AWO

⊺ɦɛ ֆǟɢɛ: 𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗘𝗙 𝗢𝗕𝗔𝗙𝗘𝗠𝗜 𝗔𝗪𝗢𝗟𝗢𝗪𝗢 🌟

*The last two years of Chief Obafemi Awolowo as Premier of Western Region was concentrated on efforts to develop YORUBALAND and write his own name in the book of Legends.*

He incorporated: *Western Hotels* which invested in:

1) _Premier Hotel,

2) _Lafia hotels in Ibadan

3) _Lagos Airport Hotel respectively.

He set up:

*Western Nigeria Development Corporation* to finance mega corporations. This was established in 1958.

It encouraged plantation development with six agricultural plantations covering 20,517 acres in collabo-ration with Cooperative societies, eleven additional plantations covering 8,468 acres with crops ranging from Cocoa , Rubber, Oil Palm, Citrus, Cashew and Coffee had been put in place all over the region.

WNDC, a clearing house for multitude of companies, established for the rapid industrial development and revolution of the region.

Among them were:

1. _WAPCO at Ewekoro for cement, with enough capacity to serve the whole country.

2. _Nigerite Ltd, producing asbestos and roofing sheets,

3. _National Bank,

4. _Wema Bank,

5. _Nigerian General Insurance,

6. _Great Nigeria Insurance,

7. _Gravil Enthoven and coy,

8. _Vegetables Oil Ltd,

9. _Cocoa Processing Industry Ogba Ikeja,

10. _Odua Textile Mills Ltd,

11. _Wrought Iron Ltd,

12. _Union beverages Ltd, 13. Sungass company,

14. _Wemabod estates, owner of Western House tallest building, then on Broad Street, and other es-tates,

15. _Western livestocks,

16. _Fisheries services Ltd,

17. _Caxton Press,

18. _Epe Plywood,

19. _Asakar Paints,

20. _Nigeria Crafts and Bags Ltd,

21. _Nipol Plastics in Ibadan,

22. _Phoenix Motors.

Also, he opened up biggest industrial layouts in:

i. Ibadan, Oluyole and

ii. Lagos Oba Akran axis and

iii. *Ilupeju in Mushin axis with over 120 factories* for mass production of different needs & gave birth to:

23. _Nigeria Textile Mills,

24. _West Africa Breweries,

25. _Dunlop Tyres,

26. _Crittal Hope Aluminum,

27. _Tower Aluminium,

28. _Solel Boneh,

29. _Nidogas,

30. _Nigeria Wire and Cables in Ilupeju.

Odua Investments was the largest conglomerates in Nigeria as at 2004 with assets worth over N10 tril-lion.

Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo paid the Western Nigeria Civil servants, the highest salaries far above Federal government.

So much jobs were created by vast industrialisation drives.

All these were achieved without Oil revenue between1951-1959. He also touched the road construction with bitumen & laid road network covering over 2,000 kilometers throughout the region.

Other achievements of his regime are:

1. _Cocoa House, the tallest building in West Africa for decades,

2. _Liberty Stadium, the most modern in the entire African,

3. _Western Nigeria Television & Broadcasting Service (WNTV/WNBS), the first Radio & Television Sta-tions in Africa,

4. _Many General Hospitals and Dispensaries in rural area.

5. _Free Education at primary school level.

6. _His effort in Cooperative society development gave birth to establishment of Cooperative Bank in 1953 and Cooperative College.

The eight years most of this present Governors spend, was the same with Pa Awolowo, covering what comprises 8 states nowadays, yet he achieved so much. Most of our present day Governors could not mention one world class company, corporate institution or industry set up to create jobs for teaming youths being turned out year in, year out, by our ivory towers.

Today leaders should at least emulate our late sage foot steps instead of all the temporary empower-ment programs (Motor cycle, Keke Napep, Pepper grinding machine, Cassava grinding machine, Deep freezer, Fridge, Clipper etc) being used to cajole the electorates at the turn of election every four years.

A time will come in this nation that people aspiring for position must show a well laid out plan before the electorate.

The cash and carry politics will fail as it's the practise in developed nation.

Let us always look forward to lasting legacies.

*OBAFEMI AWOLOWO* was obviously ahead of his peers and till today no living or deceased Nigerian has surpassed his achievements.

You wonder why the southwest Nigeria did well.

In the 1990s, Nigeria Textile Mills, Oba Akran Ikeja alone employed over 4,000 workers before the mili-tary mismanagement of economy killed the company with unfriendly company policies

*Can we ever find a leader like this man in Nigeria again?*

*Indisputable fact*

 

ᴄᴏᴘɪᴇᴅ ғʀᴏᴍ: 𝑶𝒑𝒆 𝑶𝒍𝒖𝒘𝒂

Sage, Pa Awolowo Lives on

Comrade Bamidele Atoyebi 

As a man who was born on the night Awolowo passed, my parents' Igbo neighbour said to my Dad; Awolowo has returned back to us. This single statement has made me to be very conscious of who I am as an Awoist, spiritual, body and soul. 

Awolowo was a main issue in Nigeria politics, says former president Ibrahim Babangida and still a main thing till now. Whether free or incarcerated, every political decisions in Nigeria till date revolves around Awolowo's person political theories. 

When Awolowo died, many people who believe in his political Ideology thought it's over for them and Nigeria, yet, they didn't know that he invisibly lives among us daily through his various political theories that some top politicians and decision makers still practice today.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a man who's a walking carrier of Obafemi Awolowo political spirit. So you can't love Awolowo and hate Tinubu. They're both siamese twins. Many who claimed to love him didn't even know the Ideology he practiced. 

Awolowo is of the school of thought of Democratic Socialism,  that's his Ideology,  Kwame Nkruma of Ghana was his political mentor. Kwame Nkruma had said; the freedom of Ghana is not yet complete until all Aftica is free, so Awolowo sent some of his young mentees to Ghana to go and understudy Kwame Nkruma style of politics.  Part of those young people was Pa Ayo Adebanjo. 

