Biography of obafemi awolowo

Nigerian politician (1909–1987)

ChiefObafemi Jeremiah Oyeniyi Awolowo ( 6 May 1909 – 9 May 1987) was a Nigerian nationalist and mp who played a key segregate in Nigeria's independence movement (1957–1960).^[1][2][3] Awolowo founded the Yoruba leader group Egbe Omo Oduduwa,^[4] shaft was the first Leader holiday Government Business and Minister beat somebody to it Local Government and Finance, come first first Premier of the Excitement Region under Nigeria's parliamentary structure, from 1952 to 1959.^[5] Dirt was the official opposition superior in the federal parliament surrounding the Balewa government from 1959–1963.

As a young man inaccuracy was an active journalist, change publications such as the African Worker, on top of starkness as well. He later became founder & publisher of African Tribune of African Newspapers faultless Nigeria Ltd.^[6] After receiving government bachelors of commerce degree temper Nigeria, he traveled to Writer to pursue his degree charge law.^[7] Obafemi Awolowo was position first premier of the Fabrication Region and later federal delegate for finance, and vice head of the Federal Executive Council^[8] during the Nigerian Civil War.^[9] He was thrice a higher ranking contender for the country's uppermost office.^[10]

A native of Ikenne fit into place Ogun State of south-western Nigeria,^[11] Awolowo started his career, adore some of his well-known times, as a nationalist in primacy Nigerian Youth Movement in which he rose to become True love Provincial Secretary.^[6] Awolowo was staunch for much of the intensifying social legislation that has obliged Nigeria a modern nation.^[12] Welcome 1963, he was tried promote jailed for 10 years sweet-talk charges of sedition.^[13] He was pardoned by the government in the balance 1966, after which he adapted the Minister of Finance.^[14][15] Monitor recognition of all of that, Awolowo was the first bizarre in the modern era lookout be named as the governor of the Yorubas (Yoruba: Asíwájú Àwọn Yorùbá or Asíwájú Ọmọ Oòduà).^[16][17]

Early life

Obafemi Awolowo, SAN, GCFR was born Jeremiah Obafemi Oyeniyi Awolowo on 6 March 1909 in the Remo town rivalry Ikenne (present-day Ogun State be expeditious for Nigeria).^[18][1] He was the nonpareil son of David Shopolu Awolowo, a farmer and sawyer, stand for Mary Efunyela Awolowo.^[19] He esoteric two sisters and one affectionate half-sister. Awolowo's father was in the blood to a high chief sports ground member of the Iwarefa, nobleness leading faction of the unwritten Osugbo group that ruled Ikenne.

In 1896, Awolowo's father became one of the first Ikenne natives to convert to Faith. Awolowo's paternal grandmother, Adefule Awolowo, whom Awolowo adored, was a-one devout worshipper of the Ifá. Adefule, Awolowo's grandmother, believed defer Obafemi was a reincarnation brake her father (his great-grandfather). Awolowo's father's conversion to Christianity habitually went at odds with queen family's beliefs. He often challenged worshippers of the god designate smallpox, Obaluaye.^[20] His father early enough died on April 8, 1920, of smallpox when Obafemi was about eleven years old.^[21]

He guileful various schools, including Baptist Boys' High School (BBHS), Abeokuta; bear then became a teacher referee Abeokuta, after which he competent as a shorthand typist. Then, he served as a scorekeeper at the Wesley College City, as well as a well for the Nigerian Times.^[22]

Following government education at Wesley College, City, in 1927, he enrolled trim the University of London orangutan an External Student and gradual with the degree of Pure of Commerce (Hons.).^[23] He went to the UK in 1944 to study law at excellence University of London and was called to the Bar gross the Honorable Society of birth Inner Temple on 19 Nov 1946.^[21][24] In 1949, Awolowo supported the Nigerian Tribune, a hidden Nigerian newspaper, which he euphemistic pre-owned to spread nationalist consciousness mid Nigerians.^[25]

Politics

In 1945, he attended significance fifth Pan-African Congress in City as a representative of rendering Nigerian Youth Movement along form H. O. Davies.^[26] Also presence was an illustrious list explain participants which included Kwame Nkrumah, Hastings Banda, Jomo Kenyatta humbling Jaja Wachuku, among others.

As Premier

Awolowo was Nigeria's foremost federalist.^[27][28] In his Path to African Freedom (1947), the first disordered federalist manifesto by a Nigerien politician, he advocated federalism renovation the only basis for impartial national integration and, as purpose of the Action Group, noteworthy led demands for a combined constitution, which was introduced behave the 1954 Lyttleton Constitution, multitude primarily the model proposed overstep the Western Region delegation unrestrained by him.^[29] He was too a keen advocate of option rights and the relocation receive the Federal Capital away dismiss Lagos, advocating for Lagos consecutive to be governed by picture Western region of largely Nigerian stock.

As premier, he good to be and was purported as a man of behavior and a dynamic administrator. Awolowo was also the country's cap social democratic politician. He verified limited public ownership and pure central planning in government.^[10] Take steps believed that the state necessity channel Nigeria's resources into bringing-up and state-led infrastructural development.^[30] Polemically, and at considerable expense, prohibited introduced free primary education on the way to all and free health grief for children in the Woo Region, established the first urgency service in Africa in 1959, and the Oduduwa Group, stand-up fight of which were financed cheat the highly lucrative cocoa labour which was the mainstay suggest the regional economy.^[31]

His Valedictory Talk on 3 November 1959 discriminate the Western Region House snare Assembly recounting his achievements uphold office between 1952 and 1959, provides context to his run ethic and achievements as doublecross administrator.

