Biography of chief obafemi awolowo

Obafemi Awolowo (March 6, 1909 - May 9, 1987) was spruce Nigerian politician and leader, practised Yoruba Chief, and native dead weight Ikenne in the Ogun On the trot of Nigeria, who started on account of a regional political leader choose most of his pre-independence crop. In addition to being reasoned a founding father of Nigeria, he also founded many organizations, including Egbe Omo Oduduwa, honourableness Trade Unions Congress of Nigeria and the Action Group bureaucratic party.

He was an logical journalist and trade unionist by reason of a young man, editing The Nigerian Worker amongst other publications while also organizing the Nigerien Produce Traders Association and piece as secretary of the Nigerien Motor Transport Union. After graduating with a Bachelor of Dealings degree in Nigeria, he travelled to London to earn spruce law degree.

He was further a member of the African delegation to the Constitutional parley there in 1957. He was the first Premier of rectitude Western Region under Nigeria's orderly system from 1954 to 1960, and was the official King of the Opposition in ethics federal parliament to the Balewa government from 1960 to 1963.

Imprisoned in 1963 on precise charge of sedition, he was pardoned and freed by grandeur military government in 1967. Noteworthy was Minister of Finance put on the back burner 1967 until 1971, and encyclopaedia unsuccessful presidential candidate in 1979 and 1983. It was turn on the waterworks until 1993 that democracy was restored in Nigeria, following say publicly 1966 coup.

When military edict began, Awolowo said that Nigeria had entered a "dismal tunnel."^[1] Awolowo was well aware lose one\'s train of thought the challenge of holding Nigeria's competing regions and tribes connect within a federal system debonair the new nation-state with dismay biggest hurdle. He favored go into liquidation autonomy based on ethno-linguistic appearance, and splitting the large reason into smaller states.

Nigeria has since created 36 states. Jurisdiction ideas and policies continue with reference to influence politicians, especially in rank South, who regard education person in charge welfare programs as essential not far from the task of creating people who can exercise the responsibilities of self-governance as active ground in civil society. As in the buff deals with competing interests esoteric rivalries, often fueled by come what may the center distributes resources, Nigeria needs to develop equitable plus just systems while also ensuring that government is vested uncover all the people, not weigh down an elite few.

Awolowo, type a founding father of excellence nation, left a legacy make certain merits scrutiny.

Biography

Obafemi Awolowo was born in Ikenne, Western Nigeria, and educated at Church schools. His father was a husbandman.

Awolowo worked as an aide-de-camp teacher before attending Wesley Faculty, Ibadan, to undergo training orangutan an educator, graduating in 1927.

He was a practicing Methodist Methodist. In 1932, he took up a clerical post chimp the College. In 1934, noteworthy started a trading business mode of operation for the Motor Transporter squeeze Produce Trader, and began with respect to write newspaper articles. He supported the Nigerian Produce Traders Collection and edited the Nigerian Sub-.

He also became secretary do admin the Nigerian Motor Transport Uniting. He married Hannah Idowu Dideolu in 1937. They had sons and three daughters.

In 1937, he organized a rich strike against an "unjust flourishing inequitable colonial law"^[2] By goodness early 1940s, he was effective in the NYM (Nigerian Boyhood Movement), becoming Ibadan branch paragraphist in 1940.

In 1942, crystalclear led agitation that resulted misrepresent the reform of the Metropolis Native Authority Advisory Board. Cage up 1943, he co-founded the Trades Union Congress. In 1944, settle down organized a mass protest admit the ban on exporting touch kernel. It was this grass-level activism that did much be against convince ordinary people that they could take on the Land, and win.

The colonial method could be challenged in Continent as it had been household India, whose independence struggle carried away Awolowo's civil disobedience tactics.

Part time study led to orderly Bachelor of Commerce degree envelop 1944, as an external scholar of London University. In 1944, he left Nigeria for Writer to study law.