So my question is why did Baba Ayo Adebanjo hate Bola Ahmed Tinubu till his death and supported Peter Obi, an Igbo man and a man who doesn't represent any political school of thought at all? May be it's beef or superiority complex. He feels,he should be the one to enjoy the political control in the South west that Bola Ahmed Tinubu is enjoying. Actually,  i was speaking as a prophet when I wrote in an opinion article that one of the enemies Tinubu has was those that feel he shouldn't be their political leader since they ate and dined with Awolowo and he  did not. Aside  the fact that Tinubu was not part of the people directly around  Obafemi Awolowo, he is far younger than PA Ayo Adebanjo of blessed memory. So the hatred is understandable but very unnecessary.  Many people around politicians and big men always feel a sense of entitlement to automatically become leader immediately the leader exits. It happened even to Jesus, Salome had told him to make his two children to occupy the highest seat of power in his kingdom but Jesus turned her down and told her his kingdom is not about power but about service. Actually this is why many people around politicians block people from coming close to them till today, they always see a new comer as a threat to taking their role or space especially when the new comer has more to offer than them. Let me not digress for too long, that's not where I am going. 

Many people don't know that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu practices Democratic Socialism as Ideology. He's everything Awolowo was,  so everyone who was an Awolowo fan or followers should queue behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Well, I knew this earlier, this was why I started following him from the age of 12. Tinubu believes in everything Awolowo believed in; in short, he advanced more than him in politics because he understands Awolowo political limitations and strengths,  so he added what Awolowo doesn't have to his political ethical practice. He bends some of his principles for greater goal, he actually tapped that from Ladoke Akintola. 

Awolowo was combative in nature while Akintola was pliable. That was their political difference but Asiwaju combined both which is why he is president Today. Awolowo was a very courageous leader, so is Asiwaju,  Awolowo believed in Taxing right, so is Asiwaju. Yes, you don't need to look further to know that he learnt taxing the wealthy and corporation more than taxing the poor in the society from Awolowo. That's where the new tax reform emanated from. That was the same place he got his knowledge of reforming Lagos tax system then that moved Lagos from a six hundred million dollar economy to three billion naira economy. 

Awolowo founded Action Group (AG), Asiwaju founded Alliance for Democracy (AD). Awolowo believed in free education and  free Healthcare care for children up to the age of 18, Asiwaju believes so strongly in the same. NELFUND,  TIVET, and Subsidzed dialysis, health fellow program among other free Medical care ongoing. When he was Lagos state governor, he initiated ilera Eko, free Healthcare for those born with deformity among others.

Awolowo believed in bridging financial gap between the wealthy and poor, same as President Tinubu. The fact is not far fetched "let the poor breath don't suffocate them". He backed this up with several initiatives like credit corp, N10 million interest-free loan for lecturers, minimum wage increment, signing and immediate implementation of FG ASUU 2009 agreement, conditional cash transfer for households and market women, and farmers cooperative loan among others.

Another parallel between Asiwaju and the late sage was in their play of opposition. Asiwaju drew straight from how Awolowo played opposition politics of putting the legs of ruling regimes to the fire by constant constructive criticism as well as taking policies and programmes of his opponents to the cleaners no matter how good they were. That is a signature approach to making the electorate feel he always have better leadership to offer. Both of them did that with precision and capped it with infiltrating the ranks of their opponents and planting informants to have adequate knowledge of how to keep them on their toes. Even today, opposition to APC is adopting the same template thereby giving impression they can do better than Asiwaju whereas the truth remains they can't scratch his successes. Awo practised it, Tinubu adopted it and even the opposition today is copying from it.

So, you can't love Awolowo and possibly hate Tinubu. Awolowo never died, he lives on.

Bamidele Atoyebi is the Convener of BAT Ideological Group, National Coordinator of Accountability and Policy monitoring and a publisher at Unfiltered and Mining Reporting.

Chief Awolowo speaks - an excerpt from a town hall interview in Abeokuta in 1983.👇🏽👇🏽

CIVIL WAR:

Question: Chief Awolowo, …Your stand on the civil war, however unpopular it might have been to the Biafrans or Ibo people, helped to shorten the war. 

Today, you’re being castigated as the sole enemy of the Ibo people because of that stand, by among others, some of the people who as members of the Federal Military Government at that time, were party to that decision and are today, in some cases, inheritors of power in one Nigeria which that decision of yours helped to save. How do you feel being painted in this role, and what steps are you taking to endear yourself once again to that large chunk of Nigerians who feel embittered?

Awolowo: As far as I know, the Ibo masses are friendly to me, towards me. In fact, whenever I visit Iboland, either Anambra or Imo, and there’s no campaigning for elections on, the Ibo people receive me warmly and affectionately. But there are some elements in Iboland who believe that they can maintain their popularity only by denigrating me, and so they keep on telling lies against me. Ojukwu is one of them. I don’t want to mention the names of the others because they are still redeemable, but ….Ojukwu is irredeemable, so I mention his name, and my attitude to these lies is one of indifference, I must confess to you.

I’ve learnt to rely completely on the providence and vindication of Almighty God in some of these things. I’ve tried to explain myself in the past, but these liars persist. Ojukwu had only recently told the same lie against me. What’s the point in correcting lies when people are determined to persist in telling lies against you, what’s the point?. I know that someday the Ibos, the masses of the Ibo people will realize who their friends are, and who their real enemies are. And the day that happens woe betide those enemies. The Ibos will deal with them very roughly, very roughly.

That has happened in my life. I have a nickname now, if you see my letterhead you’ll find something on top, you’ll find a fish done on the letterhead. Some people put Lion on theirs, some people put Tiger, but mine is Fish. And Fish represents my zodiac sign, those of you who read the stars and so on in the newspapers; you’ll find out that there’s a zodiac sign known as Pisces, in Latin Pisces means Fish.

So I put Pisces on top, that’s my zodiac sign being born on the 6th of March,….er well, the year doesn’t matter, it’s the day that matters. And then on top of it I wrote Eebudola. All of you know the meaning of that. You know I don’t want to tell a long story but………………Awolowo school, omo Awolowo, the school…… started in Urhoboland, in the Mid-west in those days. They were ridiculing my schools, I was building schools – brick and cement, to dpc level, block to dpc level and mud thereafter. And so the big shots in the place..”ah what kind of school is this? is this Awolowo school? Useless school” and when they saw the children..”ah these Awolowo children, they can’t read and write, Awolowo children” that’s how it started, with ridicule, and it became a blessing, and now they say “Awolowo children, they are good people” no more ridicule about it, that’s how it started, so the 'Eebu' has become honor, the abuse became honor.

