Awo was the best president that Nigeria never had-"Late Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu,former Biafran warlord."

In all his forty years in Nigerian politics,the essential Awo remained the same-a man magnificently gifted,charismatic,competent;Nigeria’s best finance minister to date,a leader possessed of great foresight,a sage ,a statesman, a genius.



Thirty years after,his immortal legacy is still the yardstick for measuring political correctness in Nigeria.He thrust himself into national prominence through a dint of hardwork,gift of organisation and his administrative skills.He had always been a tough and belligerent man.He fought the British colonial lords in Nigeria headlong and in the process earned their ire.His belligerence and political acumen combined to convince the British to exclude him from political power in the post colonial era.

He won accolades as an innovator and welfare state builder as premier of the defunct Western region.He left indelible marks as his legacy which are still visible for generartions to admire.His outstanding performance as federal minister of finance,1967-1971 consoldated his sterling reputation and contributed immensely to the rapid conclusionof the civil war in Nigeria in 1970.He was envied and he attracted many political foes across Nigeria.His advesaries endeavoures to block every move he made to govern Nigeria even though he campaigned harder than anyone else to achieve his ambition.As a preacher of socialism,he regarded the whole multi ethnic country as his parish.They tried to eclipse his political career by framing him with treasonable felony in 1962.Because he was firm and immovable on principles,some of his contemporaries said he was dogmatic and rigid.

He worked diligently for the masses of Western Nigeria so God rewarded him with a life span of three-score and eighteen years.He was kept behind bars for four years by his political foes before the military coup of January 1966.On his release,he agred to serve in the federal cabinet as the most prominent civilian minister to save his country from being balkanised.His financial expertise ensured that Nigeria did not go a –borrowing to prosecute the civil war.Though he assisted the military government to win the civil war in 1970,at heart,he was a democrat par excellence and gave up his ministerial appointment as soon as victory was achieved.

After the war,he bided for the presidency twice and was thwarted by vote stealing.Whatever the historian’s on-going judgement may be,Awlowo will remain an enigma for the forseeable future.His robust political record portrayed him as wise,imaginative,innovative,bold and competent.

We can count all his faults,multiply his mistakes twofold,treble his errors of political judgement but when matched against his abilities,good intentions,relentless and fierce ambition to put the country on a straight and solid foundation,vigorous and superlative achievements in public office,the net verdict is inescapable-that he Awolowo was the most outstanding statesman of his era.

He will be remembered for his democratic credentials,his outstanding vision,sagacity and as a beacon of good hope to future generations for his statesmanship,consistency,doggedness,steadfastness,transparency,dedication to duty and honesty of purpose.

Three decades after the loss of the most disciplined politician of his era and a philosopher king Nigeria never witnessed his kingship, Obafemi Awolowo looms large now and he will continue to loom into our future so long the country remains in existence. What a man!

when i remember this man all I can think is otapiapia.