Chief Obafemi Awolowo would have been 108 years
old today but he died 30years ago, in his bedroom,
without any disease or sickness whatsoever. Of all
his contemporaries, his death was the best.
He was the first Premier of Western Region and the
best developer of the region till the time of this
post!!!!! He was a unique Premier. While he was the
Premier, Western Region comprised of today's SW
and Bendel(Edo and Delta States).
The manifesto of Action Group became Herculean
to achieve in the minds all except that of Awolowo.
Free Education, Free Health services, development
of infrastructures etc. Even with scarcity of funds,
Awolowo achieved all and even more than he
promised like building of University of Ife now
named after him, Liberty Stadium, WNTV first
Television Station in Africa and France and now
called Nta Ibadan after taken over by Federal
government. Cocoa farmers were very lucky in his
time, they were the high and mighty then. Awolowo
did not bother them with storage facilities, they only
needed to produce, government will buy and store
and sell.....
But if you think the farmers enjoyed, that's small
compared to the hopeless poor. But for Awolowo,
only children of elites would have gone to school.
Awolowo did Universal Free Education throughout
the length, breadth, nooks and crannies of the
Western Region and this singular act bridged the
gap between the children of the poor and those of
the rich....The poor were in jubilation mood;
"Awolowo's Regime is good
Awolowo Regime is good
The children of the poor are speaking English
Awolowo's Regime is good"
Although, many people who later became his future
detractors were all beneficiaries of his Free
Education policy and Scholarship. Even the
Grammar they used to abuse him, he 'taught' them.
His political influence almost caused his untimely
death but for God who saved him. He left Western
Region and became NIGERIA minority leader, a torn
in the flesh of Central Coalition Government of
NCNC and NPC who through the help of some of
his associates engaged him in the fiercest battle of
his life! He lost his first son, his political party but
not life. During the battle, the mother of his former
Attorney General Rotimi Williams went to him to ask
Awolowo for the release of his son "Please my son
cannot stand with this anymore, I don't want him to
die", Awolowo called Rotimi Williams to quit the
struggle!!
Awolowo and several of his disciples were arrested,
charged, convicted (of treason), and jailed for
conspiring with the Ghanaian authorities under
Kwame Nkrumah to overthrow the federal
government.
Awolowo was reported to have said "If truly I
planned to overthrow this government through coup,
I will die in that prison but if you people lied
against me, I will come out greater and I won't meet
any of you alive...." Wow, the rest is history.
Gowon released Awolowo from prison and made
him Finance Minister and his Deputy in cabinet. To
his credit, he managed the war economy without
borrowing a kobo. Infact, Nigeria was so rich that
Gowon once said "our problem is not money but
how to spend it...." Nigeria was borrowing nations
her money, Gowon was paying Udoji Allowance
from the money saved by AWO......
He left Gowon when the ovation was loudest and
advised him to conduct election.
Shagari honored him with the greatest honor in the
land GCFR......
He was the greatest leader ever produced in
Western Region, his records are glaringly undeniable
and he put the SW politics in the most respectable
position. He started the inter-regional campaign in
Nigeria. He wanted to replicate what he did in the
WR in Nigeria but he was vehemently stopped!!!!
When he left in 1987, three days after, IK Dario
waxed the first record for Awolowo....
"There is NO elder again
The town has spoiled
The husband of the house has died
And the house is now empty!!!!!
Ebenezer Obey too"
"What a pity, earth is eating up humans
Death killed Obafemi Awolowo"
Even Sikiru Ayinde Barrister;
"Awolowo Baba Oluwole o
Oyeniyi Baba Oluwole o
Jeremiah ooo
Baba Oluwole o
Baba Omotola d'ara ile
Awolowo o
Ehhh Awolowo
Baba Oluwole eh"
Talk of the town, in newspapers, TV, Radio....
He was given a state burial by IBB who said "Since
1959, Nigeria politics are divided into two, either
you're for Obafemi Awolowo or you're against him"
Today is his birthday......
Happy birthday Father of Light, son of Efunyela, the
bride price payer of Dideolu, Father in law of
Osinbajo.....Successor of Oduduwa, Predecessor of
Ajasin, Ige and......long enjoyment in
Paradise and more beautiful songs of praise to the
glory of the Almighty!!!!
You want to be like Awolowo?
Let me give you a test....
He was deliberately charged with Treason.
Together with all his chronic supporters. His Lawyer, a Briton, was denied entry visa to Nigeria, also deliberately.
He opted for his first son, the first International Lawyer in Nigeria, Olusegun to defend him and other accused. While in court, waiting for his lawyer, the court in process, Adesanya entered the court, with water rolling from his eyes, whispered into Awolowo's ears, "Leader, your son was involved in accident on his way here..."
Awolowo interrupted "Is Segun dead?"
"I'm afraid, Yes sir"
"Please go and stay with my wife, please"
Awolowo quickly stood up to call the attention of the Judge to the new development....He didn't say his son was dead, he said "My Lord, I have the information that my lawyer was involved in an accident and he's dead, I hereby appeal to you to allow me represent myself and my colleagues in this treason charge against us"
After the day's proceeding, Jakande, Enahoro etc who were crying due to Segun's death wondered why Awolowo refused to cry....Awolowo knew their thoughts and said;
"I love Segun so much, he was my first child but he's dead and I couldn't help him. What is paramount now is to avert another death hanging on our necks in the name of Treason. Else, we will die too.."
Awolowo was a real man!! How real are you?