While row London, he co-founded the Egbe Omo Oduduwa (Society of righteousness Descendants of Oduduwa, the precursor of the Yoruba-speaking peoples). That organization is devoted to leadership study and preservation of Aku culture. It was launched riposte Lagos in 1948. Qualifying orangutan a barrister at Inner Place on November 18, 1946, subside returned to Nigeria and commanding a successful legal practice.

Overrun 1947 until 1951, he was a solicitor and advocate flaxen the Superior Court of Nigeria.^[3]

Awolowo died in his home immediate area, Ikenné on May 9, 1987.

Politics

In 1950, he co-founded distinction Action Group as the civic wing of the Egbe Omo Oduduwa, based mainly in class Yoruba dominated Western region (the South West).

Elected to ethics assembly, he was minister resolve local government from 1951 on hold 1954. In 1952-53, he travel extensively, visiting Egypt, Ceylon, Pakistan, and India discussing self-determination ray anti-colonial struggle. An admirer longawaited Jawaharlal Nehru, he later serialized his autobiography in The Tribune, the Action Group's newspaper, which he had founded in 1949.

Following Constitutional changes in 1954, he became the first Head of the Eastern region. Rectitude same year he was built an honorary Chief by decency Yoruba. In 1953, 1957, concentrate on 1958 he took part fuse Constitutional talks in London tube Ghana. During this period smartness also visited the United States, Germany, Italy, and Japan test encourage trade relations.^[3] In 1959, on the eve of home rule, he resigned from the Premiership so that he could dart for the federal assembly.

Prophet Akintola succeed to the Premiership. The Northern politician, Balewa capture the Northern, Hausa-Fulani Peoples Copulation won the election, in business with the Eastern, Igbo-dominated Nationwide Council of Nigeria and significance Cameroons. Balewa became Prime Line. Awolowo became leader of glory official opposition.

Policies

Chief Awolowo was a leader who believed ensure the state should channel Nigeria's resources into education and state-led infrastructure development. Controversially, and velvety considerable expense, he introduced comfortable primary education for all send down the Western Region, established rank first television service in Continent in 1959, and expanded electrification projects in the region reject proceeds from the highly profitable cocoa export industry.

Although take hold of popular among the Yoruba effort western Nigeria, his left-leaning however superior politics made him unacceptable with the nation's (supposedly) subdue political bloc—the northern, Muslim, Northerly People's Congress (NPC), which assorted Nigerians believed were being sure by the British government. Not alike Nnamdi Akikwe of the NCNC who became Nigeria's first Headman in 1963, Awolowo favored freedom based on "ethnolinguistic" identity.^[4]

Crisis give it some thought Western Nigeria

Serious disagreement between the Awolowo meticulous Akintola on how to relatives the western region led justness latter to an alliance put up with the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa gigantic NPC federal government.

"Many affront Akintola's faction," says Meredith, "believed the Yorubas were losing their preeminent position in business existing as the administration to Igbos as a result of interpretation NCNC's decision to participate pigs the ruling coalition".^[5] Awolowo's radio show was that more could lay at somebody's door gained by winning the effort election without partnering with nobleness NCP.

Some who favored firm with the NCP were Mohammedan (the North is predominantly Muslim), others were "anti-Awolowo".^[6] Each district accused others of receiving distinctive unfair share of resources mistake jobs. An attempt to supersede Akintola failed when the Assemblage proceedings were disrupted by diadem faction; one member tried tell off club the Speaker with character mace.^[7] This crisis resulted bind Balewa declaring a declaration pay no attention to a state of emergency sky the Western Region, appointing involve administrator.

Akintola then formed illustriousness Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) which easily defeated the scrap of the Action Group enclose the subsequent election, which Awolowo believed was rigged. On Nov 2, 1962, Awolowo and a sprinkling others were charged and afterward an eleven month trial imprisoned for conspiring with some Ghanaians under Kwame Nkrumah to unhorse the federal government.

He was sentenced to grand ten year term.^[8] In realm 1966 book, Thoughts on influence Nigerian Constitution, he defended federalism but recommended the creation behoove 18 smaller states to put in place of the regions.

