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Tag: awolowo

  • Awolowo, Abiola, Obasanjo and Afenifere

    I REMAIN a genuine admirer and believer in the ideals that Pa Obafemi Awolowo espoused in his life time. I also loved his dress sense since I first encountered him as a primary school pupil in 1957 and also from 1978 when I got close to him at both his Park Pane, Apapa home and his ancestral home in Ikenne, Ogun State, due to my professional and political callings.

    So, if some of those who shared the same passion for the man Awo can now be seen to be rallying support for Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who they believed (and still believe) stood between Awo and the Presidency of this nation which he coveted in his lifetime, then I feel hugely vindicated that I engineered the political coming together of Alhaji Lateef Jakande and late Bashorun Moshood Abiola, first in the late 80s, and later, in the early 90s, until the political spoilsports in our clime came to put spanners in the works of the few of us then, who believe that political recrimination, stubborn unforgiveness, vindictiveness and vendetta will, and, can never stand the Yoruba nation in good stead.

    No harm if what some of us saw then, the latter-day converts are now seeing. But I smell a rat. Whereas it was for altruistic reason that informed our own action then, the same cannot be said of the few that gathered together recently to host former President Obasanjo and try to whip up tribal sentiment in his favour.

    Of course, I’m not deceived into believing that Obasanjo himself is not playing cat and mouse game with our respected and elderly Afenifere chieftains and their younger followers; that he only needs them now to help him out of the consequence of the cobra tail he had stepped on; and that if he succeeds, he won’t go back to the club of few who, for countless number of years, after the demise of the First Republic, have held Nigeria by the jugular.

    I submit, with due respect that the meeting held with Obasanjo in Chief Ayo Adebanjo’s Lekki residence recently was to a partisan end, that it has nothing to do with their tribe and their love for the race or the nation. It was, without mincing words, a meeting instigated to work for the preservation of privilege and the return of a group of political desperadoes to power at the centre, since Buhari has made it be known that with him, it will no longer be business as usual.

    Let the few Afenifere choristers and Obasanjo offer us refreshingly different tunes from the ones we have had in the past and tell us who these new singers are, if it won’t be evident that they are in the genre of the jaded voices from our very recent past, those rejected massively at the last polls, and who are using every trick in the book to stage a come-back.

    When all their bag of tricks is drying up, they are now trying to stigmatise our integrous President of an attempt to Islamise Nigeria, an attempt I know Buhari is fully conscious of what the consequence of that will be to him as a person, and Nigeria as a corporate entity. Take it from here that he will not dare contemplate such gamble!

    Elections are in the air and political parties, especially the PDP, are jittery and therefore anxious to find what else they can do to overtake the APC for scoring impressive points on the issue of Abiola and June 12. It is in their desperation that they are wooing just any group – socio-cultural, religious, youths, et al, to recruit, to join in their bid to upstage Buhari and the APC in the next elections.

    It is within their right under the law but, in doing so, they should be mindful of spreading venom into susceptible minds and not engage in acts that are inimical to national cohesion, unity and progress. They should also remember that laws are no respecters of anybody and that those who run foul of the nation’s laws in any subtle or discerning form, will have nobody but themselves to blame.

  • Like Awolowo, like Abiola

    Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo and Moshood Kashimawo Abiola had many things in common. They were indigenes of Ogun State (though from different senatorial districts) from the Southwest geo-political zone.

    Awolowo, from the East Senatorial zone, hailed from Ikenne in Remoland. Abiola, an Egba from Abeokuta, hailed from the Central Senatorial zone.

    They wielded political and economic influence and both took shots at the presidency more than once. Now dead, “they were the best presidents Nigeria never had”.

    But, even in death, they tower far above many of their contemporaries in the political and economic spheres.

    The duo made history as recipients of the highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), a cadre that is the exclusive preserve of heads of state (civilian or military).

    Strangely, the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, was invested with the prestigious honour by Alhaji Shehu Usman Shagari, the man he contested against twice for the exalted office of President.