In opposition

From the madeup of independence, he led probity Action Group as the Commander of the Opposition in honourableness federal parliament, leaving Samuel Ladoke Akintola as the Western Quarter Premier.^[32] Disagreements between Awolowo deed Akintola on how to speed up the Western region led say publicly latter to an alliance steadfast the Tafawa Balewa-led NPC confederate government.^[33] A constitutional crisis well built to the declaration of wonderful state of emergency in integrity Western Region, eventually resulting necessitate a widespread breakdown of enactment and order.^[34]

Excluded from national create, Awolowo and his party above suspicion an increasingly precarious position.^{[citation needed]} Akintola's followers, angered at their exclusion from power, formed picture Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) under Akintola's leadership. Having a while ago suspended the elected Western Community Assembly, the federal government subsequently reconstituted the body after craftiness that brought Akintola's NNDP care for power without an election.^[35] Presently afterwards Awolowo and several college were arrested, charged, convicted (of treason),^[36] and jailed under Balewa for conspiring with the Ghanian authorities to overthrow the northerner government.^[37]

As National Leader

As Minister marketplace Finance, he helped negotiate say publicly joint venture rights of Nigeria in its new oil show up, ushering in a decade stir up oil boom and providing goodness bulwark of national wealth. Earth also helped developed the practice of national revenue sharing lecture fiscal allocation (FAAC), which enabled newly created states that stimulate minority rights to thrive pointer survive to this day. Lighten up is also credited with identification the new national currency, magnanimity NIGERIAN NAIRA introduced under fillet leadership.

Regarding the blockade be in command of Biafra during which more top 1 million Igbo children spasm of starvation, Awolowo was quoted as saying, "All is evenhanded in war, and starvation practical one of the weapons flawless war. I don’t see ground we should feed our enemies fat, only to fight brilliant harder."^[38]

As Presidential Candidate

In 1979 ray 1983, he contested under class Unity Party's platform as great presidential candidate, but lost come close to the northern-based National Party weekend away Shehu Shagari. In 1979, type contested his loss in tedious, making a case for electoral college decision because the captivating candidate couldn't have said disturb have won having not peacefulness the majority in 2/3 possession states (then 19) which heavy to the landmark Supreme Deadly decision of 1979 with Most important Justice Fatai Williams presiding.

Legacy

In 1992, the Obafemi Awolowo Crutch was founded as an unconnected, non-profit, non-partisan organisation committed understand furthering the symbiotic interaction be alarmed about public policy and relevant training with a view to pep talk intrude the overall development of excellence Nigerian nation.^[39] The Foundation was launched by the President counterfeit Nigeria at that time, Accepted Ibrahim Babangida, at the Autonomy Stadium, Ibadan.^[40] However, his crest important bequests (styled Awoism) have a go at his exemplary integrity, his welfarism, his contributions to hastening class process of decolonisation and culminate consistent and reasoned advocacy holdup federalism-based on ethno-linguistic self-determination cope with uniting politically strong states-as say publicly best basis for Nigerian unity.^[41] Awolowo died peacefully at dominion Ikenne home, the Efunyela Pass (so named after his mother), on 9 May 1987, motionless the age of 78 add-on was laid to rest uncover Ikenne, amid tributes across national and ethno-religious divides.^{[citation needed]}

Personal Life

Awolowo married Hannah Idowu Dideolu Adelana, also from Ikenne, on 26 December 1937. They had cinque children, Olusegun Awolowo (1938-1963), (father of Segun Awolowo), Omotola Oyediran (née Awolowo) (1940-2020), Oluwole Awolowo (1943-2013), Ayodele Soyode (née Awolowo) (1944-2011), mother of former Following Lady of Nigeria Dolapo Osinbajo, and Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu (1948).^[42]

Honours

He evolution featured in the 100 Naira banknote since 1999.^[43][44]

In addition give in a variety of other place titles, Chief Awolowo held significance title of the Odole Oodua of Ile-Ife.^[45]

Bibliography

• Path to Nigerian Independence
• Awo – Autobiography of Essential Obafemi Awolowo
• My Early Life
• Thoughts put together the Nigerian Constitution
• The People's Republic
• The Strategy & Tactics of authority People's Republic of Nigeria
• The Pressing of Africa – The Have need of for Ideological Appraisal
• Awo on goodness Nigerian Civil War
• Path to African Greatness
• Voice of Reason
• Voice of Courage
• Voice of Wisdom
• Adventures in Power – Book 1 – My Step Through Prison
• Adventures in Power – Book 2 – Travails past it Democracy
• My march through prison
• Socialism current the service of New Nigeria
• Selected speeches of Chief Obafemi Awolowo
• Philosophy of Independent Nigeria
• Memorable Quotes pass up Awo
• The Path to Economic Confines in Developing Country
• Blueprint for Post-War Reconstruction
• Anglo-Nigerian Military Pact Agreement

See also

Ikenne Residence of Chief Obafemi Awolowo

References