Yar'Adua, Gowon, others want Awolowo's policies implemented

By Mudiaga Affe

Prominent Nigerians including governors, political associates and academics on Thursday stressed the need to implement the policies and programmes of the late Premier of the defunct Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.






advertisement


They all spoke at the event marking the centenary of the late sage.

The event was marked with the presentation of a book, "Awo: On the trail of a Titan."

The Minister of Health, Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, who represented President Umar Yar'Adua, eulogised the free education programme of Awolowo, saying he was a beneficiary of the policy.

He said, "I was one of the first set of pupils who enjoyed free education in 1955. Today, I stand up ahead of others through Awolowo's free education policy.

Reading the president's speech, Osotimehin said Awolowo was a colossus, a democratic and visionary leader.

He said, "Awolowo was a precious gift to Nigeria. He lived before his time. After his demise, we recognise that he stood up for the advancement of the people. He was known for his discipline. His policies were a benchmark for transformation even as the nation works towards sustainable economy. He had left an indelible foot prints."

Former head of state, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, who was the chairman of the event, described Awolowo as an undisputed leader of the Yoruba race, adding "Chief Awolowo is a leader no one can equal."

Gowon stated he learnt many things from the late politician including his free education policy.

According to him, it was late Awolowo who started the Universal Primary Education programme, which the Federal Government later copied for the benefit of all regions.

He said, "I copied his UPE free education policy in 1973 for the whole of Nigeria."

He described the late Awolowo as a sound politician, whose political parties and four others gave direction to the future of the country.

In his remarks, Lagos governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, said the greatest honour that could be given to the late politician was to listen to his immortal words.

Fashola stated that policies formulated by Awolowo in 1950s were still relevant in today's governance, calling on leaders to share from them.

According to him, Awolowo's policies on taxation was an idea the present administration in Lagos State believed in while his policy that cocoa windfall should be distributed to regional government then, is being used by the present state governments to get their shares of the oil windfall.

He stated that the greatest legacy of Awolowo was in his public works, adding that his foresight was challenging.Â

He said, "Let us look at the Cocoa House, the first television in Africa, the Liberty Stadium, the University of Ife, various industrial estates, his policy on education and health. I personally share the optimism of the late sage. I personally owe him unquantifiable gratitude. His contribution goes beyond Lagos. He is greater in death than in life."

Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Dr. Olatokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu, said the centenary was to inspire, challenge and renew the collective commitment to the better future of the country.

This, she said, could be achieved by refocusing peoples' attention to the lessons that could be drawn from the life and example of Awolowo.

She said, "We aim in our own small way to encourage the present generation not only to walk worthy of its heritage but also to forge a determination to do business in every sphere of endeavour and keeping in perpetual focus the verdict of history."

Others who attended the event held at the Shell Hall, MUSON centre, Onikan, Lagos included the matriarch of the Awolowo family, Chief H.I.D Awolowo, the governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Deputy Governor of Osun State, Mrs. Olusola Obada, Chief Olusegun Awolowo, former Lagos State governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande; Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade.









[
© Copyright 2006 The Punch

Whatever Awolowo is termed as is irrelevant. He did his part for the Nation at that point in time.

Some Western governors and politicians have tried to align with some of his morals. Good for them, their choice, I believe,

Why don't we have Governors from the East speaking & acting the talk just as ZIK was a great man?

Our tribalism views on everything is what draws us back, It's irrelevant where a man comes from, but what he can do for the people irrespective of their tribe of origin.

When will we learn, that a tribe alone cannot develop it's own place,

Awolowo and ZIK are Great men in history, whatever you say about them today cant change that, our Governors should thrive to inscribe their names in history,

Why the British did not want Awo
By Ebenezer Babatope

Chief Obafemi Awolowo As we celebrate the one hundred years of the late sage Papa Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo, so we will continue to inform Nigerians and all those who want to know about the life and times of this illustrious son of Africa.


