President Muhammadu Buhari has stated that his administration will take active part in the burial of HID Awolowo.
The president disclosed this on Sunday through a delegation he sent to the Ikenne country home of the Awolowos led by the Secretary to the Federal Government, Babachir Lawal, and the Chief of Defence Staff, Maj. Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin.
The President also commiserated with the entire family of Awolowo, the Yoruba people, Nigerians and indeed Africans at large.
Lawal stated he was with the President when the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, broke the news of Mama's death to him, “and from his (President’s) countece he was disturbed.”
He said, “We have this to say that Mama had lived to fulfil the saying that ‘behind a successful man, there is a successful, strong, courageous and bold woman.’
“Mama lived an exemplary life for the Yoruba people. Our regret in government is that Mama did not live long enough to see the transformation that this country will undergo with the active participation of her son-in-law, with the active participation of her granddaughter, so, this is something that saddens us.
“Had she waited one or two years, I am sure she would have left this world a very, very happy woman indeed because the fulfilment of what she stood for and what her husband stood for would have finally come to fruition.
“On behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, who has also offered to participate in all activities leading to her final interment, if Awolowo family is gracious enough to give him the opportunity so to do, the Federal Government mourns our departed mother.”