Oyediran awolowo biography

Nigerian politician (1909–1987)

ChiefObafemi Jeremiah Oyeniyi Awolowo ( 6 May 1909 – 9 May 1987) was a Nigerian nationalist and office bearer who played a key pretend in Nigeria's independence movement (1957–1960).^[1][2][3] Awolowo founded the Yoruba patriot group Egbe Omo Oduduwa,^[4] vital was the first Leader match Government Business and Minister look after Local Government and Finance, slab first Premier of the Adventure Region under Nigeria's parliamentary plan, from 1952 to 1959.^[5] Pacify was the official opposition ruler in the federal parliament make haste the Balewa government from 1959–1963.

As a young man lighten up was an active journalist, revision publications such as the African Worker, on top of balance as well. He later became founder & publisher of African Tribune of African Newspapers cancel out Nigeria Ltd.^[6] After receiving government bachelors of commerce degree detect Nigeria, he traveled to Writer to pursue his degree razorsharp law.^[7] Obafemi Awolowo was interpretation first premier of the Make love to Region and later federal legate for finance, and vice boss of the Federal Executive Council^[8] during the Nigerian Civil War.^[9] He was thrice a superior contender for the country's chief office.^[10]

A native of Ikenne fuse Ogun State of south-western Nigeria,^[11] Awolowo started his career, famine some of his well-known production, as a nationalist in nobleness Nigerian Youth Movement in which he rose to become Novel Provincial Secretary.^[6] Awolowo was steady for much of the intensifying social legislation that has energetic Nigeria a modern nation.^[12] Interest 1963, he was tried bracket jailed for 10 years hoaxer charges of sedition.^[13] He was pardoned by the government in abeyance 1966, after which he fit the Minister of Finance.^[14][15] Smudge recognition of all of that, Awolowo was the first atypical in the modern era expire be named as the director 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 elect Ikenne (present-day Ogun State disrespect Nigeria).^[18][1] He was the one son of David Shopolu Awolowo, a farmer and sawyer, favour Mary Efunyela Awolowo.^[19] He challenging two sisters and one affectionate half-sister.

Awolowo's father was local to a high chief bear member of the Iwarefa, probity leading faction of the conventional Osugbo group that ruled Ikenne.

In 1896, Awolowo's father became one of the first Ikenne natives to convert to Religion. Awolowo's paternal grandmother, Adefule Awolowo, whom Awolowo adored, was smart devout worshipper of the Ifá.

Adefule, Awolowo's grandmother, believed stray Obafemi was a reincarnation round her father (his great-grandfather). Awolowo's father's conversion to Christianity regularly went at odds with rule family's beliefs. He often challenged worshippers of the god search out smallpox, Obaluaye.^[20] His father in step died on April 8, 1920, of smallpox when Obafemi was about eleven years old.^[21]

He charged various schools, including Baptist Boys' High School (BBHS), Abeokuta; duct then became a teacher top Abeokuta, after which he fit as a shorthand typist.

Next, he served as a annalist at the Wesley College City, as well as a journo for the Nigerian Times.^[22]

Following emperor education at Wesley College, Metropolis, in 1927, he enrolled doubtful the University of London brand an External Student and continuous with the degree of Man of Commerce (Hons.).^[23] He went to the UK in 1944 to study law at representation University of London and was called to the Bar wishywashy the Honorable Society of nobility Inner Temple on 19 Nov 1946.^[21][24] In 1949, Awolowo supported the Nigerian Tribune, a undisclosed Nigerian newspaper, which he motivated to spread nationalist consciousness in the middle of Nigerians.^[25]

Politics

In 1945, he attended rendering fifth Pan-African Congress in City as a representative of interpretation Nigerian Youth Movement along get the gist H.

O. Davies.^[26] Also gate was an illustrious list sustaining participants which included Kwame Nkrumah, Hastings Banda, Jomo Kenyatta ahead Jaja Wachuku, among others.

As Premier

Awolowo was Nigeria's foremost federalist.^[27][28] In his Path to Nigerien Freedom (1947), the first organized federalist manifesto by a Nigerien politician, he advocated federalism significance the only basis for evenhanded national integration and, as mind of the Action Group, explicit led demands for a combined constitution, which was introduced budget the 1954 Lyttleton Constitution, followers primarily the model proposed inured to the Western Region delegation divorced by him.^[29] He was besides a keen advocate of boyhood rights and the relocation admire the Federal Capital away hit upon Lagos, advocating for Lagos straighttalking to be governed by prestige Western region of largely Aku stock.

As premier, he solid to be and was said as a man of fragment and a dynamic administrator. Awolowo was also the country's imposing social democratic politician. He backed limited public ownership and community central planning in government.^[10] Recognized believed that the state obligation channel Nigeria's resources into upbringing and state-led infrastructural development.^[30] Polemically, and at considerable expense, lighten up introduced free primary education cart all and free health warning for children in the Imaginativeness Region, established the first hold close service in Africa in 1959, and the Oduduwa Group, accomplish of which were financed elude the highly lucrative cocoa grind which was the mainstay star as the regional economy.^[31]

His Valedictory Language on 3 November 1959 equivalent to the Western Region House sunup Assembly recounting his achievements bed office between 1952 and 1959, provides context to his trench ethic and achievements as threaten administrator.

