HID AWOLOWO - ECHOES OF A LIFE WELL LIVED.

The late Hannah Dideolu Awolowo lived well. She was not just standing while her husband, the late Obafemi Awolowo, dominated the political space of the defunct Western Region and tried to get power at the centre. Her role in the political career of her husband is the stuff legends are made of, writes Leke Salaudeen

The late Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu, popularly known as HID, was born in 1915 to a modest family in Makun, Sagamu, Ogun State.

A successful tycoon, she became the first Nigerian distributor for the Nigerian Tobacco Company (NTC) in 1957 and she was the first to import lace materials and other textiles into the country. Until Saturday afternoon, she was Chairman of African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc, Publishers of the Tribune titles, Dideolu Specialist Hospital and Dideolu Stores Limited, among others as well as the Matron of the National Association of Nigerian Women in Business, Ogun State Chapter.

The widow of the late political sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who fondly referred to her as his “Jewel of inestimable value”, the late HID was a successful businesswoman and an astute politician, who once served as the First Lady of the defunct old Western Region. She played an active role in the politics of the old Western Region, where her late husband served as Premier. She was by every standard, the woman behind her successful husband, especially in the alliance formed between the National Council of Nigeria Citizens (NCNC) and the Action Group (AG) that culminated in the formation of the United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA). The late sage was in jail then.

There was an arrangement that she would contest the elections and if she won, she would step down for her husband in a bye-election. To fulfil her husband’s dream of becoming the President in the Second Republic, she toured the length and breadth of the country with her husband campaigning and mobilising women. The late HID coordinated the women’s wing of the party and was always present at all party’s caucuses.

Those who knew the late HID intimately described her as goodness personified. To many, she was a caring mother and the woman with conviction, deep enough to weather the storm of life without giving up. Indeed, she was never over-awed in the face of calculated and concerted efforts to destroy whatever her late husband stood for. The late Yeye Oba of Ife stood with her late husband through thick and thin and she never wavered in her support for the good cause her husband stood for.

When Chief Awolowo described her as Jewel of his inestimable value, there was general concurrence in the polity that it was a fitting tribute to a woman of courage and solid pedigree. It was to the credit of woman-activist that, 28 years after the demise of her husband, she has been able to hold the Awo Dynasty together and continued to contribute to the unity and development of the country until Saturday. Her life of total dedication to family values, solid support for her husband and moral chastity cannot but be celebrated.

She has been described by many, including her biological children, as a good wife, caring mother and a woman with deep conviction to weather the storms of life without giving up. In fact, the greater part of Awo Dynasty, as represented by the Yeye Oba of Ile-Ife was dedicated to charity and service to humanity,  an attribute that made observers to wonder if there was ever any privacy in her life.

The life of Mama HID Awolowo is worthy of emulation by the younger generation, especially, those with the intention to make a big success of their matrimony.

“The sky cannot be bright all the time. But, with total commitment with unshaken trust in the Lord, success is certain”, that was her usual admonition. The principle sustained her for as long as her late husband faced political persecution.

It is on record that the Chief Awolowo did not only face his travails with equanimity but survived them because he had a peaceful and solid home support as the HID held the forte and stood in the gap.

For a woman who experienced the good, the bad and the ugly sides of the country in its process of nationhood, the late HID appeared not too happy with the challenges the future holds for the youth of the country. She always expressed concerns on why the society could not empower the youths, who constitute the human wealth and future of the nation. She would not also keep quiet from decrying the menace of child trafficking and the abuse of womenfolk.

In his description of her mother, the late Oluwole Awolowo once said: “If you study any aspect of Mama’s life, whether as a wife, a businesswoman, a politician and above all, a mother, you will find in it a noble lesson worthy of love and complete admiration to all and sundry. One thing about Mama is the inability of any of her children to know her favourite amongst them is.

“If you ask any of us, he or she would think he or she is the best loved by her. But, at the end of the day, one would discover that she is not only kind-hearted, but a very strict disciplinarian and fair mother to not only her children, but those who happen to cross her path.”

Dr Olatokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu, had this to say about her mother, who doubled as a role model any child would desire to have. She said “My mother is gentle but highly industrious. She looks after the home front, yet was able to contribute significantly to the economic well-being of the family.”

The Nation.