I am compelled by deep inquiries of young Nigerian minds about more facts on Awo to republish today what I wrote on Papa Awolowo inside this column on Friday, April 16, 2004 (over five years ago) The article titled:Why the British did not want Awo will assist many of our young countrymen and women to really understand who Awo the Avatar was in the politics of Nigeria.


I wish you all a happy reading:-
“We must continue to talk about the life and times of our heroes past who with their sweat and labour created the country called Nigeria. They lived and died for a united, peaceful and stable Federal Republic of Nigeria. No matter our disagreements with their methods, their politics and their ideas, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Alhaji (Sir) Ahmadu Bello and Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa and Chief Herbert Macaulay were united in their efforts at creating the Nigeria that we all call our country today.


At vital and crucial moments in the history of Nigeria, Zik, Ahmadu Bello and Awolowo did not find it difficult to sink their differences and unite their ideas to confront British colonial and imperial interests in Nigeria in favour of a free Nigeria. Today, these great leaders have passed on but their historical achievements for Nigeria will for ever immortalize their names.


One leader among these leaders was not favoured by the British. Nigeria became one country through the amalgamation of the British created Northern and Southern protectorates of Nigeria in 1914, The name Nigeria was said to have been coined from “NIGER AREA” by the journalist wife of the first British colonial ruler of Nigeria, Lord Frederick Lugard.


From 1914, nationalist activities for the independence of Nigeria began. Nigerians had to pass through many historical stages ranging from the Iseyin and Adubi (Abeokuta) riots in Yoruba area of Nigeria, the 1929 Aba Women riots, the 1945 general strike of Nigerian workers, the 1946 Richards Constitution the 1951 McPherson Constitution, the 1953 Lyttleton Constitution, and the 1957 Lancaster House (London) Constitutional Conference before the British finally bowed to the patriotic demands of Nigerian nationalists for independence on October 1, 1960.


With Nigeria’s independence on October 1, 1960, the British ensured, however, that one man (a visionary political leader) did not emerge as the post independence ruler of Nigeria. The British policy makers also ensured that the man was never allowed to govern Nigeria despite the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians for his leadership. The man was immortal Awo - Papa Jeremiah Oyeniyi Obafemi Awolowo. Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu described Awo in 1987 (after the old man’s transition to eternity) as The Best President Nigeria Never Had.


Why did the British, throughout the life and times of Awo never wanted him as ruler of Nigeria? The above is a million dollar question. The first and clear answer to the question was given by Professor Wole Soyinka, the Nobel Laureate, in his book, Ibadan - The Penkelemes Years (1946-1965) published by Methuen in 1994.


On page 332 of the book, Bros Kongi did provide the following answer to the Awo question:­
“There were unforgivable crimes from the British point of view ­that had been committed by Chief Awolowo. First, his party had accelerated the pace of independence beyond what the British desired or found convenient. Next, he had attempted and nearly succeeded in upsetting the balance of power that the British had carefully nurtured for their former colony, one that would ensure the continuation of British interests and policies in Nigeria.


There was also his ‘betrayal’ of the secret defence pact between Nigerian leaders and the colonial office, a pact that was made a condition for the fulfillment of the demands for self rule during the crucial Lancaster House Conference in London.


Finally, Obafemi Awolowo had flirted with socialism, aligning his policies and ideologies with radical leaders like Kwame Nkrumah and Sekou Toure. There was simply no way that Tony Enahoro, his articulate and radical lieutenant would be let loose to continue his activities towards the undermining of the government of docile pupil Sir Tafawa Balewa, any more than they would hand over the reins of government to Obafemi Awolowo himself.


It was the British who taught electoral rigging to Nigerians, but very few Nigerians, not even the astute Obafemi Awolowo himself, was aware of this at the time”. The above was vintage Wole Soyinka a.k.a. Bros Kongi. He should know the facts he has presented, Page 362 of The Penkelemes Years gives the reader why Bros Kongi should know. He (Wole Soyinka) was sincerely involved in effecting solution to the political tragedy of the post independent Nigeria at that time.


“This is the voice of the people, the true people of this nation. And they are telling you, get out and take with you your renegades who have lost all sense of shame “. All those who will want to read more on the story surrounding the question above should read Justice Kayode Eso’s The Mystery Gunmen.


