She was flying in a helicopter with her husband on a campaign tour of the Ondo area of present day Ondo State in preparation for the forthcoming elections in 1979. Chief Awolowo had hired a helicopter which he used during the presidential campaign. They were preparing to land when they noticed that all the palm trees in the area in which they were planning to land were on fire.
“The fire was extensive and there was nowhere the helicopter could land”, disclosed Chief (Mrs.) Awolowo. “I was afraid and asked Papa what was going to happen. The pilot, who was Indian, also appeared to be unsure of how to handle the situation. We went round and round on the huge balls of fire below us. My mind was fixed on my children….as I wondered if this was going to be the end”.
Luckily, the pilot was able to land the helicopter in Okitipupa.
“I gave praise to God and vowed not to fly in a helicopter again over such a place. But Papa insisted that he would fly in the helicopter the following day”.
There was yet another close-shave with death on her campaign tour with her husband.
“Papa, myself and Papa’s secretary set out on a campaign trip to Igbonla, in the riverine areas of (Ondo) State. The only means of transportation was a canoe, paddled by the indigenes. Not long after we set out, water began seeping in through the leaks in the canoe. In a short while, the pool of water in the canoe became threatening. I was afraid and wondered why we had to run into such a problem. But Papa assured me that all would be well”.
This situation was not strange to the handlers of the canoe. They had calabashes with which they removed the water. But then the leaks on the canoe meant that as they removed the water, more water rushed into the canoe. At a point, it was clear that the handlers of the canoe were engaging in a losing battle with the water.
“Papa asked the canoe handlers to divert to the nearest point at which we could disembark. With God’s grace we docked somewhere and got another canoe to continue our journey to Igbonla”.
In her endless campaign tours around the country with her husband as he embarked on yet another quest for power in the Second Republic (1979-1983), H.I.D has many such stories when they travelled on the brink of disaster. But despite the fear-inducing experiences, H.I.D enjoyed the campaign tours, as she did in the First Republic. She felt it was a duty that she owed, as one of the lines in the Unity Party of Nigeria’s anthem states.
When the Obafemi Awolowo-led Committee of Friends morphed into the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in 1978, H.I.D returned to her old role in the First Republic. It involved a multi-pronged task of managing the home front while also supporting the party activities and campaigns. She had been known as one of the greatest hostesses in Nigeria’s political history.With the steady flow of party associates and supporters to their homes in Apapa and Ikenne, she ensured that everyone was well-received and that drinks and food were always available to entertain the guests.
“Those of us who had the rare privilege of seeing Papa and Mama at close quarters will recall, with nostalgic felings, how she became immersed in whatever cause her husband pursued, or believed in, “testifies Wunmi Adegbomire, the former Secretary to the State Government, Ondo State. “She cultivated and maintained the policy of making her husband’s numerous admirers and political associates feel at ease and welcome. There was no meeting held at Awo’s compound at which Mama would not personally serve food and ensure that everybody was fed. Hers was dignity wrapped with humility in public office and service”.
After the end of the Nigerian Civil War in 1970 in which her husband had managed the war economy with widely acknowledged outstanding competence, she watched as the Gowon administration degenerated. Though General Yakubu Gowon himself was never accused of graft, his leading officers and many state governors were stuck in corruption allegations which seriously damaged the image of the administration. As Finance Minister, Awolowo was uncomfortable with the situation. His advice to the head of state who had hitherto treated him with the greatest respect was being ignored. He was no longer happy to continue in the government. To make matters worse, Gowon reneged on his promise to hand over power to a democratically-elected government in 1976. He postponed the handover. Awolowo considered his resignation from the government. His task was done. The spectre mof disintegration was over.
“I was very pleased when he resigned because I have been asking him to leave….” Writes H.I.D in her memoir. “(T)here were a lot of things that were going on…. So he simply gave up the job…. To return to his law practice”.
As Awolowo returned to his law practice at his firm situated in the premises of his house on 31/32 Park Lane, Apapa, H.I.D continued her business. By this time, she had established three branches of her business. The original shop in Gbagi, Ibadan was still thriving. Her Balogun, Lagos shop was going well too. She had also started a shop in Ikenne, where she sold soft drinks. The Ikenne business also included a rental service. Now, all the branches of Dideolu Stores and Ligu Distribution Services were doing well. Also, her husband was approaching 70. She felt it was time for her to start a process of full return to her roots. She started spending more time in Ikenne.
By the time Chief Awolowo celebrated his 70th birthday in Ikenne on March 6, 1970, she decided to live fully in Ikenne. Consequently, Chief Awolowo started a weekly shuttle between Lagos and Ikenne.
He would spend the week days in Lagos and then return to Ikenne on Friday evening.
But by 1979, even though she lived in Ikenne, she had to hit the road again, campaigning around the country with him. H.I.D co-ordinated the activities of the Women’s Wing of the UPN and participated in all party activities. One of her able supporters in the Women’s Wing was Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, the head of Lagos Market Women, who had been a strong supporter of Awolowo and his wife since the First Republic. She was also a member of the AG who stood solidly by H.I.D during the crisis in the Western Region. The same was true of Alhaja Humuani Alaga in Ibadan. She was one of the women who practically turned the Awolowo’s home into their home during the Western Region crisis.
“When the ban (on political activities) was lifted, Papa formed the UPN. He told me of his plan and like he did with the AG, he began writing people and they turned up in larger numbers than with the AG….The first meeting was held at Apapa, 31 Park Lane. There were about three meetings. Then some individuals were asked to submit papers on various subjects”.
TO BE CONTINUED
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