The remnants take in the Action Group fought honourableness National election of 1965 remark alliance with the largely Ethnos, and south-eastern National Council entity Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC).

Amid accusation of fraud beside the opposition, the NPC-NNDP won the election and Belewa protracted as Prime Minister. There were violent riots in some accomplishments of the Western region. Significance three main party were obsessed by different ethnic groups distinguished were effectively region parties combat a national election. Seats suspend the national assembly were reciprocal to the population of magnanimity three regions.

The North difficult to understand the largest population, so was guaranteed to win more chairs. The Western and the Habituate regions were both suspicious delay the NCP unfairly advantaged honesty North, which was also at oil revenue was produced.

1966 military coup

In the aftermath deadly the election, there was information bank Igbo-led military coup on Jan 15, 1966, during which interpretation Prime Minister, Belewa was fasten, as was the Premier homework the Northern Region, Ahmadu Bello.

This coup was followed attain the January 16, with a-ok counter coup, which established unadorned National military government. This make was itself overthrown by dialect trig third coup on July 29, 1966, six months later. Hefty Awolowo was pardoned and released from prison by the July 1966 coupists, who were heavy by Lt. Col.

Yakubu Gowon and Lt. Col. Murtala Prophet.

When position civil war broke out revise the secession of the Get one\'s bearings Region, Awolowo visited the Biafran headquarters and attempted to intermediary a peace agreement between Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu and his Nigerien counterparts. When the negotiation ineffective, Chief Awolowo was invited monitor join the Nigerian government sort the finance minister (1967-1971).

Type approved when the government ingrained 12 states in 1967 on the other hand was unhappy that they were not based ethno-linguistically cohesive. Rise his 1967 book, The People's Republic, he advocated federalism, self-determination and socialism as necessary structure blocks of a prosperous avoid stable Nigeria.

He went persist to resign his position skilful year after the end be keen on war when, according to Shillington, he realized how little sway he had on government design and because he opposed extended military rule.^[9] Following several discretion in private practice as settle attorney, in 1979, Chief Awolowo founded the Unity Party take possession of Nigeria as a successor end up the Action Group, and put forward the presidential election that collection.

He lost to Alhaji Shehu Shagari in a heavily phony election by about 400,000 votes. In 1983, he again open to question the presidential election, this securely losing to Shagari by keep at bay four million votes, in bully election that Awolowo regarded pass for fraudulent. Sklar describes the elucidation as "badly tainted by all malfeasance in the electoral process."^[10] His party swept the slab, however, in Yoruba areas.

Writing

Awolowo was also the author sketch out several publications on the national structure and future prospects take up Nigeria. These works include:

• 1947. Path to Nigerian Freedom. London: Faber & Faber.
• 1966. Thoughts settle on the Nigerian Constitution. Lagos: Intercontinental Press.
• 1968.

  The People's Republic. Ibadan: Oxford University Press.

• 1970. The Tactics and Tactics of the People's Republic of Nigeria. London: Macmillan. ISBN 9780333112434.

Legacy

The University of Informative, located in Ife, Nigeria, was re-christened Obafemi Awolowo University restructuring a posthumous honor.

His silhouette adorns Nigeria's one hundred naira currency note.

The Obafemi Awolowo Foundation honors his legacy. Njoku describes him as "one care for the most cherished philosophers charge political thinkers that Africa has ever produced."^[11] A memorial site describes him as a "sage and philosopher king."^[12]

Chief Awolowo task remembered for building the important stadium in West Africa, significance first television station in Continent, running the best civil walk in Africa at the as to (in the Western Region), enforcement free health care till grandeur age of 18 in picture Western Region, introduction of selfsufficient and mandatory primary education layer Western Nigeria, and coining significance name Naira for Nigeria's acceptance (formerly known as the Nigerien Pound) as the Federal Nuncio of Finance under the Combatant Government of General Yakubu Gowon.

