Rev. (Mrs) Tola Oyediran, the eldest child of the late Western Region Premier and nationalist, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, is dead.
She passed on around noon on Friday, October 16, 2020 at the age of 79.
She was billed to celebrate her 80th birthday on December 1.
Until her death, she was the Chairman, Board of Directors of African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc (ANN), the publishers of Tribune Newspaper. Family sources said she did not show any sign of illness except for her old age.
The former Nigerian Tribune chairman, who was married to Prof Allen Oyediran, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, reportedly died in her sleep.
With her passage, Dr Olatokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu is the only surviving child of the Awolowo dynasty.
The Pan Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, has mourned Mrs. Oyediran, the eldest daughter of its late leader, Chief Awolowo.
The group in a release titled “Farewell Mrs. Tola Oyediran” issued on Friday by its spokesman, Yinka Odumakin, said it was devastated by the sad news of the demise of Mrs. Tola Oyediran.
Also, the Secretary General, Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), Dr. Kunle Olajide, while consoling the entire Awolowo family, her husband, children and grandchildren, described her death as a great loss to the Yoruba nation.