Following the points raised by Wole Soyinka on why the British hated the political guts of Awo, it was no surprise to anyone that the Action Group Party led by Papa Awo was nearly dismantled by the British and their local lackeys in Nigeria, Awo and many of his lieutenants were programmed into long prison sentences following a treasonable felony trial.


Papa Obafemi Awolowo increased the venom of the British against his person when he as the Vice-Chairman of the Federal Executive Council and Federal Commissioner for Finance in the civil war years managed the economy of Nigeria so well that Nigeria did not borrow a single penny from international finance organisations to prosecute the war. When the British government announced a devaluation of their pound sterling, Papa Awo as Nigeria’s Minister of Finance threatened the British government that Nigeria would move her reserves out of British banks if the British government should allow Nigeria’s reserve holdings to be affected by the devaluation.


The late Harold Wilson, a former Labour Prime Minister of Britain was to later describe Papa Awolowo as a leader capable of being the Prime Minister of Britain and the President of America.


When in 1978, General Olusegun Obasanjo announced the programme for the return of Nigeria to normal democratic rule, the British once again made a move to stop Awo’s desire to give to Nigeria a progressive and purposeful government.


In 1978, while Papa Awolowo was on his way to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota , U.S.A, for his annual medical examination and rest, he was met at the Churchill Hotel, London by a British M15 official who had served in the British colonial administration of Nigeria in the then Western region of Nigeria. The secret service official put it bluntly to Papa Awo that the British government would only support an

Awo presidency of Nigeria if he (Awo) would fulfill two conditions:
Awo must give an undertaking that his government in Nigeria would not nationalize British investments in the country and; Awo would always consult with the British government before announcing any foreign policy measure of his government.


Papa Obafemi Awolowo’s answer was a firm NO. Papa was emphatic on the point that he can never wish to be a robot President of Nigeria whose policies will have to be dictated to him from abroad. Few days after the visit of the British official, the late Tiny Rowland of the Lonrho group of companies, made a futile attempt to invite Papa Awolowo for dinner in London.


After Papa’s death on May 9, 1987, another officer of the British M15 who had worked in the Western region of Nigeria in the colonial days, visited Mama Chief (Mrs.) H.I.D. in London to pay his condolence on Papa’s death. The British official never, however, forgot to ask Mama, who was likely to succeed Papa in his political organisation. Mama told the official that the issue of who was to succeed Papa Awo would be decided by his associates. The official before he left Mama, particularly asked about Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande. Mama still told the inquisitive secret service officer that all Papa’s associates were hale and hearty (including I.k. Jakande). Deeply ideological minds will be able to decode subsequent events that were to emerge within the Awo political family. The rest is history.


Despite all the odds against Papa Awo, he ensured that Nigeria remained his first love throughout his entire life. Papa Obafemi Awolowo never relented in his commitment to the cause of the poor. Awo never compromised his advocacy for a united democratic federalism for Nigeria.


Despite the fact that he was never permitted by the imperialists and neocolonialists to govern Nigeria, Awo never wavered in his struggles for a progressive government for Nigeria.


Throughout his political struggles, the past (to Papa) was a story told. He always said the future of Nigeria will be written in gold.
“You Live Oh Jeremiah”.

I've been reading these lengthy articles on Pa Awo and on reading the last one, I felt a deep sense of both sadness and euphoria at the same time.
Euphoria that Nigeria has produced someone so insightful, commited and passionate to the course of freedom - true freedom for his fatherland.
and Sadness because, like Solomon says, it is vanity, when the wise man dies and only fools are left to reap and eat of his labours!

Yeah sad that after all the talk, pomp and circumstance, we're just puppets on a lonely string.
Someday, someday we will be free

Hero.