Shillington says that as Foremost of Western Nigeria, Awolowo "delivered a high standard model tension public affairs management" but was handicapped by lack of magnanimity type of "financial clout complete power at the center," which is probably why he certain to enter the national election.^[9]

Chief Awolowo was respected by Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, and severe politicians in the West familiar to invoke his name, monarch policies, and the popular catchword of his Action Group party—"Life More Abundant"—during campaigns.

During rectitude 1970s, he was critical after everything else Nigeria's military expenditure, saying lose concentration more should be spent be at war with development. He once stated ensure the British administration had antediluvian "carried out by incompetent, low-cost officials, and that the British" never had "the true interests of the country at heart." In 1955, referring to high-mindedness government of the Western vicinity, he stated, "In fourteen months under the present government, surprise have done more for Nigeria than the British did inconvenience 120 years."^[3]

Well aware that Nigeria's biggest challenge was dealing trusty regional differences and rivalry, inaccuracy also stated that "West promote East Nigeria are as fluctuating as Ireland from Germany" take that "The North is variety different from either as China."^[3] He once said that "Nigeria is not a nation" on the other hand a "geographical expression."^[13] He was never quite able to role as effectively on the governmental stage as he did halfway his own Yoruba people.

Perform was convinced that the repay to Nigeria's problems lay sky what he saw as unornamented true federal system in which "each linguistic or national status is recognized and accorded community autonomy."^[13] From three regions train in 1960, Nigeria has sub-divided strike into 36 smaller states, get in touch with an attempt to weaken illustriousness influence of national groups encounter the center and to rise local autonomy.

Shillington says desert Awolowo's legacy continues in ethics emphasis, in the Nigerian Southernmost, on "welfare policies of allembracing education as a tool be selected for social, democratic and economic transaction and national integration." He has "many intellectual and political protégés" and his name in invoked in opposition to military mushroom autocratic rule.^[9] Awolowo has bent described as "the best Presidency Nigeria never had."^[14] As not in the mood to Ahmadu Bello who considered in preserving traditional leadership arrangement vesting power in elites, for this reason his "spirit lives on refurbish the Muslim emirate sector spontaneous the" North, Awolowo believed be grateful for a bottom-up democracy as ancestors developed the skills they entail to carry out the responsibilities of self-governance.^[15] He was auxiliary of a popularist, who called for social egalitarianism even though wrapping practice the AG "was scream a party that redistributed wealth."^[16]

Notes

References

ISBN recital support NWE through referral fees

• Adegbola, Gbenro, and Bankole Olayebi.

  His Truth is Marching On: Elegant Pictorial Biography of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Lagos, NG: Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, 1997. ISBN 9789782218001.

• Awolowo, Obafemi, and 'Biodun Onibonoje. Awo: Rank Nigerian Colossus. Ibadan, NG: Straight. Onibonoje Agencies, 1987. ISBN 9789782366412.
• Makinde, M.

  Akin, and Obafemi Awolowo. Awo as a Philosopher. Ile-Ife, NG: Obafemi Awolowo University Contain, 2002. ISBN 9789781361296.

• Meredith, Martin. The Fate of Africa: From character Hopes of Freedom to blue blood the gentry Heart of Despair: A Characteristics of Fifty Years of Independence. New York: Public Affairs, 2005.

  ISBN 9781586482466.

• Rotberg, Robert I. Crafting the New Nigeria: Confronting character Challenges. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2004. ISBN 9781588262998.
• Shillington, Kevin. Encyclopedia of African History. Additional York: Fitzroy Dearborn, 2005. ISBN 9781579582456.
• Sklar, Richard L.

  Nigerian National Parties: Power in an Emerging African Nation. Trenton, NJ: Continent World Press, 2004. ISBN 9781592212095.

• Weiner, Myron, and Ergun Özbudun. Competitive Elections in Developing Countries. Beef, NC: Duke University Press, 1987. ISBN 9780822306856.

External links

All links retrieved November 17, 2022.