And so when I look back to all my life, treasonable felony, jail, all the abuses that were heaped on me, to Coker Inquiry, all sorts, and I see what has happened to the people who led, who led all these denigration campaign, where are they today? Those that are alive are what I call 'Homo Mortuus' - dead living, 'oku eniyan', that’s what they are, those that their lives have gone.

So when I look back, I come to the conclusion that all these abuses which have been heaped on me all my life for doing nothing, for doing good, they have become honor, and so 'Eebudola' is one of my nicknames. So I’ve cultivated an attitude of indifference, I’ve done no evil to the Ibos.

During the war I saw to it that the revenue which was due to Iboland - South Eastern states they call it, at that time..East Central State, I kept it, 

I saved the money for them. And when they ….were librated I handed over the money to them - millions of pounds. If I’d decided to do so, I could have kept the money away from them and then when they took over I saw to it that subvention was given to them at the rate of 990,000 pounds every month. 

I didn’t go to the Executive Council to ask for support, or for approval because I knew if I went to the Executive Council at that time, the subvention would not be approved because there were more enemies in the Executive Council for the Ibos than friends. And since I wasn’t going to take a percentage from what I was going to give them, and I knew I was doing what was right, I wanted the state to survive, I kept on giving the subvention – 990,000 pounds almost a million, every month, and I did that for other states of course - South Eastern State, North Central State, Kwara and so on.

But I did that for the Ibos, and when the war was over, I saw to it that the ACB Bank got three and a half million pounds (£3,500,000.00) to start with. 

This was distributed immediately and I gave another sum of money. The attitude of the experts, officials at the time of the ACB was that ACB should be closed down, and I held the view: you couldn’t close the ACB down because that is the bank that gives finance to Ibo traders, and if you close it down they’ll find it difficult to survive. 

So it was given. I did the same thing for the Cooperative Bank of Eastern Nigeria, to rehabilitate all these places, and I saw to it as Federal Commissioner for Finance that no obstacle was placed in the way of the Ministry of Economic Planning in planning for rehabilitation of the war affected areas.

TWENTY POUNDS POLICY;

That’s what I did, and the case of the money they said was not given back to them, you know during the war all the pounds were looted, they printed Biafran currency notes, which they circulated, at the close of the war some people wanted their Biafran notes to be exchanged for them. Of course I couldn’t do that, if I did that the whole country would be bankrupt. 

We didn’t know about Biafran notes and we didn’t know on what basis they have printed them, so we refused the Biafran note, but I laid down the principle that all those who had savings in the banks on the eve of the declaration of the Biafran war or Biafra, will get their money back if they could satisfy us that they had the savings there, or the money there. 

Unfortunately, all the banks’ books had been burnt, and many of the people who had savings there didn’t have their savings books or their last statement of account, so a panel had to be set up.

I didn’t take part in setting up the panel, it was done by the Central Bank and the pertinent officials of the Federal Ministry of Finance, to look into the matter, and they went carefully into the matter, they took some months to do so, and then made some recommendation which I approved. 

Go to the archives, all I did was approved, I didn’t write anything more than that, I don’t even remember the name of any of them who took part. 

So I did everything in this world to assist our Ibo brothers and sisters during and after the war.

And anyone who goes back to look at my broadcast in August 1967, which dealt with post-war reconstruction would see what I said there.

STARVATION POLICY:

Then, but above all, the ending of the war itself that I’m accused of, accused of starving the Ibos, I did nothing of the sort. 

You know, shortly after the liberation of these places, Calabar, Enugu and Port Harcort, I decided to pay a visit. 

There are certain things which I knew which you don’t know, which I don’t want to say here now, when I write my reminisces in the future I will do so. Some of the soldiers were not truthful with us, they didn’t tell us correct stories and so on.

I wanted to be there and see things for myself, bear in mind that Gowon himself did not go there at that time, it was after the war was over that he dorn himself up in various military dresses - Air force dress, Army dress and so on, and went to the war torn areas. But I went and some people tried to frighten me out of my goal by saying that Adekunle was my enemy and he was going to see to it that I never returned from the place. But I went.

But when I went what did I see? I saw the kwashiorkor victims. If you see a kwashiorkor victim you’ll never like war to be waged. 

Terrible sight, in Enugu, in Port Harcourt, not many in Calabar, but mainly in Enugu and Port Harcourt. Then I enquired what happened to the food we were sending to the civilians. We were sending food through the Red cross, and CARITAS to them, but what happened was that the vehicles carrying the food were always ambushed by the soldiers. 

That’s what I discovered, and the food would then be taken to the soldiers to feed them, and so they were able to continue to fight. And I said that was a very dangerous policy, we didn’t intend the food for soldiers. But who will go behind the line to stop the soldiers from ambushing the vehicles that were carrying the food? And as long as soldiers were fed, the war will continue, and who’ll continue to suffer? and those who didn’t go to the place to see things as I did, you remember that all the big guns, all the soldiers in the Biafran army looked all well fed after the war, its only the mass of the people that suffered kwashiorkor.

You won't hear of a single lawyer, a single doctor, a single architect, who suffered from kwashiorkor? None of their children either, so they waylaid the foods, they ambushed the vehicles and took the foods to their friends and to their collaborators and to their children and the masses were suffering. 

So I decided to stop sending the food there. In the process, the civilians would suffer, but the soldiers will suffer most.

CHANGE OF CURRENCY:

And it is on record that Ojukwu admitted that two things defeated him in this war, that’s as at the day he left Biafra. 

He said one, the change of currency, he said that was the first thing that defeated him, and we did that to prevent Ojukwu taking the money which his soldiers had stolen from our Central Bank for sale abroad to buy arms. 

We discovered he looted our Central Bank in Benin, he looted the one in Port Harcourt, looted the one in Calabar and he was taking the currency notes abroad to sell to earn foreign exchange to buy arms.

So I decided to change the currency, and for your benefit, it can now be told the whole world, only Gowon knew the day before, the day before the change took place. I decided, only three of us knew before then- Clement Isong now Governor of Cross River, Attah and myself. It was a closely guarded secret, if any Commissioner at the time says that he knew about it, he’s only boosting his own ego. Because once you tell someone, he’ll tell another person. So we refused to tell them and we changed the currency notes. So Ojukwu said the change in currency defeated him, and starvation of his soldiers also defeated him.

