We all know who the Great Chief Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo was, but how many of us have heard of an Ijawman named Ernest Sissei Ikoli whom Awolowo along with Akintola helped to win political office in Yorubaland?

Who Was Ernest Ikoli?
Ernest Ikoli, an Ijawman from Nembe(Bayelsa state) was born in 1893. He was one of the founders and and pioneer vice president of Lagos Youth Movement that was formed in 1933, which later became Nigeria Youth Movement. Other prominent Nigerians that formed the movement were Dr Kofo Abayomi(President), Prof Ita Iyang(founding father/patron) and Samuel Akinsanya. Other prominent Nigerians that would later joined the movement were Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe(1937), Hezekiah Oladipo Davies(1938, later became the Secretary), Obafemi Awolowo (1939) and Samuel Akintola.

Okoli-Awo Political Comradeship
Among the prominent members, Chief Awolowo was the closest to Ernest Ikoli. In fact, Ernest Ikoli made Awolowo the secretary of Ibadan branch of NYM, a position that will mark the beginning of Awo's political career. In 1941 when Dr Kofo Abayomi resigned his position as member of Lagos Legislative council and President of NYM to further his studies abroad, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Samuel Akintola and Oladipo Davies all backed an ijawman Ikoli to succeed Abayomi in both positions. Awo not only backed Ikoli to succeed Abayomi, he also served as the campaign manager of Ikoli in the by-election. The interesting part of it is that Awolowo's kinsman and member of NYM, Samuel Akinsanya was interested in the legislative council position. Akinsanya was backed by Nnamdi Azikiwe.

Awolowo backed Ikoli Won The By-election
Primary election was held and though Akinsanya won majority vote in the primary, Awo, Akintola and Davies insisted on Ikoli as the NYM candidate(against their own kinsman). Akinsanya insisted on contesting the by-election, he had the backing of Nnamdi Azikiwe to run as independent candidate. Guess what happened next? Awolowo backed Ikoli defeated Azikiwe backed Akinsanya in the legislative by-election; and Awolowo won his first election as a campaign manager. The defeat of Nnamdi Azikiwe-backed Akinsanya led to both men quitting the NYM, but the movement went on. In fact, Ikoli ran for another by-election with his partner Awolowo and others behind him and again won.

It is interesting that the man(Awo) that some people choose to call 'tribalist' twice backed an Ijawman to defeat a Yorubaman in an election held in yorubaland. Indeed, It shall be well with Awolowo and Akintola.

Though, Ikoli died in 1960 at age 47, while Awo, his protege and partner-in-progress not only became the most effective premier of the entire western region, he also served as the defacto Vice President of Nigeria under Gowon's military administration. Not just that, his political ideology, Awoism is well and alive despite his demise. Not forgetting that Akintola also rose to the position of Premier of Western region. Whoever says Awolowo was an ethnic bigot owe common sense an apology.

Yoruba-Ijaw Political Relationship Beyond Awo-Ikoli
The Yoruba-Ijaw political relationship didn't just end with Awo/Akintola-Ikoli episode, it rared its head again in 2010/2011 when Yorubaman Chief Olusegun Obasanjo backed Ijawman Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to clinch the PDP Presidential ticket among all the Northern heavyweight to the position of President of Nigeria(though both would later become estranged). This is a position the Ijaws never dreamt of occupying as at that time.

Save Ikoli, I don't think there is any Ijawman that has held any elected political position outside his native domain.



May God Continue To Keep Us Happily As One...
(Amen)

Barcanista, the epistle writer of nairaland.

The fact of life is that when 2 or more people wisely come together in pursuit of a common goal, they always get positive results, be it politics, business, sports e.t.c.


A mind free from mutual hatred of being called ONE NIGERIA will inspire productive diplomatic relations and co-operation.

I am just thinking out loud!

Really...

Ibelong2God:
Barcanista, the epistle writer of nairaland.

Lol, forget the length of the epistle and focus on the 'epistle'. Lol...



Cc IzonOwei, Talktimi, Coolscott, Kel4soft

You want some clowns to assassinate you for this abi?

papparatzzi2013:
You want some clowns to assassinate you for abi?

Assassinate me? How na? Shey I offend anybody by the write-up?

It is interesting that the man(Awo) that some people choose to call 'tribalist' twice backed an Ijawman to defeat a Yorubaman in an election held in yorubaland. Indeed, It shall be well with Awolowo and Akintola.


interesting point

More epistles of trash from the failed blogger! No go write about "dasukigate" and "fortunadogate" as dem dey hot! Anyway na shame dey catch you that's why! Lol...

