Awo’s daughter, Ayo Soyode dies at 66

Otunba Ayodele Olubusola Soyode, one of the children of the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, is dead. Otunba Soyode, who died early Sunday morning during a brief illness at the age of 66, was survived by her husband, Mr Tayo Soyode and three children, Mrs Dolapo Osibajo, Mr Ladipo Soyode and Dr Femi Soyode and many grandchildren. She attended UMC Demonstration School, Ibadan; St. Annes School, Ibadan; she also attended Ibadan Grammar School, for her higher school certificate (HSC). She earned her first degree from University of Exceter, United Kingdom in 1968 and later proceeded to the then University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), where she studied Law. She was called to the Bar in 1974.



Otunba Soyode was partner and later principal partner of Obafemi Awolowo and Co.

Her many awards and chieftaincy titles include First Otunba Obinrin Liyangu Ruling House, Sagamu, Iyalode of Obafemi Awolowo Memorial Anglican Church, Ikenne, Matron of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Apapa, Lagos state, and was for many years a Sides Lady  at Our Saviours Anglican Church, Ikenne-Remo.

Among important dignitaries that have paid condolence visits to the Ikenne residence of sage were Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, Olori Abosede Sonariwo, the Managing Director/Editor-In-Chief of Tribune newspapers titles, Reverend Sam Adesua, and Chief Ayo Adebanjo.

Sir Olaniwun Ajayi wrote in the condolence register that, “May God, the Most High comfort Mama and all other bereaved. Eni ehin ko ni saaju mo, Amin,” Olori Sonariwo wrote, “Hun! What a deep loss. May her gentle soul rest in peace”, while Reverend Adesua wrote that “God gives and takes away. Glory be to His holy name. The management and staff of African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc will miss this great and loving director. May her gentle soul rest eternally with her Saviour”

Chief Ayo Adebanjo wrote, “May God, the great comforter be with Awo dynasty at this hour of great sorrow. Ao nii rinatehinwa mo. May the soul of Ayo rest in peace.”

Oyo state governor, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, while condoling with Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo, husband of the deceased, Tayo and children and the entire Awolowo family on he death of one of them, prayed that God would comfort them.

Reacting through his Special Adviser on Public Communications, Prince Dotun Oyelade, Alao-Akala described the deceased as a gentle lady who would be missed by all for her contributions to humanity.

Reacting, Chief Ebenezer Babatope said: “I am shocked and bewildered at the news of the death of Mrs Ayo Soyode, the daughter of the late sage, Papa Obafemi Awolowo.

”She was a woman who stood by the political principles and ideals of her late father.  Ayo never wavered in her beliefs in the supreme welfare of the poor people of Nigeria.  I sincerely mourn with Mama HID Awolowo on this tragic loss.  I commiserate with our father, Mr Tayo Soyode, the husband of the deceased and the good children she left behind.  She was a kind-hearted woman. May her soul rest in peace.”

Nigerian Tribune carries a black masthead today because of the painful loss of our invaluable Director, Otunba Ayodele Soyode, who passed on early yesterday.

A Tribute
DEATH, said William Shakespeare, is a necessary end: it will come when it will come. No one has a perfect understanding of the psychology of death, but among the Yoruba, it is, at least, both an inevitable end and a means for the living to learn enduring lessons. The Yoruba value death in a ripe old age, but they are quick to add that it is not the number of one’s years on earth but what one has accomplished in  life that is important. And so the Yoruba pray: may death meet us doing good works.

News filtered through, early on Sunday morning, that the Awolowo dynasty had lost one of its shining lights, Otunba  Ayodele Olubusola Soyode (Nee Awolowo), one of the children of the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. The sad and sudden transition threw many into shock, while others refused to accept the reality of the event.  The tears have not ceased flowing, but memories of her good deeds, although they have not mellowed the pains of the sudden and sad loss, at least, continue to strengthen the Awolowo family across the nation;  staff and management of the African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, publishers of the Tribune titles and all those who knew the woman of substance and the cause she fought all her life.

Otunba Olubusola Soyode, who departed this sinful world early on Sunday morning, at the age of 66 years, is survived by all those who, at one point or the other, interacted with her and continue to mourn her loss; her heartthrob of many years, Mr Tayo Soyode,  and three children, Mrs. Dolapo Osibajo, Mr Ladipo Soyode and Dr Femi Soyode.

We must all return to the earth from which we came, but it is too early to capture the loss. It is when situations arise over which she could have  taken charge and changed the story that the deep significance of her sudden departure will begin to dawn on all. However, as the funeral  rites continue, everyone  continues to say that Mummy Apapa, as she is still fondly called by all,  was a woman of soft heart; in fact, so soft that many naturally tended to take advantage of her gentle soul.

Sadly, they say, we shall no longer be able to consult Mama on many of the things that made her the darling of the nation, but we take solace in the fact that she has left behind her own flesh and blood who have not only charted a bright path in life, but have imbibed her culture of care for all and discrimination to none. Mummy Apapa is survived by quality children, and so hers is a fulfilled life.

When fire goes, ash covers its face: it was Mummy Apapa who, as a Principal Partner, kept the Obafemi Awolowo chambers in Apapa, Lagos, alive and alight with the same passion for the downtrodden which drove the sage till he breathed his last. In trying moments, both for the nuclear family and the African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc family, Mummy Apapa, many have continued to say, stood firm and never  wavered. She also forgave many their trespasses against her.

After an academic foundation in Ibadan, Mummy Apapa obtained her first degree at the University of Exeter, United Kingdom (UK) in 1968, from where she proceeded to the then University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), where she studied Law. She was called to the Bar in 1974.

A woman of many parts, Otunba Ayodele Olubusola Soyode obtained the unique honour of being the first Otunba Obinrin of the Liyangu Ruling House, Sagamu. A dedicated church woman, she was, for many years,  a Sides Lady  at Our Saviours Anglican Church, Ikenne.  She was also the  Iyalode of the Obafemi Awolowo Memorial Anglican Church, Ikenne and Matron of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Apapa, Lagos State. 

For the Christian, death can have no pride. It cannot reach into the soul. It is merely a means to re-unite with the Lord, who created us for eternal fellowship with Himself. It is this faith in God that is holding the Awolowo and Soyode families at this critical period.

The nation has lost a jewel, but the nation’s loss is heaven’s gain. Those of us who are still breathing should think sober thoughts and make right with our Maker.

There is a lesson in our pain. May Mummy Apapa’s gentle soul rest in the Lord till that day when we shall all rise again, the Resurrection Morning, when death’s prison bars are broken.
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