These were the two things that defeated Ojukwu. And, he reminds me, when you saw Ojukwu’s picture after the war, did he look like someone who wasn't well fed? But he had been taking the food which we sent to civilians, and so we stopped the food.

ABANDONED PROPERTY:

And then finally, I saw to it that the houses owned by the Ibos in Lagos and on this side, were kept for them. I had an estate agent friend who told me that one of them collected half a million pounds rent which has been kept for him. All his rent were collected, but since we didn’t seize their houses, he came back and collected half a million pounds.

So that is the position. I’m a friend of the Ibos and the mass of the Ibos are my friends, but there are certain elements who want to continue to deceive the Ibos by telling lies against me, and one day, they’ll discover and then that day will be terrible for those who have been telling the lies.

1st photo and post lifted from:Nigerian Nostalgian  1960-1980

Now you know 

Greg Nwoko

“I do not want the children of my drivers to be drivers to my children, neither do I want the children of my cooks to be cooks to my children, nevertheless I want free access to  education for all"

~  OBAFEMI AWOLOWO

Gone are the days:

When politicians think of the.Masses. 

No wonder, their Legacy is everlasting.

Their Efforts are unforgettable.

 *Awolowo: the best of References.* 

 *Can there be someone like him again* ❓

*Grace to Grass: The Untold Story of ST Oredein, a Political Godfather Who Became a Robbery Kingpin*.

There was no one in Western Nigeria who did not know S. T. Oredein. If there was such a person, he must have just arrived from Planet Jupiter. *Chief Samuel Taiwo Oredein* was not just a politician. He was politics personified. He was a kingmaker. He was a godfather. In fact, he was the Big Boss.

Oredein belonged to the exclusive club of the seven people who partnered with Chief Obafemi Awolowo to establish the Action Group which became the party that produced the first premier of the region. You don’t know the other founders? I will tell you. They are: Abiodun Akerele, Ade Akinsanya, J. O. Adigun, S. O. Shonibare, Ayo Akinsanya, and Olatunji Dosunmu.

ST did not hold a cabinet position. He was however more powerful than some Ministers of government. He was the Principal Organising Secretary of the Action Group in the First Republic. It is on record that ST had legal authority to issue query to Ministers and chairmen of government’s statutory corporations. It was Chief Oredein that broke the news of Segun's death to Chief Awolowo.

As an acclaimed authority on political moblisation, he also wrote a book. He was the author of A Manual on Action Group Party Organisation. It was published in 1955. 

When the news broke in 1971 of his involvement in a case of armed robbery, it was greeted with shock and unbelief. It must have been a mistake, people thought. Or could it have been a political frame-up?

Today, Onigegewura brings you the story of a political godfather who became a robbery kingpin.

On April 13, 1971, Nigerians woke up to hear the news of an armed robbery attack on Bacita Road. Bacita is a small town in Kwara State. It used to be a very popular town in the past. It is the location of Nigerian Sugar Company. When the company was established in 1964, it was the first integrated sugar factory in Nigeria.  The town even has an airstrip.

The armed robbery attack was as daring as it was audacious. It was carried out with military precision. Two officers of Barclays Bank and two policemen who were in the vehicles that were attacked by the armed robbers were seriously wounded. One of the wounded persons later died of his injuries at the hospital. (And in case you are wondering what happened to the then Barclays Bank, it is the bank that became our present day Union Bank of Nigeria Plc.)

At the end of the ‘operation’, the armed robbers went away with a box containing thirteen thousand pounds. That was a lot of money in 1971. Chief Awolowo was then the Finance Minister and with his prudent management of Nigerian economy, our pound was almost at par with the British pound.

Mr. Kam Salem was the Inspector General of Police at the time. The Kam Salem House on Moloney Street, Obalende, Lagos is named after him. He directed all police formations across the country to fish out those behind the attack. The police spread its dragnet and within days of the robbery, Felix Dumeh, the leader of the gang was arrested. Nigerians jubilated when they heard the news.

Felix did not make any attempt to deny being the ringleader. He promised to cooperate with the police. He told his interrogators that although he was the leader of the gang, he was not the real brain behind the daring raid. Felix must have at some point in his life aspired to be a musician. He began to sing like a canary. He started to mention names.

The investigators listened in shock as Felix began to mention one name after another. He was not mentioning names of common criminals that the police officers were familiar with. The names of people he mentioned as his backers, protectors and shareholders were names of people you only read about in newspapers.

The first person he mentioned was a Chief Superintendent of Police at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Ibadan, Patrick Njovens. The interrogators opened their mouth in wonder. Felix threw another bomb when he mentioned Mr. Yesufu Bello, an Assistant Superintendent of Police also of CID, Ibadan. The third person he listed as his backer was Amusa Abidogun, a Chief Inspector of Police stationed in Ibadan.

The investigators thought they had heard everything. They didn’t know that egun nla ni o n kehin igbale. It is the biggest masquerade that is the last to come out of the grove. Then Felix spoke again. The name came out in a whisper. It was the name they were all familiar with. I have already told you that there was no one in the Western Region that did not know High Chief Oredein.

Iya Agba, my grandmother, used to tell me that when a child’s net catches a tilapia, the child eats it alone. But when the net catches a shark, the child must run to his father. The investigators knew immediately that this was not a tilapia. The fish they were looking at was nothing but a shark. They went to brief their superior.

The Kwara State Commissioner of Police was Mr. Sunday Adewusi. He was later to serve as the Inspector General of Police between 1981 and 1983. Ha! You remember him? He was the IGP when Alhaji Shehu Shagari was the President.

Mr. Adewusi sent his officers to Ibadan Command to investigate the matter. On getting to Ibadan, Adewusi’s officers were arrested by the three senior police officers they were sent to arrest! You are saying “Haba!” The hunters became the hunted. The Ilorin officers were later thrown out of the station! They were warned never to come to Ibadan again.

The three senior officers however didn’t reckon with Adewusi’s tenacity. He came back and got the three of them arrested. He took them to Ilorin. He also invited Chief Oredein for a 'chat'.

