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Chief Awolowos Letter, What A Man by Longman6(m): 7:21pm On Aug 02, 2016 |
Dear Mr. Odutola,
I think it will be an exceeding saving of time and
more business-like if I avoid all sweet preliminaries
and go straight into the object of this letter and say
that I am writing to ask you to be good enough to
lend me a sum of £1,400 (One thousand and four
hundred pounds) free of interest for twelve years.
It is a staggering figure! More staggering indeed
does it become, when it is realised that I, who am
asking for this loan, have nothing in all the world to
give as a security for this money, excepting my good
faith and my brains which again are of value only so
long as I continue to breathe the breath of life!
Nevertheless, I here proceed to outline in brief why I
want this big loan from you. And I hope you will be
kind enough to sacrifice some time to go through
what I have to say, even though , in the end you
might find yourself unable to do me this grand
favour.
One great ambition of mine since my boyhood days is
to be a lawyer, a politician and a journalist, rolled
into one. I cherish politics and journalism as a
career. ; and I desire advocacy as a means of
livelihood. For you will agree with me that a politician
or journalist who has no money with which to support
himself and family comfortably ,is like a blade which
has no razor.
Now, at one time, I was on the verge of making
enough money with which I could proceed to England
in order to pursue the object of my ambition; but I
suffered a twist in my fortune, and I crashed. Ever
since, I have tried without success to recover lost
grounds, financially. But spiritually and
intellectually, I have made appreciable advance in
spite of towering difficulties, all of which have now
been surmounted.
As you are aware, I have just passed the
intermediate Bachelor of Commerce Examination. Next
year, I am taking the final B.Com. Having a degree is
not my goal; I hate to be a government or mercantile
employee. Otherwise, there are opportunities for me
here and there to get a suitable and well paid job
under government or one of the mercantile houses.
As you know, however, once I become an employee of
government or a mercantile establishment that is the
end to my career as a politician and journalist. I
have therefore resolved that under no circumstances
will I take up such employment.
That is just by the way. I am now thirty-four years
of age. After careful thought, I have come to the
conclusion that if I could raise a loan free of
interest sufficient to cover expenses , I should go to
England , this year and within three years, I should
qualify as a Barrister –at –law, and also obtain with
Honours the LL.B Degree of London University. In
addition this degree apart from giving me good
backing as a solicitor and Advocate will help me
immensely as a politician and journalist.
But where on earth could i get the money? Who in
Nigeria today could give £1400 free of interest to
help his fellow-man? J.Henry Doherty, Esq., of
illustrious memory who did the like to many
successful Nigerians is no more. But after
meticulous, shifting and weighing, I hit upon you.
I have no doubt whatsoever in my mind that out of
the bounty with which providence blesses your grit
and efforts as a businessman, you can well easily
afford to advance such a sum of money. I have no
doubt too that as a young and progressive man you
will be quite happy to give the money for the pursuit
of the project for which I desire it.
But then, could you take this risk?
That is the question. As I have said before, I have no
security for this loan. Moreover, I want it free of
interest. So that you stand to gain absolutely
NOTHING in the whole transaction ,except the
satisfaction that by helping me to achieve my
ambition you are indirectly or even directly helping
Nigeria or even Africa.
This risk becomes greater when it is borne in mind
that I might die in the course of my studies or
immediately after , so that, since I have no security
or surety, you stand the chance of losing not only
the money but also the satisfaction which you may
cherish that you are contributing to the uplift of
Africa. It is indeed a great risk; the greatest any
man ever embarks upon.
But, this is a big BUT, if I live, as I have no doubt I
will do, you will not only get your money back in full,
but you will , to the end of your days , have cause to
rejoice that you have done one of the most
outstanding and most philanthropic acts any human
being ever does. Among other things, I shall make
excellent use of the money while in England by
breaking records in my examination. On my return to
Nigeria, I shall strive to be one of the foremost
advocates, politicians and writers in West Africa, and
while I do all these, I shall make it a point not only
to pay your money back in full, but also to repay your
kindness and generosity towards me in every way I
can.
All the same, it is a big risk! So , Sir, I like you to
think seriously about it, and see if you can take it in
the interest of a young man who has brains ,industry
and determination to back his ambition , but lacks
the money. I know we have never been close friends,
but I have a shrewd idea that you may take the risk
and help me.