I think Awo is a national hero. My reasons are because he was instrumental to our independence. I think no matter what part of Nigeria you come from you should respect the individual. He might have had a few short comings but who doesn't. Will never consider him a villian, not even close.
But whether he's been the most relevant politically, I would beg to differ. Olusegun Obasanjo has been more nationally relevant to the nation than Awo  by a mile. I say even Zik was. But that is the biggest mystery with this man. How come he is so respected in western Nigeria (yorubaland) but is so irrellevant in other places, most surprisingly in places like the old Bendel (Edo,Delta) that used to be part of western Nigeria.
What seems to make this great man so unmarketable and downright irrelevant outside his ethnic group as compared to Zik. Zik has been immortalised in every region in Nigeria from the north to the south south. But no attempt has been made to do same for Awo outside the present day south-west.
Maybe there are things I don't know.

Awo was a ruthless tribalist. He created the title Olu of Warri to reward the Itsekiri's for their vote. This has directly lead to bloodshed between the Ijaws (original settlers in Warri), the Urhobo's and the Itsekiri.
Awo's hands are steeped in blood.

Awolowo is da devil's incarnate.
He is no hero but a villain.

BEAF,
So that Olu of Warri thing is something introduced by him? I kept wondering what was the controversy over that now I know the devil himself Awo had a hand.

He can be no hero to you, but he was to Us.  So whether people like it or not the guy introduced alot of things NO person in Nigeria or Africa introduced. While many of you clowns were uneducated/Unhealthy because school/healthcare wasn't free in the North or East, many came to the West and benefited off of what their own leaders couldn't provide, so recognise it.

The Ijo people are becoming a laughable bunch of the worst ethnic jingost by the day. How else can one but qualify the myriad claims of land ownership being mongered by this ethnic group? At one time, they claimed to own all coastal region of Westafrica. When their folly was exposed, they reduced their claim to only encompass the Nigerian coast. Since this itself is a fraud, it was further reduced to Akwa-Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and Ondo States of Nigeria. Yet, there have never been any scientifical evidence that the Ijo actually are the original inhabitants of these areas save Bayelsa and perhaps a negligible part of Rivers state. Documented evidence has thrashed the Ijo claims but old belief die hardly. And that's the problem with facts based on beliefs. In light of this, it is therefore not surprising for someone here to claim that "WARRI" was originally inhabited by the IJOs! Warri was and has never be an Ijo town or city.

It is a pity most people on here rely on hearsay to criticize this man without even reading his many works to be able to appraise his decisions from a higher and more enlightened pedestal. No one is perfect but even that should not take away or add to a man's worth, no matter who he may be.

msaalli:

It is a pity most people on here rely on hearsay to criticize this man without even reading his many works to be able to appraise his decisions from a higher and more enlightened pedestal. No one is perfect but even that should not take away or add to a man's worth, no matter who he may be.

Awolowo was completely a Murderer, It was because of his legacy as a Tribalist and Murderer that made his Excellency Otumba Akala took a wise decision to pull down Awolowos statue from Government house and destroy it, for him a man with so an ugly legacy need not to have his statue standing at government house.

"plc group
Posts: 42

Offline Offline


Re: Chief Obafemi Awolowo: National Hero Or Villain?
« #155 on: 16 December 2008, 19:24:13 »

@Okunoba,

I can't get your point. you said Awolowo had no power to stop the war? Oh he had no power but he still moved against the Biafrans who released him from jail. Now, I understand you, you said how can you allow your enemies have food during war. So, Awolowo considered Igbos enemy. I know if Awolowo was wise enough, he should not have supported the starvation of at least children hence we know that children and women are not to be killed during war.

Again, the military mostly Igbos staged a coup, and the Northerners staged their only to kill children and women and innocent civilians who were not in government. Igbo officers did not go killing children, women and those who were not in power.

However, you said Biafrans attacked Ore, but remember that Yorubas allowed Hausa soldiers to operate from Lagos, and Gowan was in the West. So, Biafrans had every right to attack the enemies in any place they operate. You claim that you are not against me, but you give room for my enemies to attack me through your land."


Where did you get the idea that women are saints and should not be killed in war?