    The investiture was in recognition of the former Premier of the defunct Western Region, not only for his contributions to Nigeria’s Independence on October 1, 1960, but to the growth of democracy, having aspired to become Prime Minister in 1959 and President in 1979 and 1983.

    Awolowo’s economic wizardry as finance minister under the administration of former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon distinctly stood him out during the civil war.

    His adherence to democratic process principles endeared him to the hearts of Nigerians across political divides.

    Through hard work, exemplary and visionary leadership, coupled with a Spartan lifestyle, the late Awolowo earned international recognitions.  A former British Prime Minister, the late Harold Wilson, believed Awolowo lived in the wrong world and at the wrong time.

    Asserting that Awo was a material for advanced democracies, the former British leader said: “He (Awolowo) could lead the United States or Britain; he came too soon for Nigeria.”

    So respected was he that the military administration of the self-styled military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, organised a week-long activities for his funeral in 2007.

    The then military governor of the old Oyo State, Brig.-Gen. Tunji Olurin attested to Awolowo’s doggedness at the funeral.

    “Now, here lies the legendry Awo; here lies a great patriot; here lies a great nationalist; here lies the prophetic Jeremiah of Africa; here lies the end of an era.” Olurin said of Awolowo in a tribute at the obsequy.

    MKO, as he was fondly called, wielded so much influence in the business world that his defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) declined to sell its nomination ticket to him in 1983, when he first showed interest in the presidency.

    He was told that the presidency was not for the highest bidder.

    However, on June 12, 1993, Nigerians overwhelmingly voted for him as the standard bearer of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    He was coasting home to victory before some yet-to-be-identified forces within the military aborted the process by “arresting” the results of the elections that were already in the public domain.

    Local and international observers adjudged the June 12 presidential poll as Nigeria’s fairest and freest ever.

    An attempt by the late Bashorun Abiola to claim the mandate freely given to him pitted him against the late Gen. Sani Abacha, who had toppled the Earnest Sonekan-led Interim National Government (ING) contraption.

    After the famous Epetedo Declaration on June 11, 1994, Abiola was taken out of circulation and kept in military custody until he died in controversial circumstances on July 7, 1998.

    Year-in, year-out, pro-democracy forces have asked the Federal Government to immortalise the acclaimed winner of annulled June 12 presidential election without getting the desired answer.

    However, seven days to the 25th anniversary of the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election, President Muhammadu Buhari invested the presumed winner of the poll with the GCFR, thus making him the second to be so honoured with the prestigious award and the first to be posthumously honoured.

     

  • My take on the Awolowo statue

    I have followed with keen interest the debate on the new Awolowo statue in Ikeja. On one hand, some people have dismissed the new statue on the grounds that it does not bear any resemblance or image of Chief Awolowo that they knew. On the other hand some have said the artist has a right and artistic license to bring his imagination to bear on his work.

    May I commend the Lagos State government for commissioning the work in the first place. I have always said our country must honour those who deserve to be honoured. Those who deserve to be honoured should be those who have made great contributions and impact on our lives. We have mythical figures like Oduduwa, Oranmiyan, Bayijiddah of Daura whose visages nobody knows. We have recent leaders of the 19th and 20th centuries that we can easily identify. They should not be politicians alone they should include leaders in commerce and industry, education and science, sports and entertainment.

    It is of course easy to identify our past political leaders without whom we would not have had our independence at the time we had it. And for those of us who are historically minded, there are leaders of the Nigerian area going back to as far back as the 9th century who deserve to be honoured. The only problem with the men of antiquity is that we do not know how they look. But we have pictures of some of our leaders of the 19th century like Usman Dan Fodiye, founder of the Sokoto caliphate, Alaafin Ladigbolu 1 of Oyo and Ooni Ademiluyi of Ile – Ife who were on their thrones when the white man came for example. We also have photos of Sarkin Mohammad Abbas, of Kano and king Jaja of Opobo and so on.

