Chief Oluwole Bolade Akanni Awolowo, the first son of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, has been finally laid to rest.
The church service commenced at 10am on Friday at Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Ikene-Remo, Ogun State.
Before the service, the church auditorium had been filled to the brim with top government functionaries from all states of the federation and the federal level.
Family members, friends and well wishers who could not afford to miss the grand finale of the week-long burial came in their hundreds to pay their last respect to the departed Awolowo.
The Minister-in-charge, Rt. Reverend M. Olusina Fape, who presided over the service, acknowledged the fact the late Oluwole Awolowo lived a fulfilled life and he diligently followed the footstep of his father during his lifetime.
He enjoined all the politicians to shun corruption, which is eating deeply into the nation’s economy.
Bishop Fape said, “I will advice you all to avoid corrupt practices in all your dealings and work consciously with the service you are saddled with.”
The Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, said he would forever remember Awolowo for his pivotal role during the last gubernatorial election in the state.
Amosun said, “He is a big brother to me, especially for his great effort on my victory in Ogun State. The state, no doubt, has lost a big horn.”
The service was brought to a close at exactly1:26pm with the Minister of Information and Orientation, Labaran Maku’s vote of thanks.
Maku, in his speech, said he was delighted to have been chosen as one of the Federal Government’s representatives to attend the burial.
Maku said, “Awolowo’s death is a collosal loss to the nation and the entire Yoruba race. We will forever remember him.”
The remains of the late publisher of Tribune Newspaper popularly called Unbreakable, was later interred at the St. Saviour Anglican Church cemetery, Tai Solarin Way, Ikenne, Ogun State.
There was long procession from the church, with MIC pallbearers displaying with the grey casket.
The dust-to-dust rite however elicited uncontrollable tears among his children, friends and relatives present.
The action of one of his children, Jide, elicited more tears among the family members while the corpse was being lowered into the grave.
The party was later moved to Obafemi Awolowo Square on Tai Solarin Road, Ikene.
Chief Ebenezer Obey and other musicians were on bandstand thrilling the guests as at the ceremony.
The Federal Government’s powerful delegation was led by Labaran Maku and included Ambassador Gbenga Ashiru, Oronto Douglas, Dr. Rueben Abati
and Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide.
Other eminent personalities present were Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, the speaker of the House of Representatives; Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun
State, Governor Emmanuel Uduhagan of Delta State, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Nnduka Obaignena of Thisday, former Governors Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State,
Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun State, Segun Oni of Ekiti State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba of Ogun State and host of other prominent Nigerians.
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