Tag: awolowo

• By 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’s politics, says former president Ibrahim Babangida and still a main thing till now. Whether free or incarcerated, every political decision in Nigeria till date revolves around Awolowo’s personal 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 Africa 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? Maybe it was beef or a superiority complex. He feels he should be the one to enjoy the political control in the Southwest 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 from 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 politicians block people from coming close to them till today, they always see a newcomer as a threat to taking their role or space especially when the newcomer 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 didn’t have to his political ethical practice. He bends some of his principles for greater goals; he actually tapped that from Ladoke Akintola.

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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 rights, so is Asiwaju. Yes, you don’t need to look further to know that he learnt taxing the wealthy and corporations more than taxing the poor in  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 the Lagos State governor, he initiated Iera Eko, free Healthcare for those born with deformity among others.

Awolowo believed in bridging the 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 loans 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 by 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 has 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 the 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.

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

The President of the African Development Bank and former Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, was honoured at a recent event in Lagos, as he joined an exclusive list of distinguished personalities that were deemed worthy of the prestigious Awolowo Leadership Prize. Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI who witnessed the event reports

The Obafemi Awolowo Foundation pulled off a coup of sorts when it brought together several serving and former African presidents, governors, former governors and many other prominent Nigerians recently to witness its 2024 Obafemi Awolowo Leadership Prize award ceremony.

The serving African leaders that graced the occasion include the President of the Union of Comoros and the outgoing Chairman of the African Union (AU), Azali Assoumani; the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan; the Ethiopian President, Sahle-Work Zewde; the Prime Minister of Togo, Victoire Tomegah Dogbé; and Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu who was represented by his deputy, Senator Kashim Shettima.

The former leaders include Gen. Yakubu Gowon who was accompanied by his wife, Victoria, President Olusegun Obasanjo, President Goodluck Jonathan, his former deputy, Namadi Sambo, former President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama and former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku.

At the event, which took place last Wednesday in Lagos, the

President of the African Development Bank and former Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwumi Adesina joined an exclusive list of distinguished personalities that were deemed worthy of the prestigious Awolowo Leadership Prize. The list is made up of Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, former South African President, Thabo Mbeki and legal luminary, Afe Babalola. 

The governors that graced the event include Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Uba Sani (Kaduna), Usman Ododo (Kogi), Mohammed Bago (Niger), Caleb Muftwang (Plateau), Umar Namadi (Jigawa),  Abba Yusuf (Kano), Dikko Raddah (Katsina) and Alex Otti (Abia). Others are Dauda Lawal  (Zamfara), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), and Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (Kwara),

Some states were represented by their deputy governors. They include Abubakar Umar Tafida  (Kebbi), Umar Usman Kadafur (Borno), Onyeka Ibezim (Anambra) and Sen. Akon Eyakenyi (Akwa Ibom). Former governors in attendance include Olusegun Osoba and Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Donald Duke (Cross River) and Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo).

The award ceremony was also graced by traditional rulers, and other prominent Nigerians including Afenifere chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Prof. Adebayo Williams, as well as the Chairman of Channels Media Group, Dr John Momoh who presented Adesina’s citation at the event.

The traditional rulers include the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe,  a patron of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II); the Emir of Bichi, Nasiru Ado Bayero; the Osemawe of Ondo, Oba Victor Adesimbo Kiladejo; the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III; the Akarigbo of Remo, Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi; and the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams.

That such an assemblage of distinguished personalities witnessed witnessed the event is understandable; given the calibre of the man in whose memory the gathering took place, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Gen. Gowon is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, while Chief Anyaoku is the Chairman, Selection Committee of the Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership.

Besides, the recipient of the award is widely regarded as one of Obasanjo’s favourite political sons. So, the former president and many of his loyalists were there to support the award recipient. Dr Jonathan, who Dr Adesina served under as Minister of Agriculture, it was said, nominated the latter for the Awolowo Leadership Prize. It is therefore not surprising that he attended the event.

The dignitaries took turns to applaud Dr Adesina’s sterling qualities. Tanzanian President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, who chaired the occasion said she was delighted to attend the event to honour Dr Adesina. She described the awardee as “one of Africa’s finest visionary leaders just like Awolowo”, saying there could not have been a more deserving person than the ADB president. The Tanzanian leader said the ADB president puts his heart fully into whatever he does.

President Assoumani (Comoros) described Adesina as a pragmatist, an innovator and a visionary whose leadership has transformed the ADB into a global financial institution. He added: “Dr Adesina has an incredible ability to bring leaders together, to dedicate and commit themselves to initiatives that transform Africa daily.”

Ethiopian President, Sahle-Work Zewde applauded Dr Adesina’s vision and his innovative solutions to challenges facing Africa. She said: “Today, we are celebrating the son of Africa for what he has done for being a visionary.”

Gen. Gowon (rtd) also described as deserving, the choice of Adesina as the honoree. While extolling his sterling attributes of hard work, diligence and intimidating academic and professional credentials, amongst others, the former Head of State said the former Minister of Agriculture represents the best of Nigeria.

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His words: “The choice of Dr Akinwumi Adesina can only be described as having been very well done. He represents the best of Nigeria, hardworking, diligent, brilliant, forward-looking, and deeply patriotic.”

