Mama lived for a united Nigeria - Osinbajo

The Vice President, and son-in-law to HID Awolowo, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, said the late Mama Awolowo lived all her life for a one -united Nigeria.

He said this while addressing hundreds of symphatisers who gathered in honour of the deceased at the Efunyela Hall, in the Ikenne Home of the Awolowo’s residence on Sunday.

Osinbajo, who said the matriarch of the Awolowo family was a repository of knowledge and a custodian of information, added that she was a great lover of people.

He expressed sadness that she did not live to witness a new Nigeria of her dream.

He said, “We are in a mourning mood at this moment, but we ill celebrate Mama. For some of us, Mama knew us even when we were born.

“I don’t even know how to describe the sense of loss because Mama has always been there. Whenever you thought about home, be rest assured that Mama will be there.

“Even when Papa was not around, Mama was always there, always available, always around. I think that one of the great things that has been said is all about her great love for people.

“She has a personal relationship with practically everybody, those who are family members and those who are not. Many times she would call us up and said you have not called her in weeks and she would remind you of the previous conversation that she had with you.

“She was always very caring, devoted and loving. We all know that she stood by Papa, so solidly that he had to describe her as the most important part of her life.

“We all looked forward to her 100th birthday but we heard the sad news on Saturday that Mama had departed. I really wished that she would have been here to ask me a few questions because every time I met Mama, she said ‘Yemi don’t cross- examine me.’”