    In relatively recent times we have photos of Bishop Ajayi Crowther and later on, the photos of Sir Ibikunle Alakija, Herbert Macaulay,  Dr Adeniyi Jones, Ernest Ikoli,  Samuel Akisanya, H. O. Davies, Nnamdi  Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Kashim Ibrahim, Ahmadu Bello,  Samuel Ladoke Akintola, Michael Okpara, Ibrahim Imam, Anthony Enahoro, Joseph Sanwuan Tarka, Samuel Festus Okotie-Eboh, Aminu Kano, Saadu Zungur, and Adegoke Adelabu to mention a few.  I know the religion of Islam frowns at making representational image of God’s creation including man, but Turkey with its old and exceptional civilization permits this. There is no religious tradition in Christianity that is opposed to all kinds of art including imagining what God and our Lord Jesus Christ may have looked like to the artist.

    Now to the Awolowo statue. Some two or so years ago, some primary school children in Ikenne the home town of Chief Awolowo were asked who Obafemi Awolowo was and none of the children could hazard a guess except one intrepid little boy who put up his hand to answer the question. The teacher was relieved and asked the boy to educate his class of dullards only for him to say Obafemi Awolowo was a footballer. The teacher was surprised and was told by the boy that Obafemi played centre forward for Nigeria. This was how the teacher knew the young child’s Obafemi was Obafemi Martins. The little boy should not be blamed. Many of our university students do not know who the founding fathers of Nigeria are. We have spent most of our post-independence life under the military who apparently to keep our people disconnected from their past, banned the teaching of history in our schools. It is heartening to hear that the present government is trying to return historical pedagogy to our schools.

    This is where monuments come in. A visit to nearby Ghana will show us how this is done. The slave castles used by the Dutch slavers in the 16th to the 18th centuries are well kept and are visited by fee paying Black American tourists in their hundreds of thousands every year thus contributing to the Ghanaian economy. The residences of their colonial governors are still maintained and put to official use. The Race Course where Kwame Nkrumah proclaimed independence in 1957 still has the busts of Nkrumah, Ako  Adjei, Krobo Edusei and  Komla Agbedi Gbedemah standing there with correct-visages not as idealized by an artist. The Ghana government went all the way to Lincoln Pennsylvania to bring home the bed used by Nkrumah at the Lincoln University where he was a student in the 1930s having been predated by our own Nnamdi Azikiwe by almost a decade. His body and that of his wife Fatimah are preserved in a mausoleum in the Race Course.

    I remember visiting New Delhi sometimes ago and being shown the small bed Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Indian Prime Minister was sleeping on when he led a country of one billion people. It was not a golden bed but simple wooden bed without mattresses. Of course the bust of Nehru was the realistic image of the man as we see in his photographs. Any visit to the United States and either to the Lincoln column or the Kennedy centre would see the correct facial image of these two iconic presidents. Recently I was in the House of Commons in England and I saw the standing busts of British prime ministers from Walpole to John Major. I noticed the giant sizes of Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher which illustrates the bias of the officials of parliament to the Conservative Party. I was particularly impressed by the figures of Benjamin Disraeli and William Gladstone whose rivalry and competition dominated British politics for most of the 19th century. What you see in any public square in England is not the imagination of artists but the way their heroes looked not necessarily in sizes but certainly in their faces. There  is no doubt about the  likeness of these figures to the real people being celebrated at least for those from the 18th century to the present  when photos were available and those before that time were copied from painted images of their heroes.

    In Nigeria, we have no idea of how to preserve the past especially the recent past.  What have we done to our First Republic parliament? Our Prime Minister’s official residence is now an army officers’ mess!  The official residence of our Governor -General/ president was abandoned for years until it was recently handed over to the Lagos State government. The Premier’s Lodge in Ibadan has been converted to a High Court. The one in Kaduna is housing, I believe, the Gamji Foundation. The premier’s house in Enugu may have been put to other usage. The governors of the south-western states could have approached the estate of Chief Awolowo to buy his private residence which he used when he was premier of the West and convert it to Awolowo centre, open to the public to hold his library and memorabilia and to keep the flame of his memory burning.

