Onlytruth:

Gators, is that video real?

Chineke!

Educated by Protestant missionaries and still a nonsmoking teetotaler, Awolowo worked his way to a London University law degree, served five years as the solid, efficient Prime Minister of his native Western Region and headed Nigeria's opposition party, the Action Group. Before independence in 1960, he was influential in drawing up Nigeria's constitution. Would Awolowo, a masterful organizer, really get mixed up in a half-baked, amateurish plot to wipe out his nation's top leadership with a handful of explosives, arms, and rebels trained in nearby Ghana?

Winks from the Dock. Indeed he would—and did—insisted Nigeria's federal prosecutor in the marathon, ten-month trial that filled 1,400 pages of testimony. Witness after witness—53 in all—came into court to testify that Awolowo planned to topple federal Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa last Sept. 21 with the help of 200 trained men, on the eve of a state visit by India's Jawaharlal Nehru.

A government witness testified that on Awolowo's instructions he had carried a check to purchase arms in Ghana. Police claimed that they had dug up four cartridges hidden in Awolowo's backyard. Although conducted with grave decorum, the trial had its interruptions. One prosecution witness complained that some of the accused in the dock were giving him the juju version of the evil eye—a wink.

Awolowo, denying all the accusations, said there was insufficient evidence to prove the case, and declared that some of the testimony was obtained under duress. In a half-hour closing oration, Awolowo frankly lamented that "the invaluable services which . . . I can still render will be lost to the country." The judge, George Sowemimo, who was openly distressed by the entire proceeding, said he had no choice but to convict. In a nine-hour decision delivered last week, he gave Awolowo ten years in prison for treasonable felony, just a bit milder than the 15-year prison term meted out to Awolowo's crony, Politico Tony Enahoro, a few days earlier.

Headless Opposition. With the convictions of Awolowo and Enahoro, the opposition Action Group is virtually decapitated. But the party still enjoys the loyal backing of Western Nigeria's predominant, advanced Yoruba tribe. The clannish Yorubas will almost certainly reorganize to challenge the North and East once more. At week's end many a Nigerian was wondering how long his country's delicate balance of regional rivalries, which has been the key to Africa's most admired democracy, could last.

Unperturbed, Sir Abubakar, a Moslem from the North, went ahead with plans to convert Nigeria on Oct. 1 from a British dominion to a republic within the British Commonwealth. Sir Abubakar will remain the real boss. The changeover will merely install a ceremonial President as head of state to replace Queen Elizabeth, who is now sovereign.

[b]The clannish Yorubas [/b]will almost certainly reorganize to challenge the North and East once more. At week's end many a Nigerian was wondering how long his country's delicate balance of regional rivalries, which has been the key to Africa's most admired democracy, could last.

Unperturbed, Sir Abubakar, a Moslem from the North, went ahead with plans to convert Nigeria on Oct. 1 from a British dominion to a republic within the British Commonwealth. Sir Abubakar will remain the real boss. The changeover will merely install a ceremonial President as head of state to replace Queen Elizabeth, who is now sovereign.

FL Gators:

I''m seriously tired of my anti-tribalist talk on NL.
It's obvious that you ppl dont listen.
I dont care anymore. . . .

udezue:

Oh yeah he had no equal in WICKEDNESS

In the backwoods of Western Nigeria last week, Yoruba tribesmen gazed unbelievingly at the strange men who tumbled out of the sky to make speeches and hand out toy balloons. Curious Hausa merchants applauded politely, as jabbering loudspeaker trucks moved slowly through the ancient city of Kano. Independence is coming next year to Britain's big West African colony, the most heavily populated country on the continent. And next month, Nigeria (pop. 35.7 million) will choose its first national government.

A national election is a new thing, and millions have never voted before, but it did not take long for Nigerians to get into the spirit of it. When the Eastern Region Premier, Nnamdi ("Zik" Azikiwe invaded Western Region territory to address one group of villagers, his opponents dismantled the bridge across the river, forcing Zik to paddle across by canoe. Zik studied at five different U.S. colleges, while his principal rival, Chief Obafemi Awolowo of the Western Region, was educated at London University. Awolowo. campaigning for votes in the Moslem North, had hardly begun to speak at one meeting when a herd of wild cattle charged across the site of the rally, breaking up the speech, as his political enemies guffawed from their safe vantage spot.

