian stance naturally ends up shaping right all those who work directly with her and scares off all the lazy and indolent ones.

This trait of hers has remained a potent force that saw to the rise of her enterprise from a modest beginning to the business empire that it now is.

Perhaps the strongest positive influence on her life is Mama’s Christian back ground which molded her into a devout Christian that she is.  On account of her loving husband being a Methodist in Ibadan. Mama Awolowo became a staunch member of Agbeni Methodist Church in 1940, where she played and still perform the worthy role of matron to many Christian and social organisations within and outside the church.  Mama is currently the Iya Ijo of Saint Saviours Anglican Church, Ikenne as well as the Diocesan Mother of the Remo diocese.  She now has a church named in her honour at Sagamu.

She has not abandoned the business of serving the people. For her it is a lifetime commitment.  That is why Mama has continued to be involved in several events that affect the lives of the people by way of social services and religious obligations. Added to this are the obligations that she must perform as a leader in Yorubaland.

Because of the political stature of Papa Awo in Yorubaland and Mama’s contributions to the progress of the Yoruba people, many people look up to her for inspiration, wise counsel and assistance in matters affecting the race.  She cannot  but make herself available for these obligations, which sometime, can be very demanding; because, she must continue to provide a rallying point for the unity of the Yoruba people just as Papa did. Before Papa’s transition in 1987, he was the undisputed leader of the Yoruba both on the political and social-cultural fronts.  Papa enjoyed the cooperation of all including the royal fathers who are the custodians of the history and culture of the Yoruba race, political leaders and Yoruba born captains of industry and down the ladder to farmers, professional groups and students.

Since 1987, things have not been the same.  The Yoruba race suffers leadership crisis, which is seriously affecting the unity of the race.  In this circumstance, Mama could not ignore the spirited calls of well meaning sons and daughters of the land that she should contribute to the efforts to restore unity and love among Yoruba leaders and create a credible leadership that can speak for the race with one voice and one purpose.  This she has started with the regular meeting of the Yoruba Unity Forum at Ikenne. It is indeed worthy of note that in spite of her age, she is still as mentally alert as ever and radiating strength that only a very meticulous mind is capable of, at 97 years.

Mama has often said that it is not possible to be married to Chief Obafemi Awolowo and not be so alert.  Having therefore developed this sense of smartness and talent of “never forgetting” over the years.  It has reached such level that her mental picture of invitees at ceremonies is outstanding.  Surprisingly, Mama will always know whether you came or not and you cannot ‘hide’ making it difficult to claim you were there when you were not.

A woman to my mind is only complete in her husband.  It is heartening to recall the completeness of Mama in her husband, our own dear Papa Awo who transcended to higher glory on May 9, 1987’.   Papa confirmed this himself in his autobiography: “With my wife on my side, it has been possible for us to weather all financial storms.  Because of her charm, humility, generosity and ever ready sympathy and helpfulness to others in distress.

Many  Happy  Returns    Mama!!!

Olamiti is of the EFCC

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