[b]IGWE_USA (m)
Seattle
Posts: 602

Offline Offline


Re: Chief Obafemi Awolowo: National Hero Or Villain?
« #164 on: 30 December 2008, 06:10:20 »

Quote from: dayokanu on 30 December 2008, 01:28:00
Before any one talk about killings in the North please ask why Yoruba,Midwest and Hausa leaders were murdered while The eastern leaders escaped in the 1966 coup.

The is the first recorded case of tribalism in Nigeria.

Yes Ojukwus Biafra is an enemy to Awolowo because Ojukwu agressed yoruba lands in Ore and bombed Lagos.

So what should Awo do? Is it by force to secede? so because i don't secede the next thing was to agress Ore Yorubaland. That is a declaration of war!! and Awo hit back. i support him for that.


@ dayokanu

i will only advice you to go back and digest your history book.

may be U have never been to Nigeria be4, thats why vomited this venom "Before any one talk about killings in the North please ask why Yoruba,Midwest and Hausa leaders were murdered while The eastern leaders escaped in the 1966 coup"


HINT:- [flash=200,200]http://the millitary officers assigned to undertake the coup in eastern region were non-easterners or igbos, and they failed to carry out the operation as planned.[/flash] So who's fault was it?


AS for Awolowo, he is a tribalist. He should have emulated nationalists like Nnamdi Azikiwe.[/b]

What an excuse! Dear professor Igwe, since we do not know who the non-Igbo officers assigned to liquidate Zik, Akanu Ibiam and co in the East are/were and you having the source of the authentic history books; would you in your infinite mercy share with us the names of these officers who refused to carry out millitary order so we may be able to put their name to shame? Or were they at that time already unknown soldiers (ehm officers)? This hate filled young boys sha - with that I mean all you below 40 yrs of age. God help the black man but please only those who are ready to help themselves.

WilyWily:

Awolowo was completely a Murderer, It was because of his legacy as a Tribalist and Murderer that made his Excellency Otumba Akala took a wise decision to pull down Awolowos statue from Government house and destroy it, for him a man with so an ugly legacy need not to have his statue standing at government house.

It would interest you to read Awolowo's address to Western leaders (http://www.dawodu.com/awolowo2.htm) in the days leading to the civil war. he had his personal opinion but as history has repeatedly shown, he did not and could not force his own opinions down on the Yorubas because the level of enlightment was greater than a single man determining the fate of the people. That the people eventually decided not to force their own secession is no fault of Awolowo but a collective fault of the whole Western leaders if indeed secession was the best decision. On the other hand, while not condoning his excesses as may be reasoned in some decisions during the war, he eventually played a pivotal role in keeping the Nigerian economy on solid sound footing during the war which even the United States of this world could not achieve as evidenced by the huge debt US accrued in prosecuting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

How could a person be a tribalist if he sought to keep the country as one? As we all know, Azikiwe did not also support the secession bid of Biafra. Was it reasonable for them to fight for the division of something they fought so strenously for? It behoves on us to force a Nigeria of their and our dreams by shelving personal matters aside and making the country work through true federalism as they so valiantly for.

Oko,
Lagos was the capital of Nigeria and needed to captured to defeat Nigeria. It was no attack on the Yoruba people you tribal simpleton. Its the same as the MEND attack on Atlas cove in Lagos. Its FG owned. Nigerian troops captured the capital of Biafra Enugu to end the war but Biafra quickly established another capital and continued the fight.

Its called war strategy not aggression of Yoruba ppl. This is why the south can never defeat the North as 1 coz of Yoruba simpletons like you who see everything as tribal. hisss

This thread is really interesting.But more shocking is the display of lack of intelligence.
Chief Awolowo is a national hero.He founded african youth movement in Uk with Zik.
With proceeds from cocoa he built africa's first TV stattion,built University Ibadan and IFe((Premier Universities).He pursued free education at all levels nationally but because his party won in Western region,the people of the region are the most educated in Nigeria today.
Even Zik decamped to Shagari party when Awlowo was in prison.

There is no doubt about Chief awolowo being a national hero.He is one of the best Nigeria has ever had.Nigeria's best brains today enjoyed his free education policy and thats a direct challenge to the british aristocracy(which sees education as a revenue earner).

