The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Awo

  • We must elaborate on Awo’s ideals for good goverance -Fayemi

    We must elaborate on Awo’s ideals for good goverance -Fayemi

    Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has called on political leaders in the country to elaborate on the ideational foundations of the late sage and Premier of the defunct Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and reconstruct them in the context of new challenges and new opportunities that would bring about good governance in the country.

    Speaking in Lagos at the International conference on “Leadership And Governance In Africa” held at the Obafemi Awolowo Institute for Governance and Public Policy, Lagos on Friday, the governor asserted that Awolowo had already provided the ideational foundations for good leadership and good governance in Nigeria

    At the event were the National Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Chief Bisi Akande, who chaired the conference; former Ambassador to Netherlands and daughter of the late sage, Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu; the representative of the Governor of Osun State, Mr. Ajibola Bashiru, and renowned poet, Mr. Odia Ofeimum.

    Fayemi added that the struggle that some progressive leaders have engaged in the last three decades is based largely on Awolowo’s heritage in which the one and only purpose of political leadership and governance is the delivery of political goods.

    He stressed that the grand purpose of leadership and governance in the context of Awolowo’s political philosophy can best be summarised as “public good and private welfare”.

    “Whether in the context of political structure, particularly democratic federalism, in the nature, order, purpose and limits of government as evident in the rule of law, the rights and duties of citizens, or in the directive principles of state policy which should be geared towards the economic freedom, good health, liberty and welfare of the people, the struggle that some of us have engaged in, in the last three decades is based largely on this heritage; that is, a settled conviction in which the one and only purpose of political leadership and governance is the delivery of political goods,” Fayemi stated.

  • Awo Centre hails Aregbesola at 56

    The Board of Trustees, Board of Directors and staff of the Awolowo Centre for Philosophy, Ideology and Good Governance yesterday congratulated Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who turns 56 tomorrow.

    In a congratulatory message by its Director-General, Prof. Moses Makinde, the centre described the governor as an advocate of integrity and hero of the people.

    The message reads: “We congratulate the hero of the people; a committed servant of the masses; an advocate of integrity, education and good governance; an irrepressible Awoist; a leading exponent of Yoruba culture and civilisation and founder of Awolowo Centre, His Excellency, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, on your 56th birthday.

    “It is our sincere wish that the revolutionary and humane fervour burning in you will continue to be translated into greater service to your people and humanity.

    “Wishing you a blessed celebration of excellence and greatness in the years ahead, we pray God Almighty grants you long life and good health as you continue to pursue your ideology of the greatest good of the greatest number for Osun people.”

  • Time to be like Awo

    Time to be like Awo

    Those who speak of the good old days in Nigeria, especially the pre-military regime years sure know what they are talking about.

    Former Governor Omololu Olunloyo of Oyo State must have shocked many participants at the just concluded South-West Expo held in Osogbo, Osun State when he disclosed that he got two scholarships from the Western region government headed by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and in his own words, was granted the indulgence of using the two to study Mathematics and Engineering abroad.

    Using his case illustrate the benefits of regional integration which was the theme of the trade exhibition and seminar organised by Vintage Press Limited, Chief Olunloyo noted that the major source of income for the old western region was Cocoa which was not grown in Ibadan, the region’s capital but in Idanre, Akoko and part of the present Osun State.

    Like other speakers including Former Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Bola Ajibola, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun and Senator Abiola Ajimobi also acknowledged, that there are abundant resources in various parts of the South-West which has to be harnessed through coordinated efforts by State governments irrespective of political affiliations now or in the future.

    It is unfortunate that the discovery of oil has made successive governments in the country not to give agriculture the deserved priority which would have earned us additional revenue and reduced our present over- dependence on oil proceeds.

    Rather than being an additional blessing, the discovery of oil has become a curse of a sort with not only the constantly fluctuating price in the international market but uncertainty of how long we would continue to earn enough from its sale.

    One of the things the South-West Expo succeeded in doing is that it served as yet another timely reminder for not only the South West but all regions and the federal government to cooperate on how to develop our agriculture sector and fully maximise the benefits of the resources our nation has been blessed with.

    Instead of engaging in duplication of efforts, there is an urgent need backed by necessary government policies and willingness to identify the competitive advantages of each state and focus on them.

    The South-West States already have the benefit of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) which the Director General of the Director General of the Western Nigeria Integration Commission, Mr Dipo Famakinwa spoke on during the programme.

