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How Yoruba Chose Awo As Their Leader — Osoba by 2sd(m): 9:15pm On Aug 12, 2015 |
Former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun
Osoba, in this interview deflates claims by Former
President Olusegun Obasanjo in his recent book that
the Yoruba never had a leader. He argues that the
former president is distorting history. Osoba also
spoke on other issues.
By Monsuru Olowoopejo
Do you agree with Obasanjo that the Yoruba never
had a leader?
I cannot share such opinion with him because 49
years ago, precisely on August 12, 1966, I was
present at a forum where Late Chief Obafemi
Awolowo was unanimously elected the Yoruba leader.
And the election involved all stakeholders -political,
cultural and intellectual in Yoruba land. I have
records to prove that Chief Obafemi Awolowo was
elected aside the newspaper publications after the
election in Ibadan. I disagree with Obasanjo on
whatever claims he has that Awolowo was handpicked
by some of his supporters.
At the event where Awolowo was elected as the
Yoruba leader, there were people of diverse political
interests. For instance, late Dr. Koye Majekodunmi,
had same political ideology as Awolowo. Late Chief
T.O.S Benson, a staunch supporter of Late Chief
Nnamdi Azikiwe was there. I want everyone to know
that Awolowo was released from prison two weeks
before his election as leader of the Yoruba.
He was unanimously elected by all stakeholders. The
military governor of the Western Region, General
Adeyinka Adebayo on Tuesday, August 10,1966 held
meetings with intellectuals and activists.
The next day, which was 11, he held meetings with
traditional rulers before the meeting of all
stakeholders on the August 12.
And on this day, there was not a dissenting voice
against the election of Awolowo. These are some of
the facts.
What do you think was the reason for Obasanjo’s
assertion?
I hate to play the role of a mind reader. But my
worry is that if I fail to come out as someone, who
was involved in the activities leading to the election
of late Chief Awolowo, history would be distorted.
And in future, historians and researchers will base
their conclusions on Obasanjo’s record of events. He
was also an active participant in events of that period.
As the Garrison Commander in Ibadan, he was an
active member of General Adeyinka Adebayo’s
cabinet.
I do not think that he would have forgotten so soon
the sequence of events that threw up Awolowo as
Yoruba leader. He has direct knowledge of what
transpired before and during the election. In fact on
that evening, some of us (journalists) interviewed
Awolowo after his election. And the statement was
that he would remain the leader of the Yoruba for
the duration of the military administration.
And we asked that why should he limit his election as
the leader of the Yoruba to the military period. And
I can remember vividly that his response to the
question on that day was that the Yoruba race is so
intelligent and sophisticated that under no
circumstance in a political dispensation will the
Yoruba follow same political ideology. And that he
decided to limit the honour bestowed on him to only
the period when the common interest of the Yoruba
was threatened.
He argued that the day the bell for the
commencement of partisan politics is rung, capitalists
like Chief Majekodunmi, Otegbeye and T.O.S Benson;
a Zikist, will return to their political tents. They may
not be in the same political party. Under such
circumstances, he cannot claim to be the Yoruba
leader.
What could have led to the unanimous endorsement
by these leaders?
Awolowo had been in incarceration. And when he
came out, Gowon knew that he needed Awolowo’s
influence. Before his imprisonment, he had been
winning elections in other regions aside the Western
Region.
This was because he had created a Pan-Nigerian
image for himself despite some claims that he was
tribalistic. Another reason was that at that time,
Gowon had emerged as the Head of State and
Awolowo didn’t support him. Ojukwu had emerged as
leader for the Igbo. The Yoruba at that time needed
someone who will be a rallying point. But there was
no one who could contest it with Awolowo. Besides,
the Agbekoyas were holding the military to ransom.
It was only Awolowo who could go into the jungle to
persuade them to lay-down their arms. These were
some factors that led to the emergence of Awolowo
as the Yoruba leader.
Obasanjo said the late Chief Adisa Akinloye and few
others objected to the emergence of Awolowo as
Yoruba leader. How true is that?
Late Chief Adisa Akinloye never kicked against the
election of Awolowo until his death. He was one of
the admirers of Awolowo. He was the one who
coined the word Afenifere.’I was close to Akinloye
even during his days in London where he was in
exile. He never disagreed with the fact that Awolowo
must be respected as a person. There is a difference
between members of different political parties and
having respect for a particular person.
For instance, when Aminu Kano was alive, he often
visited the Sardauna of Sokoto for consultation.
Though they had different political ideologies.