Chief Oredein arrived at the Police Command in a grand style. He came to Ilorin in his Mercedes car with its unique plate number: WR 6666. He expected it to be a brief meeting. He had engagements later that day in Ibadan and he had promised to be back at his base before nightfall.

Unknown to ST, the police had done their homework thoroughly. They had painstakingly investigated the case and gathered relevant evidence and related materials before inviting the political godfather. One of the people that the police met in the course of their investigation was Mustapha Adigun who was popularly called Balewa. He got the nickname from the abbreviation of his first name, Tafa! But he was never a Prime Minister. He was also called Tafa Igiripa by some people. 

Adigun claimed that Oredein was his boss during the days of politics when he (Adigun) was the head of ST’s political boys. He informed the police that in the evening of the day of the armed robbery attack, he went with his boss to the house of Felix Dumeh. In addition to his boss, the three police officers mentioned by Felix were also present. I am not sure they were wearing police uniforms for that special assignment.

Felix was said to have brought out a bottle of schnapps and some pieces of alligator pepper. He opened the bottle  and poured a little quantity on the floor and also threw some alligator pepper on the floor. Like a Chief Priest, Felix then raised the bottle of the alcoholic drink and said: “this thing wey tin we dey do, God make it no let it prove.” They all chorused amen to the solemn prayers. Felix then drank out of the bottle and chewed one alligator pepper. The four of them also drank out of the bottle and chewed alligator pepper.

Oath taking and prayers completed, Felix went to bring a brown paper bag. It was the size of a carton. He gave it to Oredein. ST was about to open the carton when Amusa Abidogun, the Chief Inspector of Police snatched it from him. Abidogun passed the carton to his superior officer Njovens, with a smart police salute. You know seniority is important in the Force. It was the Chief Superintendent of Police who finally opened the paper bag. It was full of currency.

Njovens looked suspiciously at the carton, his eyes made a mental calculation of the total sum. “How much?” He asked. Felix raised his spread left palm before saying “Five.” The senior police officer shook his head. “Is that the arrangement? Before, the arrangement was seven” Felix began to fidget. “The boys are too many on it.” Well, half a loaf of bread was still bread. Five or Seven, Njovens was not one to reject money. Akosapo la n ko owo. The proper way to reject money is to put it in your pocket, as Iya Agba used to say.

Oredein was stunned when he arrived at the police headquarters to meet both Adigun and Felix. Commissioner Adewusi asked them to repeat what they told the police. They did. In the presence of Oredein, Felix confirmed Adigun’s statement that it was Oredein that first received the carton of money from him before Abidogun snatched it from him.

The former Principal Organising Secretary of the Action Group looked blankly at Felix. With a straight face and a deadpan expression, he denied knowing Felix or ever visiting his house. Njovens, Bello and Abidogun also made feeble attempts to deny knowing Felix. Later they started to beg the future IGP to assist them because it was the devil that actually used them to collect the money. “Ise asetani ni. Mo fi Anabi ati Jesu Krisiti beyin!” That was from Alhaji Amusa Abidogun, the Chief Inspector. He offered to return part of his own share.

Chief Oredein, the master strategist, realized that the cards were stacked against him. He checked his sleeve to see whether he had an ace he could use. He found none. It was then he reluctantly admitted that all that Adigun who was also known as Tafa Igiripa said was correct. However, the Chief denied that the money was in one-pound denomination as stated by Adigun. Adigun maintained his stand. Finally, ST nodded his head that the money was actually in one-pound denomination.

It was over the radio that people heard the news. Chief Oredein had been arrested and would be arraigned in Court for armed robbery! Armed robbery! It must have been a case of mistaken identity. It could not have been the Chief S. T. Oredein that they knew. Armed robbery! Ki lo pa alaso funfun ati alaro po? What could have been the connection with the owner of a white cloth and a dyer? 

In truth, Chief Oredein was not a poor man by any standard. Everybody knew he was a man of means.  Ohun ti a ko mo ni a ko mo, eni ti o ba ti ri oyun oyinbo ti mo pe omo pupa ni o ma fi bi. It is a well-known fact that the product of a white woman's pregnancy would always be fair in complexion. Between 1942 and 1962, Chief Oredein had erected six buildings. And mind you, we are not talking of four-bedroom ‘boys quarters’ in a village o! We are talking of real buildings in strategic locations. Four of the houses were at Ibadan. He built one at Oshodi. The sixth building was in a prime area in Ikeja.

What of automobiles? ST had a total of nine vehicles, including cars and lorries for both his business and personal use. He was not only sagacious on the political field. He was also productive in the other room. He was blessed with more than 30 children.

Finally the day of the trial arrived. People had travelled all the way from Lagos, Ibadan and Ogere to Ilorin to confirm whether it was truly the Chief Oredein that was arrested. To the surprise of many of his supporters and friends, it was the author of the book on political organisation himself that was brought to court.

ST was arraigned alongside the three senior police officers. They were charged with abetting the commission of a robbery and of receiving stolen property as well as offence of harbouring known offenders. In other words, they were charged with receiving 5,000 pounds from the armed robbers in order to screen them from legal punishment for the offence.

It was a criminal trial like no other. It was a battle of giants. Chief Oredein and Patrick Njovens briefed Chief Rotimi Williams to appear for them. Bello and Abidogun retained the services of Mr. Richard Akinjide. The prosecution was led by the Director of Public Prosecutions for Kwara State, Mr. Anthony Ekundayo. The three senior lawyers proved their mettle.  

The trial judge was a relatively young judge, having been appointed to the Bench only two years before the trial. However, what My Lord Justice Moradeyo Adesiyun lacked in age, His Lordship made up with uncommon brilliance and exemplary courage.

At the trial, Chief Oredein testified that on the day of the robbery he was at his hometown, Ogere having left Ibadan around 6.30pm on that day and only came back to Ibadan the following day. He admitted that it was true that Adewusi confronted him on May 26 with Felix Dumeh but he stated that he denied there and then the allegations of Dumeh. His principal witness was his solicitor who claimed that he was with Chief on April 13 from about 3pm to 11pm. Chief also called an Imam and a farmer as his witnesses. They all testified that he was at Ogere on the evening of April 13.