Nonagenarian and former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, also commended the choice of Adesina as the fourth recipient of the prestigious award.  He lauded Adesina’s “tremendous achievement” as Minister of Agriculture from 2011 to 2015 and “even more spectacular performance as President of the African Development Bank”.

Chief Anyaoku added: “Out of the many reputable nominations received, members of the selection committee unanimously considered Dr Akinwumi Adesina as having in his career to date in large measure, the Chief Obafemi Awolowo attribute that I have sought to describe.”

The renowned diplomat said Awolowo “recognised the challenge of careful management of diversity in our pluralistic country and as such articulate his belief that a true federalism is an essential condition for the peace and progress of Nigeria” and his Pan-Africanism was well-represented in his writings and book.

Anyaoku who is the chairman of the award selection committee added: “Since assuming office as President of the African Development Bank (ADB), Dr Adesina has worked relentlessly to contribute to the positive transformation of the continent. He has brought leadership to bear in addressing some of the challenges confronting the continent including leading and supporting innovative efforts to fight hunger and poverty.”

His former boss, Goodluck Jonathan said “Adesina epitomises and combines qualities of extraordinary leadership that are often rare. He has the ability to take on huge and difficult challenges. He is committed to delivering policies and programmes that transform the lives of millions of people.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu took to his official X Handle, jidesanwoolu to celebrate Dr Adesina. He said: “It is a pleasure to celebrate Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, the President of the African Development Bank, as he was honoured with the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership Award today. Dr. Adesina’s track record exemplifies his exceptional leadership qualities, which have been demonstrated consistently, making him a deserving recipient of this esteemed accolade.”

In his goodwill message, Oba Ogunwusi emphasised the role of leadership in today’s ever-changing world. He said: “It is the beacon that guides us through the challenges, the driving force behind progress and the catalyst for positive change. Today’s event is indeed a testament to the dedication and commitment of a man who has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities in his field, like the late Awo.”

Similarly, the Sultan of Sokoto said he is delighted that the award is about leadership. He added: “This is because in public governance, as in corporate governance, leadership plays a crucial role in achieving set goals. In history as in contemporary times, the performance and efficacy of countries and corporate bodies remain contingent on the quality of leadership they have… I am particularly happy that the recipient of this award this year is someone who has dedicated his life to development in Africa.”

For Agbogidi, Igwe Achebe, the selection of Dr Adesina as the fourth Awolowo Laureate is commendable. He added: “Dr Adesina has had a meteoric professional career and is globally recognised in his field of Agricultural Development Economics. A consummate leader with over 70 scholarly publications and some 12 honorary degrees from globally reputable universities, he has devoted his life to building a better world.”

After receiving the award, an elated Dr Adesina mounted the podium to thank everyone present and all those who helped him one way or the other to get to where he is today. He said he cherishes this particular award because it brings back so many personal memories. He said: “I have received several global awards, for which I am very grateful. Receiving the Awolowo Prize for Leadership is particularly very special.”

The award recipient spoke eloquently about the contributions of the late Awolowo to national development and what Nigeria must do to achieve her potential as a nation. He said governance is a collective responsibility and that Nigerians should support President Tinubu by proferring solutions rather than criticising him. He promised that the ADB would provide support to the government to make agriculture what it should be in the country.

The Obafemi Awolowo Foundation was founded in April 1992. It is conceived as an independent, non-profit, non-partisan organisation committed to furthering the symbiotic with public policy and relevant scholarship to promote the overall development of the Nigerian nation and the world at large.

The Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership is one of the foundation’s outreach programmes. It is instituted based on one of the major recommendations of its dialogue on “Transformational Leadership and Good Governance: Lessons from the Awolowo Example”, held in July 2011. According to the organisers, “The prize is instituted in the name of Chief Obafemi Awolowo to encourage and reward excellence in leadership and good governance. The recipient must be a person who has made relevant vital contributions within the country or abroad in the private or public spheres.”

Founding Member/Executive Director of the foundation, Dr Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu said the Selection Committee, in selecting winners, emphasizes characteristics of leadership and good governance that are in tandem with Chief Awolowo’s values. She said: “Chief Awolowo was a leader generally acknowledged for his integrity, credibility, discipline, courage, accountability, tenacity of purpose, enviable vision, people-centred leadership and selflessness. He was, as Martin Luther King Jr. succinctly puts it, ‘one wise man who (forgot) himself into immortality’. For anyone to be considered for this award, therefore, the person must represent all these fine qualities.

“Today’s award is epochal because it signposts the global acceptance of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation and all it stands for, particularly its Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership. I use the term ‘global’ not just because the honouree is a bonafide citizen of the world, but because his nomination was supported by a plethora of distinguished global icons. They include former British Prime Minister, The Right Honourable Sir Tony Blair, former United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-Moon, the Global Centre on Adaptation chief executive officer, Prof. Patrick Verkooijen, and His Excellency Dr Goodluck Jonathan. These leaders have glowing testimonies about the honouree while tying their support of his nomination to the exceptional legacy of Chief Awolowo.”