Adeboye, Bakare, 60 Bishops To Grace HID's Burial

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, at12 pmlying-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 17-24lying-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. Meanwhile, Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state, has warned politicians not to politicise the death of the matriarch of the Awolowo family.