I love ths epistle, the combo of ijaw yoruba brings prospects

Fanirandele:
It is interesting that the man(Awo) that some people choose to call 'tribalist' twice backed an Ijawman to defeat a Yorubaman in an election held in yorubaland. Indeed, It shall be well with Awolowo and Akintola.


interesting point

honestly, we wouldn't be discussing this if Awo and Akintola had dished Ikoli in the guise of ethnic solidarity with their worthy kinsman. Beside, who will even blame Awo if he had done so? It is extra-ordinary to see a man do what Awo and Akintola did.

Quite Revealing

United We Stand Divided We Fall God Bless Nigeria

StuntingBlack:
There is nothing substantial nor special about an Ijaw-Yoruba relationship JUST LIKE it is with Yoruba-Igbo relationships you see today. At the end, each knows they dont follow similar paths.

The West is not the South. QED.!!!

What do you mean West is not South? The Ijaws and most ethnic minorities in the South can attribute one or two success we've had with the Yorubas. I'm talking of Ijaw-Yoruba and not drawing parallel with igbo-yoruba. Abeg, no make us go deep bros!

TonyeBarcanista:
Assassinate me? How na? Shey I offend anybody by the write-up?

They will assassinate you for bursting their myth they held close to their heart, which they have been guarding jealously and passing it on to their bitter children.

i enjoyed reading this, thanks OP

TonyeBarcanista:

Lol, forget the length of the epistle and focus on the 'epistle'. Lol...



Cc IzonOwei, Talktimi, Coolscott, Kel4soft

you wrote this article to prove that Awo is not a tribalist?
It is just too bad that you are going over board on some funny issues...

It is a shame for you even bring in GEJ and OBJ into this your writeup. OBJ helped to bring and Ijaw man GEJ up and also went all the way to pull him down to the bottomless pit.
Am sorry to say this... This is a shame!

Back to Awo... Awo supported an Ijaw man because he knew he has no chance if Akinsanya wins. Awo supported an Ijaw man because of his own political ambition... We all know that when someone has a goal well setout, he flows with the tide that goes towards his goal. And when the Ijaw man died in a very going age of 47, Awo took over and from there achieved his political goal. Though he committed suicide many years after.
Bros, have you ever wondered what killed your kinsman? What killed Ikoli?

Humn! The Bible says, wisdom is profitable to all.

noted. . .

papparatzzi2013:

They will assassinate for you bursting their myth they held close to their heart, which they have been guarding jealously and passing it on to their bitter children.

Maybe some misguided and ignorant politicians, I don't think any Ijaw or southern minority can fault Awo. Apart from his role in Ikoli's political fortune, Awo also created Ministry of Midwest just to pacify the midwersterners(now Edo and Delta) when they agitated for a region of their own because he doesn't want Western region to split. In fact, the Southern minorities in present day Rivers/Bayelsa/Cross-River and Akwa Ibom states at that time were agitating for Rivers and Calabar region, the Eastern Region not only opposed it but didn't give us any special ministry to at least pacify us. The North never did likewise to the agitating middlebelt.

Was it not Awolowo that advised Gowon to give us Rivers and Cross river states(now Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross river and Akwa ibom) after years of agitation?

TonyeBarcanista:

What do you mean West is not South? The Ijaws and most ethnic minorities in the South can attribute one or two success we've had with the Yorubas. I'm talking of Ijaw-Yoruba and not drawing parallel with igbo-yoruba. Abeg, no make us go deep bros!

Kindly ask if East is same as south,

Don't know much about ijaw/Yoruba political relationship.. but I think the tribe that Awolowo align with during the early 60's re the itsekiris, they benefitted more than any other tribe.. beside I never knew ikoli was an ijo man.. the name sound yoruboid..

StuntingBlack:
There is nothing substantial nor special about an Ijaw-Yoruba relationship JUST LIKE it is with Yoruba-Igbo relationships you see today. At the end, each knows they dont follow similar paths.

The West is not the South. QED.!!!

I had to go over the article twice to see where the op stated that the West is the South yet didn't find it. Please can you help me with the line where he did??

I thirst for the day Nigerians would play politics without the twin evil elements of tribe and religion.