    I acknowledge the fact that governments at various levels have honoured our past heroes. We have universities named after Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ahmadu Bello, Abubakar Balewa, Ladoke Akintola, Michael Okpara, Michael Ajasin, Olabisi Onabanjo. None is yet named after Kashim Ibrahim, first central minister of education and governor of the whole of northern Nigeria. There are also roads and avenues named after some of them in Lagos and Abuja and other cities. In essence, their families cannot complain. Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well. A statue should look like the one it is made to replicate. It should not be left to the imagination of any artist to tell us what Awolowo looks like whether sitting or standing. It is my considered opinion that this Awolowo statue should be removed and somebody who knows how to make a look-alike statue of Obafemi Awolowo be contacted and contracted to do it.

  • Nigeria loses N30tr to oil price crash, says Awolowo

    Nigeria loses N30tr to oil price crash, says Awolowo

    The Executive Director, Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) Olusegun Awolowo yesterday lamented that Nigeria has lost over N30trillion of export revenue to the crash in oil prices.

    Awolowo  spoke at a one day NEPC, RVO, CBI Export Roundtable and Exhibition on Export Competency Development programme in Abuja, said the loss was between 2015-2017.

    He said last month, the national economic management team established the national committee on export promotion to ensure effective coordination of the zero oil plan in the 36 states of the federation.

    He said the recent recession was due to a $30billion annual deficit in Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings due to low oil prices.

    He said: “Nigeria must replace these lost export revenues in order to sustain economic growth, stabilise the naira, sustain federal and state government income and boost employment.

    “There is an urgency to ramp up non-oil exports, as our future earnings from crude oil which is facing significant headwinds. This is elevated as the financial outlook on crude oil weakens day by day and poses increasing threat on oil dependent economy just like Nigeria. We are at a critical point in Nigeria’s history which requires bold and decisive action to restructure and reposition our economy to survive without oil.

    “The council’s goal is to grow Nigeria’s non-oil export revenue from N1.5trillion per annum to N5trillion within three to four years, and over N10trillion over the longer term. The economic consequences are dire for our country to keep crude oil as its primary source of export revenue. There is too much oil supply and shrinking demand.

    “The zero plan has been included as a central part of Nigeria economic recovery plan. The three products under the export competency development pilot scheme are among the 22 in the zero oil plan.

    “Our export outlook in 2017 shows some positive developments. A lot of cashew plantation with jumbo varieties are springing up, from a raw cashew production of about 150,000tons to 15,000 tons are processed ii Nigeria which is just 10 per cent. We see enormous potential in processing.”

    Awolowo added that the cocoa sector has suffered a setback since 2017 but the longer term prospects are positive and we need to be in position to take advantage of that opportunity.

  • We must embrace Awolowo’s leadership principles – Ambode

    We must embrace Awolowo’s leadership principles – Ambode

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, on Tuesday stressed the need for new generation of Nigerian leaders to embrace the ideals and principle of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

    Ambode made the remark while unveiling the new statue of the late sage in Ikeja.

    The event was attended by prominent members of the Awolowo family including the wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, Dr. Tokunbo Dosumu and eminent politicians.

    The governor said Awolowo’s legacies and landmark achievements, particularly in the Western region had endured and remained a source of inspiration and benchmark for progressive leadership in the country.

    He said Awolowo was a symbol of Western Nigeria during his lifetime.

    “His achievements remain indelible across the nation. The vision of new generation leaders like us is to consciously rise up to his ideals and principles,” Ambode stated.

    He said the need to sustain the ideals of Awolowo was what prompted Lagos to join hands with five other Western States in the Oodua Investment Conglomerate to champion the political and economic integration of Western Nigeria

    He recalled Awolowo’s commitment to the growth and development of Nigeria, especially during the post-independence era, adding that he was a shining light among his contemporaries and displayed an incredible ability to use leadership as a tool for advancement of the people’s welfare.

    He said: “In a few days time, it will be 57 years since our nation attained independence. The story of the struggle that led to that momentous occasion on October 1, 1960 will not be complete without mentioning late Pa Obafemi Awolowo. He was a leading voice among eminent nationalists of his time who successfully negotiated our nation’s liberation from the colonial masters.