Ganging Up. Nigeria is divided into three parts. The Ibo of the East and the Yoruba of the West hate one another and scorn the less advanced Northerners. It is the North, with its huge area and heavy Moslem population, led by the turbaned Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello, that is supposed to hold the key to power.

But it is the rabble-rousin[/b]g Zik who may wind up running the show. [b]Last year he journeyed north to the Sardauna's palace with a proposal to work together to defeat Awolowo. The Sardauna was happy to cooperate, for he bitterly hates Awolowo, who for years has urged that the powers of the northern emirs be reduced and is trying to split off the large non-Moslem "Middle Belt" from the Northern Region and make it a separate state. None of the three regions is likely to get the absolute majority needed to rule all Nigeria by itself, but a Northern-Eastern coalition could make Zik the first federal Prime Minister; the North's Sardauna appears to have his own eyes on the dignified post of Governor General.

Helicopters & Trinkets. Awolowo's Action Group is fighting all out to beat this powerful combine. By far the best organized and disciplined party in the country

Helicopters & Trinkets. Awolowo's Action Group is fighting all out to beat this powerful combine. By far the best organized and disciplined party in the country

Onlytruth:

U are already dead from your deep slumber. I'm not that lazy and[b] I hardly lose. [/b]

SEFAGO:

Dont be silly, this topic was made to mock your self-serving selves. Wetin concern me with Awolowo- na that I go chop?

But it is the rabble-rousing Zik who may wind up running the show. Last year he journeyed north to the Sardauna's palace with a proposal to work together to defeat Awolowo. The Sardauna was happy to cooperate, for he bitterly hates Awolowo, who for years has urged that the powers of the northern emirs be reduced and is trying to split off the large non-Moslem "Middle Belt" from the Northern Region and make it a separate state.

[size=15pt]Sunday Vanguard was reliably informed that once Awolowo chose Umeadi as his running mate, Obasanjo sent words to Awolowo to change that choice.  Obasanjo’s argument was that the choice made by UPN did not in any way take into cognizance Nigeria’s peculiar ethno-tribal balancing.  But Awolowo and the UPN refused to shift their ground.  Their counter position was that there was need to ensure that merit was not sacrificed on the altar of federal character or quota system.[/size]

But the NPN, peopled by politicians whose main advantage bore all the signs of pragmatism ended up with Alhaji Usman Aliyu Shehu Shagari, from Shagari Village in Sokoto State.  The party then went all the way down, as if slightly diagonally to the left across the Niger River, to Anambra State to choose Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme.

Still disputed in some quarters, the NPN won the 1979 presidential elections.  Though Awolowo went all the way to the Supreme Court, he lost to the calculation of a constitutional provision which states that whoever would emerge President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigeria Armed Forces needed two thirds of the total votes cast in two thirds of the states of the Nigerian Federation.  This provision itself lends itself to the ethos of national spread and, by implication, the need for participatory mandate

EzeUche:

Thank you all for speaking the truth.

Awolowo was only a tribal leader. Even though I do not like the "Great" Zik, he was more of a Pan-African than Awolowo could ever dream of.

This revisionist stories of Awolowo is sickening. This man was pure evil. And he continues to be the most hated man in the East.

The Yoruba need to speak the truth about this man and stop lying to other groups.
Point of correction, Awolowo is not the most hated man in the east but will be the most hated person  by the future generations of liberated black people in the world, all these fairy tales of awolowo will only be told by the Yoruba people and that is where it will end,crap

sjeezy8:


I didnt even know this topic was going to be made outta what I posted. You see all these self praising goats in the other threads are talking BULL SHIOT NOW.

Awolowo during his time was cream of the crop- I give it to him


Thats real politicking right there- So in general it was Zik who solidified the "fake North" and put the middle belt under northern Hegemony, which is Why Nigeria is where it is too day. Zik na real Ode

If Awolowo was such a tribalist why the HELL did he pick an igbo as his vice- On his part he messed up and should have gone with a northern muslim.

olafolarin:

I hope my Igbo brothers will read this thread.People are just trying very hard to re-write history.Awolowo selected Umeadi on Merit and not QAuota system which still tears Nigeria down till today.