The trial was not only being conducted in the courtroom. From Ilorin to Ibadan, From Lagos to Enugu, From Port Harcourt to Ile-Ife, people were also busy conducting their own versions of the trial. Would the young judge be able to convict ST if he was found guilty? Would AG leaders allow their former colleague to go to prison for robbery?

When His Lordship adjourned the matter to December 28, 1971 for judgment, speculations began afresh. It was said that it was to enable the judge to release the accused before the end of the year. Some said that thanksgiving services had been planned to coincide with the New Year. All Nigerians waited with bated breath for the judgment day.

Finally, the day arrived. It was a Tuesday. It was three days after Christmas and three days before the New Year.

The four accused persons were brought to the Court in a Black Maria. If ST felt any apprehension, it was not apparent. As he was led to the court, Oredein gave the sign of victory to the crowd of spectators who had come from far and near to hear the verdict. It was a good sign. It was a sign of victory. His people became happy.

Hon. Justice Moradeyo Adesiyun began by reviewing the charges against the four of them. His Lordship extensively analysed and appraised the evidence. When His Lordship noted the fact that the accused were not at the scene of the crime, Oredein turned to smile at the people in the courtroom. He would soon be on his way home.

Then came the moment. His Lordship found that though the accused persons were not physically present at the scene of the armed robbery, they had prior knowledge of the robbery before it took place and that the three of them who were police officers did nothing to prevent the robbery. His Lordship also found that they all received proceeds of the robbery.

Justice Adesiyun therefore came to the conclusion that the accused persons were guilty of the charges against them.

Chief Oredein could not believe his ears. Guilty as charged? He was not going to be free? His native cap which he had been holding, in deference to the authority of the court, clattered to the floor with a thud. The High Chief from Ogere Remo stood still as if he was Opa Oranmiyan in Ile-Ife. It was Yesufu Bello who was standing beside him that nudged him back to reality. “Chief, 'they' are asking if you have anything to say.”

Oredein had not prepared any allocutus. He had not expected to be convicted. Ko si eni ti o gbe oju fifo le adiye ori aba. Who could have imagined that a mother hen would fly off from her hatchery? You don't know allocutus? It is another Latin word they taught us in Law School. It is a statement made by a defendant who has been found guilty before he is sentenced. It is like 'A beg, tamper justice with mercy' that a Lagos bus driver would tell you after breaking the side mirror of your Range Rover.

Allocutus or no allocutus, something must be said. The court had only convicted, His Lordship had not yet pronounced their sentences. Perhaps something could still be done. His eyes scanned the crowded courtroom. It appeared he was looking for someone or something. Whatever he was looking for was not in the court. He turned back to His Lordship.

Oredein pleaded for leniency. In a very moving voice, he informed the court of his past travails: “First it was the treasonable felony and conspiracy trial, but I was acquitted at the Supreme Court. Second, the Aberenla murder trial came, and I was in custody for 11 months before I was freed at Ijebu-Ode High Court. I humbly plead for Your Lordship’s forgiveness.”

Of course you know the treasonable felony trial the Chief referred to. The Aberenla trial he mentioned was the case over the murder of Ogunkoya Aberenla who was the Leader of Ogere Remo's branch of Nigerian National Democratic Party of Chief Ladoke Akintola (Not to be confused with the party of the same name established by Herbert Macaulay in 1922). Aberenla's body was never found. Onigegewura will write about his mysterious disappearance soon. 

Justice Adesiyun looked at the accused persons. “If you had any conscience, you should drop your heads in shame.” His Lordship observed that they were lucky not to have been caught by the amendment to the Robbery and Firearms Decree which provided death by public execution for convicted armed robbers and those found to have aided and abetted armed robbery.

His Lordship therefore sentenced each of them to life imprisonment. There was no Federal Court of Appeal in those days. It was only Western State that had a Court of Appeal and Kwara was not part of Western State.

The four of them ran all the way to the Supreme Court.

On May 3, 1973, the Supreme Court delivered its judgment. My Lord Justice Coker who delivered the judgment of the apex court dismissed the appeal of all the convicted persons and affirmed the life sentences imposed on them by the trial court.

Chief Rotimi Williams later became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. Mr. Richard Akinjide became a Chief, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and Attorney General of the Federation. Mr. Anthony Ekundayo, the DPP, was elevated to the Bench as a Justice of the High Court of Kwara State. The trial Judge, My Lord Adesiyun was also elevated. His Lordship served as the Chief Judge of Benue State from 1976 until his retirement in 1985.

History Does Not Forget! Historian is not a judge, History is.

History never forgets.

Here was a Man that appeared in the World, lived and died at a time far before the world would be ready to comprehend and accommodate him. May his excellent soul continue to dwell in the bliss of his Maker.

:

*Chief Obafemi Awolowo's allocutus during his treasonable felony trial in 1963.* 

CHIEF OBAFEMI AWOLOWO’S HISTORIC COURT SPEECH IN 1963 SHORTLY BEFORE HIS SENTENCE FOR TREASONABLE FELONY BY JUSTICE GEORGE SOWEMIMO

“I must say with respect, and this may have to be taken up with a higher tribunal, that I do not agree with your lordship’s verdict and the premise on which it is based. For upward of 30 years, I have been in politics in Nigeria. During this period, I have operated in various important theatres in the life of this great federation. I have fought against British imperialism and enthroned Africans in positions which, 20 or more years ago, they never dreamt of occupying. I have been an unyielding advocate of Federal Constitution for Nigeria. I have all along, with other leaders of this country, been a very active and constructive participant in all the constitutional conferences which have taken place since 1953 and which have culminated not only in the attainment of independence, but also in the production of a constitution of which Nigerians are very proud. This constitution is now being gradually violated.

“I have also fought against anything which savours injustice. It is thus an irony of history that as one of the architects of Nigeria’s three years of independence, I have spent almost half of Nigeria’s independence under one form of confinement or another. Since 1957, I have fought as your lordship remarked, with vigour against the feudal system in the Northern Region and for its eradication. I have also fought to prevent the spread of this evil political system to other parts of Nigeria. During the same period, I have also advocated the breaking up of the Northern Region into more states in order to have true federalism in Nigeria, to preclude the permanent subservience of the people of Nigeria to the autocratic ruling caste in the North, and to preserve the peace and unity in the country.