    As he advised, South-West leaders should leverage on shared historical affiliations of states in the zone, to build synergies and economies of scale, whereby the region and its people will experience enhanced human and social development outcomes across all spheres of existence.

    Famakinwa was right as he stated in his presentation. “The world is looking in the direction of Africa for agriculture and nutrition, and for other commercial possibilities that the fast-urbanising Africa presents. There is a compelling necessity to prepare the Region for global competitiveness. It is a crisis situation and Yorubaland ( and indeed other regions in the country) cannot wait,”.

    We have to stop remembering how well the late Chief Awolowo in developing the western region. Our leaders who claim to be his disciples should do better than he did years ago.

     

  • Okon speaks on Awo

    May we know you, please?” one of the interviewers, a born charmer, opened with smiles and easy charm.

    “If you no sabi Okon, wetin you dey do here? See me see trouble oo”, Okon demanded.

    “No, no, we mean can you tell us about your background?”, the poor fellow added.

    “Aha”, Okon began in an expansive mood. “My back no dey for ground ooo. I tell you ten Yoruba wrestlers no fit do dat. But my name be Okon Anthony Okon, my father be Uzor James Uzor. We don dey live for Slessor’s street so tey. I come from Calabar. My father come from Calabar. Him papa come from Calabar. Him own papa come from Calabar. Him own papa come from Calabar. Dem papa come from Calabar. Dem papa come…”

    “Enough of this rubbish and drivel”, the mean looking chap screamed.

    “Na your papa be rubbish and driver. My own papa be palm wine tapper”.

    “What? I’m gonna take out this stinking asshole”, the mean one scowled and was about to get up.

    “Twenty of you no fit. If I no wan go out, you no fit take me”, Okon shouted as he began an elaborate war ritual.

    “John sit down”, the leader of the team ordered the surly one with full authority.

    At this point, the fellow in traditional costume who had been eyeing everybody with mirth and relish got up and started singing an ancient Yoruba tune.

    Eyin te maja wa (Those who have brought the mad dog)

    E mo’kun ko le oo ( Do not relax the tight leash)

    Eyin te mu were wa (Those who have brought the madman)

    E ma jo’kun o ja (Do not let the leash snap).

    Everybody, including Okon, started laughing, and the interview got on an even keel all over again. The man in traditional dress sat down, beaming with mischief.

    “Prince Okon, can you tell us about your father?”the great charmer asked in a soothing and rather unctuous manner.

    “Ha, my papa, my papa, may god receive am if he don quench becos one day he come disappear say he wan go fight dem French for Bakassi but mama say na Owerri agaracha wey come turn him head with Ofe nsala. But na better palm wine tapper. Na him dey supply Awolowo with palm wine when he dey Calabar prison. At times sef, the Yoruba wizard go vamoose from prison to come drink palm wine”.

    There was total silence. Everybody was stunned by the gale of the revelation. It was the surly chap who recovered the initiative and went on the offensive.

    “That sounds to me like a load of shitty crap”, he moaned under his breath as the leader whipped him with his eyes into quick compliance.

    “Prince Okon, what we are saying is that Chief Awolowo was a teetotaller”, the leader opened cautiously.

    “Taller than who? I beg no vex me oo”, Okon said as he sprang up. “Awolowo na short man, he no tall pass anybody”.

    “Asiwere. (Madman)”, the man in traditional costume said with a superior smile. He seemed to have a full measure of Okon as the Calabar rogue avoided him.

    “Prince Okon, what we mean is that Awolowo never drank or smoked”, the leader offered with a calm mien.

    “No be dat you for say? All dis gbamugbamu grammar I no dey. Abi no be the yeye Sina boy who say grammar no be success? But you Yoruba people, I no get your problem. Anything that Awolowo man tell you you take am as if god don speak. Yeye people wey dey worship one man”.Okon said with a deflated look.

    “All right, all right. What do you think about the last census?” the leader asked Okon with all authority.

    “Which census? No be di thing we dey talk about for dis yeye kontri? You count all dem camel and cattle for dem north finish, you count all the oporoku and dem anoya people for the east, you count all dem Yoruba bush meat and goat finish but you no fit count all dem fish and shark for Calabar creek. So dat one na census?”, Okon snapped. Everybody started laughing, except Okon who wore an angry frown.