    “30 years after his death, his thoughts and ideas on a wide range of issues relating to the economy, fiscal federalism and education among several others, are still as relevant today as they were back in time. His legacies and landmark achievements, particularly in the Western region including Lagos colony, had endured and remain a source of inspiration and benchmark for progressive leadership in the country.

    “Awolowo was a symbol for the aspiration of Western Nigeria during his lifetime. His achievements remain indelible across the nation. The vision of new generation leaders like us, is to consciously rise up to his ideals and principles.”

     

     

  • How to grow economy, by Awolowo

    One way to grow the  economy is to make it export-driven so it could become resilient to the vagaries of oil prices, the Chief Eexcutive Officer, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) , Olusegun Awolowo, has said.

    He spoke during the Nigeria Initiative Economic Development luncheon in Abuja. He said services were already driving the economy, an indication that the country is already on the path of diversification.

    “The current development in the country will force Nigeria to shift its focus to non-oil exports as was the case in the 1960s. Nigeria is also facing challenges in the decline in non-oil export as reflected in the drop of income from $2.7billion in 2014 to $1.6billion in 2015.

    “While non-oil products are still exported to key destinations around the world, the immediate priority is to concentrate on new export products where Nigerians can earn between 40 and 50 per cent of what it earns from oil in the past.

    “Nigeria top oil products include cocoa and cocoa product preparation which enjoy a 36 per cent increase from $556.8 million in 2012 to $758.6 million in 2013 but a slight decrease of 12 per cent in 2014. Sesame seeds and cashew nuts also performed well with 35 per cent and 25 per cent increase in 2013 and 13 and nine per cent in 2014.

    “NEPC’s vision is to replace oil as the major national foreign exchange earner by growing non-oil exports to $30billion in the next 10 years and eventually reach 20 per cent of non–oil export to gross domestic (GDP) or approximately $100 billion yearly based on its zero oil plan.

    “At present, the trade in indigenous products and services is conducted by large numbers of desperate SMEs operating on their own as exporters and importers.”

    He said though there is no sufficient statistics on the details of the trade, he said there is reason to believe that the trade is not well organised, a situation that does not augur well for growth and sustainability.

    Awolowo said in foreign countries where the Federal Government has diplomatic missions, it is estimated that Nigeria residents in theses countries total over 15million.

    According to the World Bank, Nigerians living abroad remitted over $20.77 billion 2015. Many Nigerians living abroad have excelled in their various fields and professions.

  • Awolowo: N5b to boost tannery, plastic export coming

    Awolowo: N5b to boost tannery, plastic export coming

    The Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer,  Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Chief Olusegun Awolowo, yesterday in Kano said  the Council has requested about N5 billion from the Federal Government as pre-shipment incentives for exporters in the country this year.

    Awolowo who was in Kano, Kano State capital, for a fact-finding tour of some tannery and plastic industries in the ancient commercial city, said: “For three years running, the Federal Government suspended the Export Expansion Grant (EEG), which has now been replaced with Export Development Fund (EDF) in order to boost the sector.”

    He said EDF has been well positioned to boost the economy and encourage exporters of finished leather works, plastics and other tannery materials to grow their business and also diversify the economy.

    Awolowo said: “The essence of my coming to Kano is, of course, to visit the factories and see what more we can do to support them.

    “These are companies that employed thousands of Nigerians and they are providing employment for more people.”

    “It is not just about the export of goods, it is really about what they provide to grow the economy and the livelihood of Kano and Nigeria in general.

  • Emulate Awolowo’s values, ideals to tackle today’s challenges – Ambode

    Emulate Awolowo’s values, ideals to tackle today’s challenges – Ambode

    Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode has charged political leaders in the country to exemplify the noble character, values and ideals of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo in tackling the challenges faced by the country today.

    The Governor gave the charge on Monday at the 2017 Obafemi Awolowo Memorial Lecture with the theme, “The Awolowo Legacy and Its Message to Nigerian Youths” held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Lagos.

    “ At this difficult time in our nationhood, we surely  have some things to learn from his (Awolowo) ideas which are as relevant today as they were several decades back. They were not mere theoretical ideas,” he said.