“In short, I have always fought for what I believe, without relent, or regardless of consequences to myself. I have no doubt, and I say this without any spirit of immodesty, that in the course of my political career, I have rendered services to this country which historians and the coming generations will certainly regard as imperishable. Naturally sir, in the course of my long, turbulent and active political life, I have attracted to myself a sizable crop of detractors and political adversaries. Similarly, I have, in the course of this long career, seen both triumphs and set-backs; and I have met them with equal minds. Peter, not Peter the Apostle, but Peter the hero of Hugh Walpole’s novel, entitled. ‘Fortitude’, said, ‘It isn’t life that matters but the courage you bring into it’.

“After life had done terrible things to Peter, he heard a voice that said to him, among other things, ‘Blessed be all sorrow, hardship and endurances that demand courage. Blessed be these things, for all of these things, cometh the making of a man’. In the words of Peter, therefore, my lord, I declare (not that I have heard a voice), blessed be your verdict, and I say in advance, blessed be the sentence which your lordship may pass on me. I personally welcome any sentence you may impose upon me. At this moment, my only concern is not for myself but for the fact that my imprisonment might do harm to Nigeria for three reasons:

“First, the invaluable services which I have hitherto rendered, and which I can still render, will be lost to the country – at least for a season. Second, there might be a heightening of the present tension which has lasted 15 months and has done incalculable injuries to the economy of the country.  Third, for some time to come, the present twilight of democracy, individual freedom and the rule of law, will change or might change to utter darkness. But after darkness, and this is commonplace, comes a glorious dawn. It is therefore with a brave heart, with confident hope and with faith in my unalterable destiny that I go from this twilight into the darkness, unshaken in my trust in the providence of God that a glorious dawn will come on the morrow. My adversaries might say ‘who am I to think that if I am imprisoned, the country might suffer? What if I die?’ The point, of course, is that I am still alive and will not die in prison. Furthermore, the spirit of man knows no barrier, never dies, and can be projected to any part of the world.

“This being so, I am confident that the ideals of social justice and individual liberty, which I hold dear, will continue to be projected beyond the prison walls and bars until they are realized in our lifetime. In this connection, I must stress that in this very courtroom, indeed in this dock and the entire federation of Nigeria, the spirit of a new Nigeria is already active and at work. The spirit working through constitutional means, which I have spent the whole of my lifetime to advocate, is sure to prevail before very long to the delight, freedom and prosperity of all and sundry.

“Before I close, I must say that in spite of the delay in the past few weeks on the part of your lordship in giving judgment in this case and in spite of my disagreement with your verdict which I have just given expression to, I must acknowledge your lordship’s patience throughout the trial of this case. Particularly, I want to thank your lordship for the due and especial consideration which you have always accorded me and the other accused persons. I thank your lordship and I am prepared to abide by your sentence”.

Source: Histfeed

*CHIEF OBAFEMI AWOLOWO'S RESIGNATION LETTER FROM THE FEDERAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL DATED JUNE 13, 1971 TO GENERAL YAKUBU GOWON*

Olusegun Awolowo

LLB Law & International Baccalaureate…

Published Sep 19, 2016

*June 3, 1971.*

*My dear Commander-in-Chief,*

*You will recall that in a statement made by me and published in the SUNDAY TIMES of March 30, 1969, I declared, among other things, as follows:*

*“Even at the federal level, I have no desire whatsoever, and I certainly cannot be tempted or induced to develop one, to head, or participate in an unelected or even an electoral-college elected civil administration in a military or any setting. At the moment, I am participating in the activities of the military government because I have been invited, and I also think it is right, so to do. I am, therefore, obliged, morally and for the purpose of keeping Nigeria united, to take part, as fully as I can, in any measure designed, in particular, to keep the Ibos as a constituent ethnic unit in the federation of Nigeria, enjoying equal and identical status and benefits with other ethnic units, and in general, to preserve Nigeria as an economic and political entity.”*

* I should have, in accordance with this declaration, relinquished my present offices soon after the end of the civil war in January last year.

* But one main matter decided me against such an immediate course of action. 

* As you know, before January 1970, the four-year development and reconstruction plan had been under active preparation, and it had been hoped that it would be launched early in the 1970/71 fiscal year. 

* It was my strong desire to participate in the consideration of this plan. 

* As it turned out, however, the plan was not actually considered until August 1970.

* By that time, three other factors had supervened.

* First, the capital estimates for 1970/71 had been delayed until the launching of the four-year development plan, which did not take place until November last year. 

* At this late stage, I decided that the capital estimates of 1970/71 should be incorporated into those of 1971/72.

* Second, by November 1970, the time for the introduction of the 1971/72 budget was only some four months away.

* Third, as from September 1970, our foreign exchange position had started to undergo an unusual rapid deterioration. 

* It occurred to me, in all these circumstances:

*That it would be untidy for me to leave without completing the budget for 1970/71;*

*That it would be hardly fair to my successor for me to leave at a time when preparations for the 1970/71 budget had actively begun under my direction,*  and;

*That it might be interpreted in some circles as an act of bad faith for me to leave at a time when our foreign exchange was in such a bad state, and no sensible formula had been found for arresting its deterioration.*

* Now with the peace and unity of our great country fully restored and firmly re-established; with the four-year development plan already considered and launched and the capital estimates for 1970/71 completed; with the 1971/72 budget done and a reasonable solution devised for our acute foreign exchange, *I feel free to act in accordance with one of my fundamental beliefs, referred to in paragraph 1 above, and publicly declared on March 10, 1969-EIGHTEEN CLEAR MONTHS before the military government’s political programme was announced by you on October 1, 1970.*

*I would, therefore, like to notify you that, with effect from July 1, 1971, I am no longer willing to continue in the offices of Federal Commissioner for Finance and Vice-President of the Federal Executive Council.*

*Supplementary to the forgoing, there is another important reason for my present action. After four truly (I hesitate to say exceedingly) exacting (though thoroughly stimulating and educative) years in the Federal Ministry of Finance which, throughout the period, was incessantly beset with fiscal and monetary problems of unprecedented dimensions, and of peculiarly complex and tantalizing nature, I deem it to be in the interest of my continued good health to have a complete change of full-time occupation.*

* As to my future plan, I have decided to go back to legal practice. 

