Pastors E. A Adeboye and Tunde Bakare of the Redeemed
Christian Church of God (RCCG) and Latter Rain Bible
Church will join 60 anointed Anglican bishops to
participate in the two-week burial programme of the late
Chief (Mrs.) Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo.
Briefing journalists at the Ikenne hometown of the
Awolowos on the burial programme of the late matriarch
of the Awolowo dynasty today, November 5, Amb. Tokunbo
Awolowo-Dosumu, daughter of the deceased, revealed that
the two ministers of God are among the several clerics
participating in the programme.
Awolowo-Dosumu, a former Nigerian ambassador to the
Netherlands, also stated that no fewer than 60 bishops,
300 priests and several men of God have declared their
readiness to attend the burial ceremonies.
While appealing to guests and well wishers who wanted to
grace the occasion, Awolowo-Dosumu disclosed that Our
Saviour’s Anglican Church where the church service would
be held has a 690 sitting capacity, so not all guests would
be allowed entry into the church during the service.
She promised that large television screens would be
provided within the periphery of the church and Awolowo
Square which sits 5000 guests.
The programme reads as follow: November 15, at 12 pm
lying-in-state at Park Lane, Apapa, Lagos, followed by
Christian interdenominational service.
Monday, November 16, her body will depart to Ibadan and
lying-in-state at Oke Bola, Ibadan.
November 17-24 lying-in-state at Ikenne, the home town
of the Awolowos.
Meanwhile, the Ogun state government has invited all the
35 state governors and secretaries to state governments in
Nigeria to participate in the special fanfare organised for
the celebration of the late HID at Sagamu International
Stadium on Monday, November 23.
The secretary to the state government, Barrister Taiwo
Adeoluwa, revealed that the day was set aside for the
people of the state to celebrate and honour the departed
Yeye Oodua of Yorubaland.
Adeoluwa also disclosed that the state executive would
deliberate on the proposal by Governor Ibikunle Amosun to
immortalise the matriarch and probably approve the same
next week Monday, November 9.
However, the organising committee noted that there would
not be traffic movement in and out of the town on the last
day of the programme.
Popular musicians, including the music legends King
Sunny Ade and Chief Ebenezer Obey will lead other artistes
at the ceremony.
Mama Awolowo passed on at the age of 99 on Saturday,
September 19, as preparations for her centenary birthday
were in top gear.