    The governor who was represented by his deputy, Dr Idiat Adebule, noted that the visible development that was experienced in the south west region bear testimony to the practicality of Chief Obafemi Awolowo progressive values and ideas.

    While urging the leaders of old and new generation to see the essence of leadership as an advancement of the welfare of the people, he said the solution to the challenges experienced today lies in our ability to be creative in our thinking and resolute in our determination to do what is right.

    While commending the organizers of the annual lecture for keeping alive the memories and legacy of the late sage, Ambode noted that the annual lecture is one way of preserving his legacy and acknowledging the historical role he played as an ideological politician, astute administrator, a prudent manager of resources and a visionary leader.

    The chairman of the occasion, General Yakubu Gowon, earlier in his address, noted that it was instructive that the lecture was directed at Nigerian youths, who at this critical time in the history of the nation need to benefit from the wisdom of age, the message of hope and the legacy of chief obafemi Awolowo.

    While describing the late sage as a loyal, focus and hardworking man General Gowon noted that he used his life to preach a message of hope for which two main key traits of character and self-discipline were most needed.

    Prof. Banjo Akintoye, an African historian and guest lecturer said it was the youths that had continued to suffer the brunt of the rot in the country.

    While saying the continued failure to plan for youths since independence contributed to the nation’s decline to the level of societal disorders of immorality and hopelessness, he urged the youths to emulate the attributes of late chief Awolowo and imbibe a purpose driven life that would impact on the society, the country and the world.

    In her opening remarks, the Executive Director of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Dr. Olatokunboh Awolowo Dosunmu, noted that as the years gone by, the demographic of the devotees of the late sage’s vision, leadership and administrative style is now attracting younger people hence the theme of this year’s lecture.

    She noted that the foundation has over the years been able to retain its uncompromising commitment to chief Awolowo’s legacy due to the unparalleled interest of teeming Nigerians.

    She assured  that the foundation will keep to the legacy and passion of the late sage to build a virile and productive society.

  • Awolowo: Agreement ‘ll broaden trade

    Nigeria has ratified trade facilitation agreement as the country pushes for expanded global multilateral trade, the Executive Director/ CEO Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Olusegun Awolowo, has said.

    He said with the ratification,  the country will go ahead to domesticate and implement the agreement to the letters.

    He said: “We expect remarkable outcomes for international trade through TFA (Trade Facilitation Agreement), which aims to expedite the movement, release and clearance of goods including goods in transit. It will reduce bureaucracy at the borders for faster, cheaper and easier trade and is expected to increase trade and investment.

    “The agreement promotes trade by establishing harmonised rules to further expedite the movement, release and clearance of goods crossing borders, including goods in transit. It offers opportunities especially for SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) to engage in formal export of goods, which have so far, been informally traded across borders.

    “With TFA, a larger number of exporters to partake in global value chains, thereby enabling all businesses to tap into the huge potentials of trade, Of particular importance for non-oil export is the commitment to accept electronic documentation, test procedures and method of handling perishable/rejected goods.

    “For Nigeria, the much-advocated National Single Window (NSW) initiative would bring about faster services at the borders for both imports and exports. It will also ensure correct revenue collection and create room for transparency in governance, better public service and modernization through e-legislation, thus creating a win-win situation for both government and business.

    “NEPC is therefore committed to support and work closely with the relevant government agencies, private sector and international organisations to ensure full implementation of the Agreement. We will maximise the benefits of TFA especially to make export trade the catalyst for achieving national economic turn-around for sustainable development, enhanced annual GDP growth job creation, higher incomes, improved welfare, reduced trade costs, and ultimately landmark improvements to the ease of doing business index for the country.”

    Awolowo said he hopes It that many small businesses that hitherto have found it impossible to trade internationally due to complex regulatory requirements will henceforth be able to be part of global trade which leads to sustainable growth, and growth that results in prosperity.

  • Aregbesola, Gbadegesin: Awolowo’s ideals indelible

    Aregbesola, Gbadegesin: Awolowo’s ideals indelible

    The launch of the book, Obafemi Awolowo, Lessons in Leadership and Legacy, was an opportunity to remember the late sage and premier of the Western, reports JOSEPH JIBUEZE.

