DESPITE the lukewarm attitude of many to the novel ideal of DSH, HID continued to press ahead with the project. On October 18, 2000, she again re-launched the project. By this time, Olusegun Obasanjo was president. She invited him. Obasanjo sent Vice President Atiku Abubakar to represent him.
The downtown in Nigeria’s economy which worsened in the years after Awolowo’s death seriously affected the full implementation of the idea. Awolowo had warned President Shehu Shagari about the economy before the collapse of the Second Republic. A number of the ruling party’s spokesmen dismissed the opposition. Not long after, the economy was in trouble and almost collapsed under General Babangida. The cost of building the DSH rose to ten times more than originally planned. HID appealed to Awo’s associates and admirers to help in this public-spirited enterprise. Much of the plea fell on deaf ears in a society in which institutionalized philanthropy is almost anathema among a largely despicable national elite.
“Papa had counted on the goodwill of his associates and followers so much for the actualization of the project and this the time for them to demonstrate their love for him and the beautiful ideals and values they shared with him”, said HID at a press conference in preparation for the re-launch of the hospital.
Even though it didn’t attract massive support, HID refused to give up on an idea and project which was central to the twilights of her husband’s life. She deployed her resources to keep it alive. She also liaised with foreign organisations which were interested in supporting the project. For instance, in May 2005, twelve foreign-based Nigerian medical experts brought equipment worth seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) to the DSH. Led by Dr. Festus Dada, a surgeon based in Murrieta, California, the doctors expressed their “fascination with the vision” of Awolowo. HID was full of appreciation to the medical team which not only donated equipment but also volunteered their expertise and time, spending four days in Ikenne to treat more than five thousand people free of charge.
Another important project started after Awo’s demise is the ObafemiAwolowo Foundation. At the launch of the Foundation in Ibadan, President Babangida, on behalf of the Federal Military Government, donated thirty million naira (N30 million) to the foundation. Headed by HID’s daughter, Tokunbo Awolowo Dosumu, the aspirations of the founders are articulated thus: “Desirous of inaugurating a new chapter in the work that gave Chief ObafemiAwolowo his national and international stature; Eager to ensure that Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s deep concern for our nation, Nigeria, under God, shall continue to be of leadership relevance; Pursuant to our wish to immortalize Chief Obafemi Awolowo and conscious of the need to institute a forum, in perpetuo, for that purpose” the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation was inaugurated “to continue the work of building a Nigeria united through the ideals that inspired the public and patriotic activities of the man immortalized as AWO”.
The Foundation started an Annual Dialogue Series in 1992 which became one of the important events in the intellectual calendar of the country. The keynote at the first Dialogue was delivered by respected political economist, Professor Claude Ake. The Dialogue series resulted in the publishing of a book series. The fourth annual dialogue held on November 22, 1995, with the theme, “Nigeria: Democracy and the Rule of Law”, was dedicated to HID.
“I feel particularly touched by this kind gesture from the organizers of the dialogue. Somehow, this honour makes me feel much younger than a typical 80-year old would normally feel”, HID joked at the event.
She added: “At the risk of making the men present in this hall feel envious, I make bold to say that I am very proud to be a woman. Perhaps, the only thing better than being a woman is having a good man in one’s life. In this connection, there can be no doubt that I have been doubly blessed. The evidence is very easy to see because the honour being done me today is actually derived from my association with a good man…. ObafemiAwolowo. I remain eternally proud to bear his name…..”
The Foundation also started an Obafemi Awolowo Prize in Leadership chaired by Chief Emeka Anyaoku, the former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations. Nobel laureate, playwright and globally-respected public intellectual, Wole Soyinka, won the first edition of the prize, Former South African President, Thambo Mbeki, won its second.
“CHIEF MRS. HID AWOLOWO TO LEAD AWOISTS”.
This was the banner headline of The Mail newspaper shortly after the burial of Awolowo. Two weeks after the interment of Awolowo, HID sent out invitations to his associates. She wanted to host a thank-you party to appreciate them for the unprecedented farewell service. Shortly before that, some young Awoists, who were wary of the leadership of the Awolowo political group by any of the older members of the group, had gone to the press to announce that H.I.D will assume the position of her husband as the leader of the progressive political camp in Nigerian politics. Even though they did not consult her, they ensured a publicity blitz for this position. They seemed to have been encouraged by H.I.D’s son, Wole Awolowo, who had announced upon the death of his father that he would step into his father’s shoes, even though one of Awo’s leading associates said Awo “left no shoes”.
The young Awoists wanted H.I.D to formally announce her decision to take up the leadership of the group at the planned party. She repudiated the young Awoists two days before the party, telling them that she had no intention of leading the group. At the party she thanked her husband’s associates deeply for the honour done to the departed and his family. She then appealed to them “to keep together and continue the struggle for the emancipation of the poor that Papa had led in his life time”. In what was described as a “moving speech”, the late leader’s wife added, according to one of those present, that “Papa Awo would forever be happy in his grave if his associates and friends kept together and ensured the success of the struggle”.
TO BE CONTINUED
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