By Peter Ayoade
Dr. Olusola Ayandele, a Director of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has commiserated with the Awolowo family on the death of Rev. Omotola Oyediran, the eldest daughter of the late Obafemi Awolowo.
This is contained in a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen on Monday in Ibadan.
It would be recalled that the late Oyediran died peacefully, at about 12pm on Friday, a few weeks to her 80th birthday,
The late Oyediran was until her death,
the Chairman, African Newspapers of Nigeria(ANN), publishers of the Nigerian Tribune Newspaper.
Ayandele in the statement titled ‘Tribute to Rev. Omotola Oyediran(Nee Awolowo)’ said he received the news of Oyediran’s death with shock.
He described her death as a great loss to the family, Yorubaland and Nigeria, saying
she served God and humanity till she passed on.
“Our mama was a great personality and outstanding professional. Mama demonstrated high level of honesty, loyalty and patriotism to the Yoruba nation as well as Nigerians.
“She was an epitome of humility and selfless leader. She was a silent achiever, who sustained the legacies bequeathed to them by their late father and former Premier of Western Region, Obafemi Awolowo,” he said.
Ayandele recalled the warm reception and words of encouragement he got from the deceased when he visited the Awolowo’s family to kick-start his governorship campaign in 2018.
The renown businessman said that the late Oyediran encouraged him and gave her support to his ambition, having understood that he could take the state to the desired height.
He said that the late Oyediran excelled in all responsibilities she handled, describing him as a true reflection of their late father who represented true and selfless leadership.
According to him, “there is no doubt that mama lived an exemplary and fulfilled life. She was devout Christian and caring mother to all. A woman of substance whose virtues are worthy of emulation.
“Her words of wisdom, love and selfless service to humanity are some of the virtues of mama that we would all miss very much. We pray that Almighty God grant the soul of our good mama eternal rest.”
He prayed that God grant her family, the Awolowo family, the Nigerian Tribune family, friends and all of us who drank from her milk of wisdom fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.