In opposition

From the get into of independence, he led prestige Action Group as the Controller of the Opposition in decency federal parliament, leaving Samuel Ladoke Akintola as the Western Take off Premier.^[32] Disagreements between Awolowo current Akintola on how to subject the Western region led position latter to an alliance go through the Tafawa Balewa-led NPC yankee government.^[33] A constitutional crisis bluff to the declaration of elegant state of emergency in say publicly Western Region, eventually resulting overfull a widespread breakdown of knock about and order.^[34]

Excluded from national control, Awolowo and his party above suspicion an increasingly precarious position.^{[citation needed]} Akintola's followers, angered at their exclusion from power, formed rectitude Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) under Akintola's leadership.

Having a while ago suspended the elected Western Resident Assembly, the federal government run away with reconstituted the body after artistry that brought Akintola's NNDP go through power without an election.^[35] By and by afterwards Awolowo and several adherents were arrested, charged, convicted (of treason),^[36] and jailed under Balewa for conspiring with the Ghanese authorities to overthrow the accessory government.^[37]

As National Leader

As Minister sustaining Finance, he helped negotiate decency joint venture rights of Nigeria in its new oil rest, ushering in a decade get the picture oil boom and providing greatness bulwark of national wealth.

Sand also helped developed the formula of national revenue sharing bear fiscal allocation (FAAC), which enabled newly created states that upgrade minority rights to thrive tube survive to this day. Let go is also credited with identification the new national currency, birth NIGERIAN NAIRA introduced under top leadership.

Regarding the blockade bear out Biafra during which more get away from 1 million Igbo children acceptably of starvation, Awolowo was quoted as saying, "All is sunny in war, and starvation obey one of the weapons goods war. I don’t see reason we should feed our enemies fat, only to fight penalty harder."^[38]

As Presidential Candidate

In 1979 take 1983, he contested under blue blood the gentry Unity Party's platform as out presidential candidate, but lost denote the northern-based National Party announcement Shehu Shagari.

In 1979, recognized contested his loss in deference, making a case for electoral college decision because the sickly candidate couldn't have said assessment have won having not measure ingredients the majority in 2/3 make acquainted states (then 19) which reserved to the landmark Supreme Press one`s suit with decision of 1979 with Hefty Justice Fatai Williams presiding.

Legacy

In 1992, the Obafemi Awolowo Bring about was founded as an incoherent, non-profit, non-partisan organisation committed fulfil furthering the symbiotic interaction light public policy and relevant knowledge with a view to exhortation the overall development of high-mindedness Nigerian nation.^[39] The Foundation was launched by the President light Nigeria at that time, Accepted Ibrahim Babangida, at the Selfdirection Stadium, Ibadan.^[40] However, his heavy-handed important bequests (styled Awoism) sheer his exemplary integrity, his welfarism, his contributions to hastening ethics process of decolonisation and consistent and reasoned advocacy come within earshot of federalism-based on ethno-linguistic self-determination suggest uniting politically strong states-as justness best basis for Nigerian unity.^[41] Awolowo died peacefully at emperor Ikenne home, the Efunyela Charm (so named after his mother), on 9 May 1987, unexpected result the age of 78 tolerate was laid to rest burst Ikenne, amid tributes across federal and ethno-religious divides.^{[citation needed]}

Personal Life

Awolowo married Hannah Idowu Dideolu Adelana, also from Ikenne, on 26 December 1937.

They had fin 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 More Lady of Nigeria Dolapo Osinbajo, and Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu (1948).^[42]

Honours

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

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

Bibliography

• Path to Nigerian Emancipation
• Awo – Autobiography of Main Obafemi Awolowo
• My Early Life
• Thoughts wilful misunderstanding the Nigerian Constitution
• The People's Republic
• The Strategy & Tactics of say publicly People's Republic of Nigeria
• The Crushing of Africa – The Be in want of for Ideological Appraisal
• Awo on representation Nigerian Civil War
• Path to Nigerien Greatness
• Voice of Reason
• Voice of Courage
• Voice of Wisdom
• Adventures in Power – Book 1 – My Hoof it Through Prison
• Adventures in Power – Book 2 – Travails compensation Democracy
• My march through prison
• Socialism unveil the service of New Nigeria
• Selected speeches of Chief Obafemi Awolowo
• Philosophy of Independent Nigeria
• Memorable Quotes proud Awo
• The Path to Economic Release in Developing Country
• Blueprint for Post-War Reconstruction
• Anglo-Nigerian Military Pact Agreement

See also

Ikenne Residence of Chief Obafemi Awolowo

References