    Thirty years after he died, the late Premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, remains a source of leadership inspiration to many.

    He legacies remain indelible, no wonder political scientists and scholars are fascinated by the subject of Awolowo.

    A new book, Obefemi Awolowo: Lessons in Leadership and Legacy, was launched last week in Ibadan. Edited by the Acting Head, Department of Politics and International Relations, Lead City University, Dr Tunde Oseni, it is a collection of essays on diverse perspectives by 11 scholars across nine institutions.

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who was the guest of honour, said the late Awolowo demonstrated selfless leadership.

    “He has provided inspiration for me as a governor,” said Aregbesola, who was represented by the Head of Service Mr Sunday Owoeye.

    Aregbesola said he studies the “Awolowo book of governance”, adding that every leader who wishes to succeed must learn lessons from the late sage.

    “What I learnt most from him is the ability to set goals, attract the best, and mobilise resources to achieve objectives. He is a model in every way. And for the foreseeable future, he’ll remain relevant

    “I am always excited to talk about our inimitable leader, Chief Awolowo. He was a leader of leaders. One of the hallmarks of leadership is that your work stands long after you have left the scene.

    “This is because they are enduring works, and second, you have mentored others who will take the mantle of leadership and take off from where you stopped.

    “We remember Awolowo today and forever, not only for the iconic Cocoa House, the first television station in Africa, the farm settlements, free education and so on, but more because he was such a positive influence on people that have since become politically correct to claim to be an Awoist,” Aregbesola said.

    Among contributors to the book is Prof Segun Gbadegesin of the Howard University, Washington DC.

    According to him, even though Awolowo was dead, it was in the interest of Nigeria “to go back to him from time to time to make our nation as great as it is destined to be”.

    Writing on the theme: Envisioning National Progress: Building on the legacy of Obafemi Awolowo, he says: “Chief Awowolo did what was humanly possible to make Nigeria great. But like the last son of Orunmila, Nigeria shunned and disrespected him. He left for the land of ancestors.

    “But for the faithful who believe in him and his strategies for making Nigeria great, he left them the tools, the outcome of his sleepless nights, the result of his deep thoughts, to consult and reflect upon as we continue to struggle for progress and development.”

    In the book’s forward, eminent professor of political science, Alaba Ogunsanwo, described the late Awolowo as “an organiser and mobiliser of human and material resources par excellence.”

    “This book is about him and the values that others may or should emulate from him,” Ogunswanwo said, adding that the late Awolowo was a visionary leader who was able to identify and utilise the genius in others.

    Oseni said the book was written to widen the discourse and debate about leadership values “within the precepts, prospects and opportunities of and for national unity, integration and development.”

    He said it was also designed to enhance a positive, productive and progressive understanding of leadership qualities of one of the greatest Nigerian leaders that ever lived.

    “Short of being a sheer hagiography, this book is aimed largely at enlivening debates and discussions about one of Africa’s and world’s best leaders of all times,” he said.

    Oseni said the book’s cover price is N2,000 and is available on Amazon, Konga, Dealdey and major university bookshops, among others

    A book of poetry written by Dr Oseni, My London Poems, was also presented at the event.

    The Youth Focus Initiative, an NGO founded by Oseni, presented the Youth Focus Role Model Awards to individuals whose sterling contributions in public service, career progression and social development are worthy of emulation by young people. The NGO is involved in leadership training, personal development, and community service.

    The awardees are Aregbesola, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Babatunde Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), Gov Abiola Ajimobi, Executive Director, Obafemi Awolowo Foundation Dr Tokunbo Awolowo Dosunmu, Muyiwa Ige, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, Minister of Technology Abdul-Raheem Adebayo Shittu, and publisher Akinyode Oyewusi.

    Others are Chief Babatunde Soares, a Deputy Commissioner of Police Sunday Odukoya, an Assistant Commissioner of Police Sybil Akinfenwa, Mrs  Febisola Okonkwo, Aisha Lawal and Fisayo Soyombo.