My wife and I emerged from hiding for HID, says Jonathan

·         Former President visits Ikenne on condolence to the Awolowo family

 “My wife and I have been hiding; we don’t even go out. We thought we’ll hide for at least 12 months. But in this particular case, we cannot hide. So, we’ve come for the condolence and to encourage our brothers and sisters that we are together.”

The foregoing is the remark of former president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan when he arrived at the home of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo in Ikenne, accompanied by his wife Patience, on condolence visit to the Awolowos on the demise of their matriarch, Chief (Mrs) H.I.D. Awolowo.

The former leader was accompanied by the former Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, and his political associates.

He described the passing of Mrs. Awolowo as a great loss, but that he took solace in the fact that death is an inevitable end that would come when it would come. 

“We have been coming here because the former secretary to the government did mention that the last time I came here it was associated with the last presidential electioneering campaign. But before, I’ve been here severally to see mama in one way or the other.

“We are mourning her today; my wife and I, we are not mourning because mama has passed on. For me, we believe that it’s a rare privilege to add extra 29 years to the Biblical two scores and ten; it’s not easy.

“Ordinarily, we wouldn’t have been mourning but mama was a rare mother. She was a woman of virtue described in the Bible, and she was a mother to all of us; a mother that her milk of kindness we still need, her milk of encouragement we still need, her milk of advice we still need and today she’s no more with us.

“But for my wife and I, and other members of our delegation, some of whom includes the former leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Mulikat Adeola. Of course, Gbenga Daniel has been here severally but he was the one who led us into this hall. My good friend, Jide Adeniji, the former chairman of FERMA and  others. Mrs. Kuku from Bayelsa State and others that joined us; we have come to pay our last respect.

“We, just like the immediate children, and indeed this country have missed her. God brought her for all of us. She just had to be the direct mother of a few, but she’s a mother to all. We shall mourn more than even the direct children would,” Jonathan said.

* Taken from New Mail