*I also want to seize the opportunity, which the military government’s six-year political programme provides, to write, if my professional engagement permit, three books which have always been very much on my mind.*

* The research connected with two of these books will take me to selected developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, as well to ECA and OAU secretariats in Addis Ababa, the offices of some United Nations agencies in New York, and London University.

*I would like to state that though, by this resignation, I am leaving your government and literary activities as mentioned above, it does not mean that I am completely relinquishing all public services to our country and people.*

* On the contrary, *it is my resolve to continue, in all circumstances and until my life’s end, to see the best interests of our fatherland, and promote the welfare and happiness of our people, in every way possible.*

*In this connection, I would like to assure you that I shall always be willing, on a purely AD HOC basis and providing my professional commitments permit, to render, at your request and without any remuneration whatsoever, any particular service which is within my competence to give.*

* After my appointment in 1967, *I submitted to you a STATEMENT OF AFFAIRS (i.e. OF MY ASSETS AND LIABILITIES) as at June 30, 1967. In keeping with the code of conduct to which I subscribed, I am obliged to send you my statement of affairs as at June 30, 1971.*

* It is, however, not possible to send the statement along with this letter. *But my accountants are already working on it and as soon as it is finalized up to June 30, 1971, I shall forward it to you.*

* In closing, I would like, in all sincerity, to say two things:

*Firstly, I have tremendously enjoyed working with you; and it is not without considerable reluctance, therefore, that I have to take this step.*

*Secondly, I will always remember with deep gratitude, your kindness to me in releasing me from prison, and in giving me, within a year of my release, an opportunity to serve our people of Nigeria once again in a ministerial capacity, and at a time when the very existence of our fatherland was in grave peril.*

*With best wishes to Victoria and your good self, and love to Ibrahim.*

Yours very sincerely,

*OBAFEMI AWOLOWO.*

*GENERAL YAKUBU GOWON'S REPLY:*

*My dear Chief,*

*I wish to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated June 3, 1971, intimating me of your decision to relinquish your appointments as the Vice-President of the Federal Executive Council and Federal Commissioner for Finance with effect from July 1, 1971.*

*For some time, there have been rumours about your leaving the government, but I was sure, however, that if there was such an intention you would have not hesitated to notify me.*

*Since I know that you must have taken your decision after the most careful consideration, no useful purpose would be served by any attempt to make change your mind.*

*It is, therefore, with the greatest regret and reluctance that I have to concede to your request.*

* In accepting your decision, I would like to place on record my personal appreciation of your most valuable contribution to our achievements during the last four years.

*You have earned for yourself respect from all of us who have seen you at close quarters, for your patriotism, coupled with a strong well-meaning conviction on issues of national importance.*

*I respect your maturity, objectivity, and sagacity, all of which you placed at my disposal; above all, for your advice and co-operation at all times.*

*Your outstanding performance as this government’s Commissioner for Finance during one of the most critical and turbulent periods of our history will always be remembered. You demonstrated, consistently, great courage, forthrightness, leadership, and a spirit of understanding which helped us to get out of our financial disaster.*

*That we did not succumb to the temptation to devalue our currency during the crisis and were able to win the war entirely out of our own resources and face resolutely the immediate post-war problems of rehabilitation, reconstruction and reconciliation was due, in no small measures, to your skill in the management of our finances.*

*I am aware that your position in this government, particularly as Commissioner for Finance, will be difficult to fill. However, I have a consolation in the fact that during your tenure of office, you laid a sound foundation on which your successors could build and carry on the good work.*

*I have no doubt that, at this moment, you will have the feeling that you have done your best. I share your feelings, too; and wish to extend my appreciation of the contribution of your dear wife who had had to bear more than her share of domestic burdens as a result of your public assignment.*

*I am glad to note and to accept your offer to hold yourself in readiness for assignment which the Federal Government may consider necessary to give you even when you will no longer be directly associated with public life.*

*Since there will be occasions soon for me and your colleagues in government to state our assessment of your contribution to the service of this nation in the last four years, I now merely wish to say how sorry I am to lose your services. We will miss your great sense of humour, your debating ability and useful suggestions at all times.*

*On behalf of myself, your colleagues on the Federal Executive Council, and the people of our great country, I wish you many more years of useful life.*

*My wife and Ibrahim join me in wishing you every success in your next sphere of life.*

Yours most sincerely,

*MAJOR-GENERAL YAKUBU GOWON*

*COMMENTS*

*These letters should become national assets for the politicians to study and discern the spirit of service, patriotism and desire to make Nigeria great again.

Precious Igbokwe

*The tenses. The Structure. This is a well written letter. Brilliantly worded. Not all these recent nonsense. Politicians don't take grammar seriously. Very Wrong.*

*I have read this letter severally and I am still wondering on what aspect to comment*

*Should it be on the mutual respect between the two leaders, or the appreciation of service rendered, or the emotion of parting*

*This correspondence surely tells us more about the personality of the late Chief Awolowo when General Gowon in his acceptance letter described him thus;*

*"You demonstrated, consistently, great courage, forthrightness, leadership and a spirit of understanding .............."* Paragraph 7.

*"We will miss your great sense of humour,your debating ability and useful suggestions at all times"* Paragraph 12.

*Like I stated initially I still find it difficult to write a comprehensive comment but it is a must read for all.*

*Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo was an embodiment of service to humanity. I am a proud beneficiary of his party (UPN) free education programme which formed part of his political manifesto for our Nation. But unfortunately the cabal did not allow him to ascend to the political hegemony of our great nation - Nigeria. All the LOOBO states benefited fully from the free education project. Baba Awolowo so much believed in Educating the masses to liberate them from oppression.*

*The same judicial system that got him incarcerated in the First Republic also schemed him out and prevented his becoming the Nigeria President in the Second Republic through a non-scientific mathematical formula of 2/3 of 19 states. No apology to Richard Akinijide who later became the Minister of Justice/ Attorney General of the Federation during the 2nd Republic.*

*Nigeria will never have people like Chief Awolowo again and that's why Nigeria is in a quagmire in dire straits a Giant that's wounded and struggling. The bad people killed Chief Awolowo's son to dispirit him, they hated him, jailed him, incacerated him but he still came out good he is the greatest Nigeria ever.*

*******COPIED*******