Former President Goodluck Jonathan, on Wednesday, disclosed that he deliberately came out of his self-imposed hiding to condole with the family of Chief Obafemi Awolowo on the death of Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo.According to Tribune news.

Dr Jonathan, who was at the Ikenne home of the Awolowos, on Wednesday, disclosed that he decided to go into hiding to enjoy his post-presidency life with his wife, Patience.

According to the former president: "Within this period, myself and my wife have been hiding and we hardly go out. We said we would be hiding from public life for at least 12 months but in this particular case, we cannot hide. We have come to pay condolences to the Awolowo family because we're together. God brought Mama for all of us."

He described Mrs Awolowo as a rare mother, noble woman whose milk of kindness, encouragement and advice was there for all to drink.

He added that he and his wife were like her immediate children who will miss her, adding that the entire people of Nigeria would also miss her.

Responding, Reverend (Mrs) Omotola Oyediran thanked the former president for his love for the family. She said the family would eternally be grateful to him and his wife.

On the relationship between Dr Jonathan and the Awolowo family, Reverend Oyediran said: "Mama and our former president referred to themselves as mother and son. For coming all the way from Bayelsa to come and see us in Ikenne, it is a continued show of deep love to the Awolowos."