Chigold101:
[s]you wrote this article to prove that Awo is not a tribalist?
It is just too bad that you are going over board on some funny issues...

It is a shame for you even bring in GEJ and OBJ into this your writeup. OBJ helped to bring and Ijaw man GEJ up and also went all the way to pull him down to the bottomless pit.
Am sorry to say this... This is a shame!

Back to Awo... Awo supported an Ijaw man because he knew he has no chance if Akinsanya wins. Awo supported an Ijaw man because of his own political ambition... We all know that when someone has a goal well setout, he flows with the tide that goes towards his goal. And when the Ijaw man died in a very going age of 47, Awo took over and from there achieved his political goal. Though he committed suicide many years after.
Bros, have you ever wondered what killed your kinsman? What killed Ikoli?

Humn! The Bible says, wisdom is profitable to all.[/s]

This is pure BADERASH sir!

OBJ brought GEJ, Ijaw nation and the South-South to national stage when the odds were against GEJ. They fell out so it was natural for Obj to jump ship. Beside, GEJ reneged on an agreement so it is a different issue.

On Ikoli, you probably just heard of him but Sir, Awo supported him TWICE not once. Awo didn't support him because he(Awo) wanted the position, he did out of pure love,loyalty and conviction. You can keep your own theory away. This is a very serious matter.

Beside, he died, he wasn't killed... Abi na Awo be him God to preserve him life? Bros abeg shift. Thanks

TonyeBarcanista:

Maybe some misguided and ignorant politicians, I don't think any Ijaw or southern minority can fault Awo. Apart from his role in Ikoli's political fortune, Awo also created Ministry of Midwest just to pacify the midwersterners(now Edo and Delta) when they agitated for a region of their own because he doesn't want Western region to split. In fact, the Southern minorities in present day Rivers/Bayelsa/Cross-River and Akwa Ibom states at that time were agitating for Rivers and Calabar region, the Eastern Region not only opposed it but didn't give us any special ministry to at least pacify us. The North never did likewise to the agitating middlebelt.

Was it not Awolowo that advised Gowon to give us Rivers and Cross river states(now Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross river and Akwa ibom) after years of agitation?

And some ediot re trying to drag us back to slavery.. Asin I like the way the country is nw.. minorities re on there own.. majority re on there own.. we refuse to be lump together with any big tribe..

Still don't know y u don't like awo that much.. maybe it's because of wat he did to Ur***o

TonyeBarcanista:

Maybe some misguided and ignorant politicians, I don't think any Ijaw or southern minority can fault Awo. Apart from his role in Ikoli's political fortune, Awo also created Ministry of Midwest just to pacify the midwersterners(now Edo and Delta) when they agitated for a region of their own because he doesn't want Western region to split. In fact, the Southern minorities in present day Rivers/Bayelsa/Cross-River and Akwa Ibom states at that time were agitating for Rivers and Calabar region, the Eastern Region not only opposed it but didn't give us any special ministry to at least pacify us. The North never did likewise to the agitating middlebelt.

Was it not Awolowo that advised Gowon to give us Rivers and Cross river states(now Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross river and Akwa ibom) after years of agitation?

God will bless you for saying the truth and for making some embittered people to be more people to their peril.

He also honoured the referendum on the creation of Midwest region.

Chigold101:
you wrote this article to prove that Awo is not a tribalist?
It is just too bad that you are going over board on some funny issues...

It is a shame for you even bring in GEJ and OBJ into this your writeup. OBJ helped to bring and Ijaw man GEJ up and also went all the way to pull him down to the bottomless pit.
Am sorry to say this... This is a shame!

Back to Awo... Awo supported an Ijaw man because he knew he has no chance if Akinsanya wins. Awo supported an Ijaw man because of his own political ambition... We all know that when someone has a goal well setout, he flows with the tide that goes towards his goal. And when the Ijaw man died in a very going age of 47, Awo took over and from there achieved his political goal. Though he committed suicide many years after.
Bros, have you ever wondered what killed your kinsman? What killed Ikoli?

Humn! The Bible says, wisdom is profitable to all.

Ohhhh, so Jonathan is currently in a "bottomless pit" huh?? This in indeed breaking news to some of us. We thought he was representing world leaders in occasions and appointed as chairman of international team of observers for some country's election. Didn't know that amounts to "bottomless pitness".

Your siggy alone makes it impossible for one to engage you in a constructive argument.