The Old western Region(including todays delta,edo and bayelsa states)enjoyed tremendous educatrional and infracstructural progress because of Awlowo's ideals,polity,politics and policy.And that is imcomparable in the whole country.

The Ibos migrated to West on daily basis to do business,get free education,medical care,etc all these are unobtainable in the east.Eastern region would have enjoyed the same progress and development but for Zik's decision to pitch tent with the Hausas thereby SELLING THE COMING IBO GENERATIONS "BIRTHRIGHT".
It is a shame that most easterners of Ibo estraction in their mid 30s can not read and write.can not express themselves in pure english.I still cant believe that Zik will allow
his people to be forced to pay for education and those that can not pay are thrown out or simply stayed out of classrooms.Most Ibos simply just stayed out of classrooms and the result is evident in todays high % of illiterates amongst Ibos within 25-40 age bracket.Trading became a succour and they went into it with full vigour.selling Okrika,spare parts,food stuffs,electronics,etc will only keep ones head above waters when other region especially west and of late North are producing engineers,doctors,etc who are potential national and world leaders.
Most Ibos of thought knew that ZIk did them more arm(in that regard) than good.
Awolowo was right when he said the Western region can stay on its own without East or North.He achieved his greatest with proceeds from cocoa.He channeled his procceeds to the actualisation of his vision because he knew that education is light.

Awolowo,Zik,sardauna,Ahamadu Bello are all national heroes and should be treated as such.But amongst all,Awolowo stands tall because of his vision and that vision still inspires todays politicians notably Governor fashola Of Lagos state.,Suswam of Gombe(who enjoyed free duaction too)amongst others.

Of all the good you said Awolowo de Murderer did for his people, why is it that Yorubas rejected Awo and install Akintola. Maybe some Yorubas noticed that Awolowos legacy will end up as Infants Killer.

^^^

Yoruba people installed OBJ too right? You guys don't even try or make sense anymore.

Awo's wonderful achievements dey inside history books, your infant killer bitterness and hatred nonsense dey inside your mind and hate filled head. That's the difference.

The joke is on you,

babapupa:

^^^

Yoruba people installed OBJ too right? You guys don't even try or make sense anymore.

Awo's wonderful achievements dey inside history books,

The joke is on you,

Am not disputing on his wonderful achievements, if he can successfully seized other people money and shared it among his Yoruba kinsmen and spearhead the killing of infants, he achieved his aim and it is inside history book too.

it is inside history book too.

Sharing this history book with us would have sufficed. Till then, you're spewing nothing but hate and bigotry.

olafolarin:

This thread is really interesting.But more shocking is the display of lack of intelligence.
Chief Awolowo is a national hero.He founded african youth movement in Uk with Zik.
With proceeds from cocoa he built africa's first TV stattion,built University Ibadan and IFe((Premier Universities).He pursued free education at all levels nationally but because his party won in Western region,the people of the region are the most educated in Nigeria today.
Even Zik decamped to Shagari party when Awlowo was in prison.

There is no doubt about Chief awolowo being a national hero.He is one of the best Nigeria has ever had.Nigeria's best brains today enjoyed his free education policy and thats a direct challenge to the british aristocracy(which sees education as a revenue earner).

The Old western Region(including todays delta,edo and bayelsa states)enjoyed tremendous educatrional and infracstructural progress because of Awlowo's ideals,polity,politics and policy.And that is imcomparable in the whole country.