On this assumption, therefore, I proceed to the next
and last stage of this letter.
I shall not require the whole £1,400 in a lump sum.
To start with, you will help me pay a sum of
£208-13s-3d to the Inner Temple. I have already
received an application form from this Inn of Court;
and from the details forwarded, I gather that the
sum of £208-13s-3d will cover all the cost of
training as a Barrister, examination fees excluded.
When I am ready to sail, you will advance me a sum
of £100 to cover passage, provision for my family and
any other incidental expenses( NOTE: If i got
torpedoed on the way, you would certainly lose this
£100 but you will recover the £208-13s-3d).
At the same time you will remit to a London Bank the
sum of £491-6s-9d. It is out of this amount that I
shall pay the university fees for LL.B course a, and
for special courses in political science and journalism,
when I land in England. This is to say, the initial
advance will total £800.
At the end of the first year, provided I make
satisfactory progress in my studies, you will give
instruction to the bank to honour all cheques from
me drawn on this account. There will be an
arrangement to be signed by me on my return.
On my return, I shall require TWO years within which
to establish a solid practice and build a good
reputation. After these two years, I should commence
to pay at least £200 per annum either in monthly,
quarterly or annual payments. So that in seven years
after the first two years, I should pay back the
whole sum of £1,400. That will be TWELVE YEARS
from the time you help me to pay this in April or so
this year, then I should be due to pay the whole of
£1400 by April 1955.
Now, as you yourself will see, this is the farthest
limit within which I can pay the money. It may be
possible for me to pay the money within THREE to
FIVE years of my return. As a matter of fact, the
sooner I pay it off, the better. But it is much better
to be on the safe side in a matter like this. It is no
making promises now which will be difficult to fulfil in
future. On the contrary it is better to mention a
period of twelve years and pay within SIX or EIGHT
years than to mention FIVE YEARS and fail to pay
within TEN years. Personally, I prefer that I should
fail to get the loan under theses unattractive but
sure conditions, rather than succeed in getting it
under attractive but precarious conditions.
Now, this is all I have to say. You have my request
before you, and the reason why I make the request.
It is left to you to decide whether it is worthwhile to
take the risk of helping me in the manner outlined
above or not.
If you do me the great favour, not only myself and
all that are mine, but also God and Africa will be
grateful, I shall have no cause whatsoever to grumble
or to blame you, FOR THE RISK IS GREAT.
Since this is a very selfish request, I enclose
herewith a stamped addressed envelope for a reply to
be sent to me under registered cover.
With very kind regards.
Yours sincerely,
(Sgd) Obafemi Awolowo 4 Likes |
Re: Chief Awolowos Letter, What A Man by Holadpearl(m): 7:32pm On Aug 02, 2016 |
If this is true! hmmmm! these men of yesteryears were made of steel and born full of vision and pursued it with dogged determination. 1 Like |
Re: Chief Awolowos Letter, What A Man by Bethelwealthy(m): 7:32pm On Aug 02, 2016 |
Here's the memoir of a great and resolute man........... This is what Africanism means, a bold and resolute spirit, not the OYINBO -FLEX mentality that some visionless youths now raise their chip-less shoulders about...... 1 Like |
Re: Chief Awolowos Letter, What A Man by GlorifiedTunde(m): 7:43pm On Aug 02, 2016 |
FANTASTIC proposal!!! His mind was working like a core i7 processor in the days where other minds were producing like Pentium 1. That's why I am proud to be YORUBA. We raise intellectuals, not war mongers, rebels or insurgents 3 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Chief Awolowos Letter, What A Man by xprezboy: 7:46pm On Aug 02, 2016 |
best president, Nigeria and Africa never had 1 Like |
Re: Chief Awolowos Letter, What A Man by oduastates: 7:54pm On Aug 02, 2016 |
What you see here is an exhibition of what a true politician aspires to become and the values he wants to project.Yet, great men have to tussle in the same arena as know nothing. 3 Likes |
Re: Chief Awolowos Letter, What A Man by Baawaa(m): 8:03pm On Aug 02, 2016 |
Obafemi Awolowo was a reader that made him a leader 1 Like |
Re: Chief Awolowos Letter, What A Man by StOla: 8:13pm On Aug 02, 2016 |
Baawaa: I tell you, he that has acquired knowledge by reading, watching, researching or otherwise, would lead his peers. 1 Like |
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