The Op is even more of a brother to the defeated president than you are, but I find it so hard to understand why you guys grieve over his loss than his own closest brothers.

Chigold101:
you wrote this article to prove that Awo is not a tribalist?
It is just too bad that you are going over board on some funny issues...

It is a shame for you even bring in GEJ and OBJ into this your writeup. OBJ helped to bring and Ijaw man GEJ up and also went all the way to pull him down to the bottomless pit.
Am sorry to say this... This is a shame!

Back to Awo... Awo supported an Ijaw man because he knew he has no chance if Akinsanya wins. Awo supported an Ijaw man because of his own political ambition... We all know that when someone has a goal well setout, he flows with the tide that goes towards his goal. And when the Ijaw man died in a very going age of 47, Awo took over and from there achieved his political goal. Though he committed suicide many years after.
Bros, have you ever wondered what killed your kinsman? What killed Ikoli?

Humn! The Bible says, wisdom is profitable to all.

Okay according to u Awo supported An Ijaw man because of wat he wants to benefit.. nw answer this question, Y do u support GEJ ?

Don't tell me u luv Us, U never love SS minorities..

Goodboiyy:


Kindly ask the fool if East is same as south,

Don't know much about ijaw/Yoruba political relationship.. but I think the tribe that Awolowo align with during the early 60's re the itsekiris, they benefitted more than any other tribe.. beside I never knew ikoli was an ijo man.. the name sound yoruboid..

Well, I still can't believe that a minority(Ijaw) will be supported by prominent Yorubamen in an election that involved fellow yorubamen in yorubaland.

But, I don't think only the Ijaws benefited from Awo. In Warri, Awolowo as Western region premier ensured that no group was cheated. If he wasn't magnanimous he would have done what other two regions did by turning their backs to the agitations of minorities in their regions.

Like I always maintain, we should ditch sentiment sometimes by giving credit and honor to whom it is due.

Goodboiyy:


Okay according to u Awo supported An Ijaw man because of wat he wants to benefit.. nw answer this question, Y do u support GEJ ?

Don't tell me u luv Us, U never love SS minorities..

You are minding that joke of the century.

There must have been something very unique in Ikoli for Awo to have supported him against his kinsmen.

papparatzzi2013:


God will bless you for saying the truth and for making some embittered people to be more people to their peril.

He also honoured the referendum on the creation of Midwest region.

If you read the midwest agitation, it preceded Awolowo. The agitation was not because Awalowo neglected the midwest ethnic nationalities, it was simply because the midwesterners wanted government closer to them... Till date, they remain the only people to have got their demand through referendum in an independent Nigeria.

TonyeBarcanista:

Maybe some misguided and ignorant politicians, I don't think any Ijaw or southern minority can fault Awo. Apart from his role in Ikoli's political fortune, Awo also created Ministry of Midwest just to pacify the midwersterners(now Edo and Delta) when they agitated for a region of their own because he doesn't want Western region to split. In fact, the Southern minorities in present day Rivers/Bayelsa/Cross-River and Akwa Ibom states at that time were agitating for Rivers and Calabar region, the Eastern Region not only opposed it but didn't give us any special ministry to at least pacify us. The North never did likewise to the agitating middlebelt.

Was it not Awolowo that advised Gowon to give us Rivers and Cross river states(now Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross river and Akwa ibom) after years of agitation?

So what are you implying? East(Igbos) are your enemy? Have you forgotten so soon? Those who failed to study history are doomed to repeat the terrible mistakes of their forefathers. Lest I forget, intelligence is a terrible thing to waste.

BTW. . .

papparatzzi2013:


You are minding that joke of the century.

There must have been something very unique in Ikoli for Awo to have supported him against his kinsmen.

I'll rather say there is something unique about Awo to support someone for a local election instead of his kinsman. I think the southern minorities are loyal to their benefactors and this has been working for us.

For instance, in Boro's memoir, he wrote lots of pleasant things towards Tafawa Balewa, Yakubu Gowon and the North...

Prof Tekene Tamuno, an Okrikan was appointed VC of University of Ibadan between 1975 and 79. Before then, he was a Head of Department and Dean of Faculty of the school. Imagine a school like UI having an Ijaw VC... In fact, he became 'yorubanised' and even married a Yorubawoman.

Professor David West is another Ijawman that doesn't joke with the yoruba-nation. This show of loyalty is very common with ethnic nationalities in the South.

Personally, I don't joke with ANY of my benefactors.