Aminu Kano had the Talakawa (welfarist) ideology.
Sardauna was for the Oligachy. He was aristocratic.
Joseph Tarka was for the emancipation of his people.
I don’t know why anyone in death should denigrate
the reputation of Awolowo.
On implications of the statement
I will not like to judge ex-President Obasanjo. I don’t
want to join him in the condemnation of individuals.
My aim is to put the fact straight. I respect Obasanjo.
He has his own strong points and weaknesses. But
one of the things I disagree with him on is the act of
condemning people. I feel bad when he does these
despite the luck he had. At the end of the civil war
and when General Murtala Muhammed was killed, he
was opportuned to assume the leadership of this
country. Whether he likes it or not, late Chief MKO
Abiola will continue to be the hero of modern
democracy in Nigeria.
He laid down his life and I expect Obasanjo to
recognize the fact that he became a beneficiary of his
effort and see Abiola as a hero. Nobody can claim to
be the only hero in a society; a society is made up of
different people. Today, within the Egbas, the Kutis
are heroes. This family produced Fela Anikulapo Kuti,
Beko Kuti and Prof. Olukoye Ransome-Kuti. Other
Egbas are Prof. Wole Soyinka, Akintola Williams and
others. A tree cannot make a forest. It hurts me
when Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo denigrate
heroes.
Has Obasanjo shown inclination towards feeling
offended that some of you do not respect his status
in the country?
In Yoruba, we believe that one must earn whatever
status he wants. We submit ourselves to any
leadership voluntarily and not by coercion. He
(Obasanjo) should be someone that everyone would
visit for consultation.
I remember when Papa Simon Adebo was alive;
Obasanjo and I often visited him to learn from him.
That is what people should do at the moment for
Obasanjo. He must earn it. The Yoruba often say that
when one is aging, he puts aside some attitudes in
him.
General Yakubu Gowon and Abdulsalam Abubakar do
not speak often. But they contribute to the country’s
development.
They also play key roles internationally. At this age, I
believe that we should be careful of what we say.
Who is the current Yoruba leader?
We cannot have a Yoruba leader in a political
dispensation. When Awolowo was elected as the
Yoruba leader, he said he will remain the Yoruba
leader under military. I have often said it.
What we can have at the moment is a cultural Yoruba
leader not an overall Yoruba leader. Even within
family meetings, the Olori Ebi (head of the family),’ is
challenged on issues affecting the family. So, each
time the interest of Yoruba is threatened, we all
gather under the leadership of an individual to solve
the problem. Pre-civil war, the Yoruba interest was
threatened. And everyone agreed that the best
person to lead the Yoruba at that time was Awolowo.
When June 12, 1993 presidential election was
annulled, not only Yoruba but everyone who believed
in democratic governance believe that the system of
government is threatened. This incident threw up
late Pa Adekunle Ajasin, as the leaders of the Yoruba.
I remember that ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo
came to Owo, Ondo state in 1994. if Obasanjo didn’t
recognize Ajasin as Yoruba leader why did he visit
him in Owo. After the death of Ajasin, late Pa
Abraham Adesanya was nominated by Omoyele
Sowore, the founder of Sahara reporters at Premier
Hotel. And the reason was that MKO Abiola who
would have assumed the leadership had died in
incarceration . Many became sad. But when the bell
of partisan politics was ranged in 1999, Adesanya
ceased to be Yoruba leader. He vacated the office to
become Afenifere leader.
Since the death of Adesanya, why has there not been
a cultural leader for the Yoruba?
General Akinrinade, retd and Pa Fasoronti are playing
that role now. In Yoruba, one must show leadership
qualities before anyone can respect him. For
instance, Akinrinade was involved in the
enthronement of democracy in the country. He was a
successfulb in the military. Even when the issue of
former President Goodluck Jonathan and late
President Umaru Musa Yar Adua evolved, he went
the streets with Soyinka and others, demanding that
the democratic norm must be adhered to. We have
cultural leaders at every level. www.vanguardngr.com/2015/08/how-yoruba-chose-awo-as-their-leader-osoba/
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Re: How Yoruba Chose Awo As Their Leader — Osoba by Nobody: 9:16pm On Aug 12, 2015 |
bullshit again |
Re: How Yoruba Chose Awo As Their Leader — Osoba by domopps(m): 9:20pm On Aug 12, 2015 |
Kilode! Cutehector, Dhaniel and Temitemi1! You guys should pls summarize that Eppistle to latest king James version! Cheeeeeeers |
(1) (Reply)
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