It was a black Wednesday in July 1963 when Chief Obafemi Awolowo, detained at Broad Street Prison in Lagos, received the most devastating news of his life — the death of his eldest son, Segun.
At the time, Awolowo’s wife, Mama HID, was living in a temporary residence in Somolu, Lagos, closely supporting her husband through his imprisonment. Their son, Segun, a brilliant young lawyer recently returned from the United Kingdom, had been staying at their Oke-Bola home in Ibadan. He shared the residence with his sister, Tola, a Shell employee who had a driver named Ogunjimi Odunlami, popularly called “No Paddy.”
On the eve of the tragedy, Segun had informed Tola of his plan to travel to Lagos for an official engagement and a visit to their father. She agreed to lend him her driver. Tragically, on the journey, their vehicle was struck by another car driven by Rashidi Ayinla — a man already facing charges from a previous fatal crash.
Kayode Oyediran, Tola’s fiancé, first heard rumors of the accident while in Molete. Concerned, he rushed to the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan where he unexpectedly ran into Tola. She, too, had heard whispers about a possible accident. The hospital was preparing to send renowned neurosurgeon Professor Latunde Odeku to Adeoyo Hospital to attend to a critically injured road accident victim.
Together, Kayode and a friend rushed to Adeoyo Hospital, only to be met with heartbreaking confirmation: Segun had died from head injuries.
In Lagos, Chief Awolowo was meeting with Pa Abraham Adesanya regarding legal documents for Chief Anthony Enahoro’s defense. The somber visit of S.T. Oredein and J.O. Lawson soon revealed that something was amiss. They hesitantly informed Awolowo that Segun had been in an accident, but was alive. Instinctively, Awo knew the truth and, in a deeply emotional moment, declared, “The boy has died.”
Denied access to a phone by prison authorities, Awolowo calmly instructed Adesanya to contact their family doctor to prepare his wife for the devastating news. Alone in his cell, he turned on his transistor radio — and there it was, the confirmation no parent ever wishes to hear.
Despite the pain, Awolowo composed himself. He picked up the legal documents and worked through the night. When Adesanya returned the next morning to console him, he was stunned to find that Awolowo had completed the review.
Meanwhile, Mama HID sensed something was wrong when Segun failed to arrive as planned. Overcome with anxiety, she headed to Ibadan. Passing through Abanla, near the accident site, the sight of a crowd deepened her fears. On arriving at her home, she was met by doctors who had been sent ahead. But she already knew. “Don’t bother,” she told them. “I know what happened.”
Kayode later formally broke the news to her in what he would later describe as one of the most painful moments of his life.
Segun was buried that same day in Ikenne, with a memorial service later held at St. Saviour’s Church. He was just 24 years old, born on January 20, 1939, and left behind two children — Pastor Funke Awolowo and Segun Awolowo Jr.
The driver responsible, Rashidi Ayinla, was arraigned before the Iyaganku Magistrate Court in Ibadan for manslaughter. It was revealed that he was already facing trial for a previous fatal accident involving the same vehicle. He was remanded in custody to face justice.