By Lawal Olamilekan 
Presidential hopeful and businessman, Gbenga Hashim, yesterday visited Mrs. Adebola Awolowo, widow of the late Segun Awolowo, to pay tribute and pray for God’s strength for the family as funeral ceremonies commence today.
During the visit, Dr. Hashim remarked, “The grief in the air as the funeral ceremony kicks off today is thick. May the Lord be our strength.”
Two weeks ago, Hashim had paid a moving tribute to Awolowo, former Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and grandson of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. In an emotional statement titled “Good Night My Brother and Friend, Segun Awolowo,” he recalled receiving news of Awolowo’s passing while in Madrid, leaving him “shocked and unsettled.”
Hashim noted that Awolowo was part of a close knit circle of Abuja friends spanning 26 years, including Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, Terry Waya, and the late Abdul Kokori.
He fondly recalled visiting Awolowo in Abuja just months ago, finding him lively and full of plans.
Awolowo had proudly introduced him to his senior management team and offered what now feels like a final parting charge: “Gbenga, please keep standing for Nigeria. Among all of us, you’re the one I know has the capacity to stand.”
Describing Awolowo as “a rare gem, humble, thoughtful, and deeply patriotic,” Hashim emphasized that he distinguished himself through hard work, public service, and a strong personal ethic, far beyond the weight of his famous surname. Their friendship, he said, was grounded in deep conversations and moments of prayer. “I am grateful for the gift of friendship we shared and pained that it ended too soon,” he wrote.
The passing of Segun Awolowo continues to reverberate across political, business, and social circles, with tributes pouring in nationwide.
TheNews