As we approach May 29, 2023, and the inauguration of a new Nigerian leader and president for the most populous black nation on earth – Nigeria, we’ll begin a new series exploring the lives of past Nigerian leaders. This is the third in the series and we explore the life of Obafemi Awolowo. History provides us with a ‘painted canvas’ so we can understand the country better. Where we came from, where we’ve been and where we may be heading.
Obafemi Awolowo was a prominent Nigerian statesman, lawyer, and political leader. He was born on March 6, 1909, in Ikenne, in what is now Ogun State, Nigeria.
Obafemi Awolowo
Awolowo received his education in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, where he studied law at the University of London. Upon his return to Nigeria, he became involved in politics and was a key figure in the country’s struggle for independence from British colonial rule.
In 1949, Awolowo co-founded the Action Group, a political party that sought to promote the interests of Nigerians across ethnic and regional lines. He served as the premier of the Western Region from 1954 to 1960, and during this time, he implemented a number of progressive policies, including free primary education and the establishment of the Western Nigeria Television Service.
Awolowo also played a significant role in the negotiations that led to Nigeria’s independence from Britain in 1960. Following independence, he served as the federal commissioner for finance and vice chairman of the federal executive council.
Unlike many of Nigeria’s peri-independence leadership, Obafemi Awolowo was not among those killed in the 1966 coup in Nigeria because he was in prison at the time of the coup. Awolowo had been arrested and charged with treasonable felony in 1962, following a political crisis in the Western Region of Nigeria.
Awolowo was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison, which he served in various locations in Nigeria, including Calabar, Lagos, and Kaduna. He remained in prison throughout the period of the 1966 coup, which took place on January 15 of that year.
His imprisonment likely played a role in his survival, as it kept him out of the political sphere during a turbulent and violent time in Nigeria’s history.
After his release from prison in 1966, Awolowo remained a significant political figure in Nigeria and continued to play an important role in the country’s political development.
In 1971, Awolowo was again arrested and charged with treason by the military government of General Yakubu Gowon. He was imprisoned for several years before being released in 1975. Awolowo continued to be an influential figure in Nigerian politics, and he ran unsuccessfully for the presidency in 1979 and 1983.
Obafemi Awolowo’s achievements are numerous, and he is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential Nigerian statesmen of the 20th century. Some of his most significant achievements include:
- Leadership in the struggle for Nigerian independence: Awolowo was a key figure in the movement for Nigerian independence from British colonial rule, and he played a critical role in negotiating the country’s independence in 1960.
- Implementation of progressive policies: As the premier of the Western Region from 1954 to 1960, Awolowo implemented a number of progressive policies aimed at promoting development and improving the lives of Nigerians. These policies included free primary education, establishment of the Western Nigeria Television Service, and agricultural development initiatives.
- Development of the federal system of government: Awolowo was a strong advocate for the federal system of government, which he believed would promote democracy and development in Nigeria. He played a key role in the development of Nigeria’s first federal constitution in 1954.
- Role in the post-independence government: Following Nigeria’s independence, Awolowo served as the federal commissioner for finance and vice chairman of the federal executive council. During this time, he helped to establish several important institutions, including the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation and the Nigerian Ports Authority.
- Contribution to Nigerian politics: Awolowo was a central figure in Nigerian politics throughout his life, and he played a critical role in the development of several political parties, including the Action Group and the Unity Party of Nigeria. He also ran unsuccessfully for the presidency in 1979 and 1983.
Overall, Awolowo’s legacy is one of leadership, vision, and dedication to the development and progress of Nigeria. His ideas and policies continue to influence Nigerian politics and society today.
Obafemi Awolowo passed away on May 9, 1987, at the age of 78. He is remembered as a visionary leader who fought tirelessly for Nigerian independence and worked to promote democracy and development in his country. He is honored with several monuments and institutions named after him, including the Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife and the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in Ibadan.