THE LEGACIES OF OBAFEMI AWOLOWO 1909-1987

CHAPTER ONE

1. O INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

To adequately understand Awolowo’s legacies, it is helpful to set out with a brief outline of his biography and general philosophy. Obafemi Awolowo (1909-1987) was born into an agrarian and peaceful society, IKenne, Ogun State, Nigeria (Awolowo 1982, 6). At the age of eleven, he lost his father. His schooling stopped at this point for a while, and he had to practically begin to fend for himself at that tender age. He later proceeded to Abeokuta to complete his primary school education, which he did in 1926. In order to achieve this, he worked at various times as a houseboy, a water-carrier, and a fire-wood seller. He joined Wesley College, Ibadan, in 1927 for a teacher training course that would have led to the award of a Higher Elementary Teacher’s Certificate, but left after spending only a year there (Awolowo 1982, 65). He worked as a “Provisional Teacher” in 1928 at the Wesleyan (now Methodist) school, Ogbe, Abeokuta, before returning to Lagos in 1930, where he worked at various times as a typist, newspaper reporter, money lender, trade unionist, and later as a produce buyer. He proceeded to obtain the B. Comm. Degree of the University of London in 1940. He qualified for the LL.B. of the University of London, and was called to the English bar the same year. His three years stay in London was, according to him, his most productive years, in which he formed the Egbe Omo Oduduwa (that consequently joined other forces in agitating for Nigeria’s independence), and completed writing his first book, Path to Nigerian Freedom (Awolowo 1982, 123). Among his other works are The Voice of Reason, The Voice of Courage, The Problems of Africa: The Need for Ideological Reappraisal, and The Peoples’ Republic. Awolowo was a thinker, ideologue, statesman and political prophet. Being the first Premier of the Western Region in 1954, his sojourn through the rank and file of Nigerian politics is remarkable because of his immense contribution to the Nigerian project. His numerous works remain a testimony to the fecundity of his mind. Awolowo’s legacies include his progressive political ideas on fiscal federalism, socialist democracy, ethnic autonomy, fairness and equity in resource allocation, planned development, and liberal and scientific education.Chief Obafemi Awolowo, variously described as the political Moses of Nigeria or the best President Nigeria never had, developed the ideas through his political journey in life. Awoism, as an ideology is a brand of socialism which the sage was able to nurture analytically to maturity and adopted by the Unity Party of Nigeria as a program of government that would systematically moves the productive base from pure capitalism to socialism. The logic of socialist mode of production here is comparable to Fabian socialism, in England or Bergstein’s Revisionism in Germany. The kernel of engineering is founded on education which shall be made available freely to every citizen. The government that is responsible and committed to the yearnings and aspirations of the people will guide the society towards socialism through a clear cut program of promoting social justice, equity and participation. A government that would pursue its programs with adequate planning, monitoring, control evaluation and feedback. The programs will be pursued in a progressive and evolutionary manner such that private businesses will not be at jeopardy. Certain strategic industries would be und the control of the state through nationalisation for the good of the country such as the Iron and Steel. Awoism as a brand of socialism is directed rat Africa and is meant to be actualised in Nigeria, which according to Awolowo would be achieved through democratic means, that is, engaging the cooperation of the people, even if it needs to appeal to their religious faith, after all in Africa, religion and ethnicity are symbiotic forces and so, in this brand of socialism if religion is tolerated to achieving the goals of socialism that would be to the advantage of the people.

The true legacies of the Chief Obafemi Awolowo started when he came back home from Britain, Awolowo formed the cultural group known as “Egbe Omo Oduduwa” in 1949 and it is regard as a political party, the Action Group, (AG), in 1951 also known as Egbe Afenifere in Western part of Nigeria as part of the Social Programme for the complete emancipation of Yoruba race. Action group party won the first elections ever conducted in Western Nigeria. As a result of the victory of the election, the AG formed the first elected government in the Western Region and Obafemi Awolowo, now a Chief, became the Leader of Government Business and Minister for Local Government in 1952. In 1954, Awo (as he had come to be fondly known within his party) became the first Premier of the Western Region. His party won the elections again in May 1956 and Awo retained his position as Premier. He voluntarily gave up that position when, on December 12, 1959, he was elected into the House of Representatives where he became the Leader of Opposition in Nigeria’s central legislature. The study will take a deep view into the legacies left by Chief Obafemi Awolowo during and after his reign in Nigeria.

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Back in the 60’s, Chief Obafemi Awolowo stood up stoutly against mediocrity and drift in government, and began to define alternative channels along which Nigeria’s government should go even when the Nigeria political system tends to forget the footpath of their past leaders, the zeal to lead and the desire to fight and defend her citizens is no longer there. His own concept of a Nigerian nation was probably too advanced for his opponents, who began to see the Awolowo-led opposition as a major threat. Following a trial for treasonable felony, he was jailed for 10 years in September 1963. Every day Nigeria and her citizen pray for another Chief      Obafemi Awolowo; but their dreams tend to diminish by the continuous drop in the political standard of Nigeria.

1.3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

The aim of the study is to examine the impact of the legacies of Obafemi Awolowo on the promotion of peace, education, health and rise in the political standard of Nigeria. The specific aims of the study are stated below as follows:

1. To examine the effect of thought on the perfection of the Nigeria political system.
2. To examine the role of Obafemi Awolowo in the provision of free education.
3. To examine the role of Obafemi Awolowo in the promotion of modest life style and women empowerment.
4. To discuss Obafemi Awolowo Reform of the electoral system as part of his legacies.
5. To proffer recommendation for the present government and the future political leaders.

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

The study will be of immense benefit to the federal government of Nigeria, the present political leaders and the future political leaders as it will serve as a role model or kind of a guide to a better political administration, the study will be of immense benefit to citizens of Nigeria, the western part of Nigeria; the study will also influence the studying and writing habit of literature students that want to follow in the footstep of Obafemi Awolowo during his time as a writer.

1.5 SCOPE OF STUDY

The study the legacies of Obafemi Awolowo will cover his eventful life from the 1909 to 1987

1.6 ORGANISATION OF STUDY

The study will consist of five chapters the chapter of the study will include the background of the study, the statement of problem, the objectives of the study, the significance of study, the scope of the study, the limitation of the study, and definition of terms. The chapter two of the study will consist of the review on the eventful life of Obafemi Awolowo, his contribution to the development of Nigeria. The chapter three of the research work will consist of the legacies of Obafemi Awolowo and the challenges of the political leadership from the past to the present day. The chapter four of the study will consist of the impact of the legacies on the governance, the impact on the military system of organisation. The chapter five of the study will consist of the summary, conclusion and the recommendation.

1.7 LIMITATIONS OF STUDY

Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature.

Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERM

LEGACY:in accordance to the study is regarded as an amount of money or property left to Nigeria and her citizens by chief Obafemi Awolowo.