EzeUche:

sjeezy8,

A Northerner would never vote for a Muslim from the south so you must be smokin some strong Igbo. The reason being is that they do not see Yoruba Muslims as real Muslims, but as Pseudo-Muslims.

The north will not be happy until one of them is President again. Not some Yoruba Muslim.

EzeUche:

sjeezy8,

A Northerner would never vote for a Muslim from the south so you must be smokin some strong Igbo. The reason being is that they do not see Yoruba Muslims as real Muslims, but as Pseudo-Muslims.

The north will not be happy until one of them is President again. Not some Yoruba Muslim.

The North made it possible for MKO Abiola to win the 1993 presidential election, even though he never became president. Abiola's victory was possible because he worked relentlessly to win the confidence of the North. Abiola united the North for his own purpose and it worked very well for him. The North drew up most of his manifestoes for him. He even reached across both parties. He defeated Bashir Tofa, his opponent, in his own home state of Kano, and, even though his was a Muslim/Muslim ticket, he got more votes in Plateau State than in his own Ogun State.

Making this appeal in Lagos, the chairman, Berger Hausa Community, Alhaji Sanni Abubakar,

Appealing to all Lagosians to embrace peace and unity as the nation gradually marches to 2011, Alhaji Abubakar said: “Many political leaders have already been talking about 2011. To show you the humility about Fashola, the man has not spoken out rather he has remained focused on the good work he is doing. I want the governor, not only to run for a second term in 2011, but I also pray that one day he will become the president of Nigeria. “I want Fashola to become the president of this nation so that he can repeat the wonders he is doing in Lagos to cover the entire country. I passionately pray to Allah to make Fashola Nigeria’s president one day,” he declared.

olafolarin:

But it is the rabble-rousing Zik who may wind up running the show. Last year he journeyed north to the Sardauna's palace with a proposal to work together to defeat Awolowo. The Sardauna was happy to cooperate, for he bitterly hates Awolowo, who for years has urged that the powers of the northern emirs be reduced and is trying to split off the large non-Moslem "Middle Belt" from the Northern Region and make it a separate state. None of the three regions is likely to get the absolute majority needed to rule all Nigeria by itself, but a Northern-Eastern coalition could make Zik the first federal Prime Minister; the North's Sardauna appears to have his own eyes on the dignified post of Governor General.


Helicopters & Trinkets. Awolowo's
Action Group is fighting all out to beat this powerful combine. By far the best organized and disciplined party in the country, its slick politicking is worthy of the U.S. pressagents Awolowo has hired to steer his campaign. He and his aides sail through the back country in helicopters, festoon the towns with modern banners and posters, and hand out books of matches and other election trinkets by the thousands. Two TV stations—the first in black Africa—will carry Awolowo's campaign cries when they start operating early next month.

Awolowo styles himself a "liberal democrat" and favors uncompromising allegiance with the West in foreign policy. Zik swears he is not anti-West (his son is at Harvard), but insists that independent Nigeria should follow a neutral foreign policy, much like that of Kwame Nkrumah in nearby Ghana

Such sophisticated distinctions have little part in the campaigning—Awolowo and Zik prefer to denounce each other as oppressors of the people. It goes over much better.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,892822-1,00.html#ixzz0po8gH7Z9

Dede1:


What a load of rubbish. This is a disservice to humanities such as history. It was Awolowo, through Rosiji and Akintola, who journeyed to north to the so-called Sardauana’s palace treacherously begging for the position of finance minister.

Action Group was politically destroyed by the combined efforts of NPC led by Balewa and NNDP led by SL Akintola during 1964 regional election. Again, it was Azikiwe and NCNC that extended political ladder to the political remnants of Action Group that give rise to United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA).

Mind you, this report was written when the events were taking place.

Katsumoto:

Why are you always against accounts of history that do not align with your version? First you dispute Nowa Omoigui's accounts of the 60s and now the Times report is rubbish. Mind you, this report was written when the events were taking place. It is an unbiased report written by an unbiased journalist and published by an internationally renowned publication.