The Ibos migrated to West on daily basis to do business,get free education,medical care,etc all these are unobtainable in the east.Eastern region would have enjoyed the same progress and development but for Zik's decision to pitch tent with the Hausas thereby SELLING THE COMING IBO GENERATIONS "BIRTHRIGHT".
It is a shame that most easterners of Ibo estraction in their mid 30s can not read and write.can not express themselves in pure english.I still cant believe that Zik will allow
his people to be forced to pay for education and those that can not pay are thrown out or simply stayed out of classrooms.Most Ibos simply just stayed out of classrooms and the result is evident in todays high % of illiterates amongst Ibos within 25-40 age bracket.Trading became a succour and they went into it with full vigour.selling Okrika,spare parts,food stuffs,electronics,etc will only keep ones head above waters when other region especially west and of late North are producing engineers,doctors,etc who are potential national and world leaders.
Most Ibos of thought knew that ZIk did them more arm(in that regard) than good.
Awolowo was right when he said the Western region can stay on its own without East or North.He achieved his greatest with proceeds from cocoa.He channeled his procceeds to the actualisation of his vision because he knew that education is light.

Awolowo,Zik,sardauna,Ahamadu Bello are all national heroes and should be treated as such.But amongst all,Awolowo stands tall because of his vision and that vision still inspires todays politicians notably Governor fashola Of Lagos state.,Suswam of Gombe(who enjoyed free duaction too)amongst others.

You must be living in a cave for making this statement.

WilyWily:

Of all the good you said Awolowo de Murderer did for his people, why is it that Yorubas rejected Awo and install Akintola. Maybe some Yorubas noticed that Awolowos legacy will end up as Infants Killer.

You need to get certain things right. Akintola became premier because the premier who was also the leader of the party resigned in order to move to the federal stage and as deputy premier, he was frontloaded by Awolowo to succeed him as premier. He took certain steps that were injurious to the economy of the Western Region such as reduction in tax which was going to run up a massive deficit for the Western economy and this caused friction between himself and his leader. To cut the story short, he was rejected by his party for re-election, he decided to form his own party and forge an alliance with NPC in order to make use of the federal might to win himself re-election and in the process conceded the formation of a new region from the West without a reciprocal from other regions which was the argument of his erstwhile party. It should be noted that Awolowo had been imprisoned all this while by the federal government. These caused the problems that eventually brought down the First Republic.

Awo is a Yoruba hero. he is loathed almost everywhere else in Southern Nigeria.

@ Beaf,

He was loathed in east because he was the leader they so much wanted,desired and craved for but never had.Instead they had Zik who put personal interest above national development.iN THE fIRST republic,the hausa's were a miinority tribe and its completely counterproductive for Zik to take his party to the Hausas in order to be in Govt.Zik's people are still in the trenchies till today because of Ziks lack of foresight and big-throat.
Whatever wealth Zik amassed at the time,should still be enough to cater for the teeming Ibo populace.

Awo as the premier of Western Region, only cared for the Yoruba people and Yoruba divisions. The Western Nigerian T.V was established in Yorubaland, cocoa house, Liberty stadium, Uni Ife, etc were all in Yorubaland. Despite the fact that rubber and timber that supplied wealth to the West were produced outside Yorubaland. What manner of man is this?.

Awo as the premier of Western Region, only cared for the Yoruba people and Yoruba divisions. The Western Nigerian T.V was established in Yorubaland, cocoa house, Liberty stadium, Uni Ife, etc were all in Yorubaland. Despite the fact that rubber and timber that supplied wealth to the West were produced outside Yorubaland. What manner of man is this?.

The pesin wey fed you the hand me down hate filled story left out the 50 Square Kilometer rubber plantation in Ogun state. What about the vast cocoa plantation all across the western states?

Sure, other states contributed, but be honest with facts and history, bias and hate hand me down stories shouldn't be your only source of knowledge.

Andre Uweh:

Awo as the premier of Western Region, only cared for the Yoruba people and Yoruba divisions. The Western Nigerian T.V was established in Yorubaland, cocoa house, Liberty stadium, Uni Ife, etc were all in Yorubaland. Despite the fact that rubber and timber that supplied wealth to the West were produced outside Yorubaland. What manner of man is this?.

A self centered bigot and pathological thief!!

A self centered bigot and pathological thief!!

Unless you fit prove say he was a bigot and itemize what he stole from you, you accusation is the other way around.

While Awo was on earth, he did not only offend humans, but spirits as well to the extent a mad man had to burn his statute (Awo) in Lagos. This is serious.