Awo’s 99th birthday holds tomorrow

05.03.2008

ALL roads will lead to Ikenne, Ogun State, the country home of the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and the patriarch of the Awolowo dynasty tomorrow as the 99th birthday of the former premier of the Western Region holds.

Chief Awolowo’s birthday has become an annual event observed by the family, political associates and lieutenants of the sage. Chief Awolowo, whose birthday service holds at the Efunyela Hall, in the family house, Ikenne by 10.00 a.m., was born on March 6, 1909 in Ikenne, Ogun State. He died on May 9, 1987 at 78. Nigerians of diverse ethnic stock and followers of Awolowo political thought are expected to attend the occasion.

It is on record that among many other personalities and politicians, former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, described Chief Awolowo as the main issue in Nigerian politics. This assertion is evident in the quest for and the invocation of Awo’s name by many politicians to gain acceptance and win political offices.

Apart from this, politicians have, at every election period, besieged the Awolowo’s home to seek the blessing of the family’s matriarch, Chief (Mrs.) H.I.D. Awolowo.

Chief Awolowo, a consummate and populist politician, lawyer, journalist and administrator, attended the Wesleyan College, Imo, and the Wesley College, Ibadan, Oyo State.

He also attended the University of London, England, as an external student in Law. He was called to the Inner Temple Bar in 1946. Awolowo co-founded the Egbe Omo Oduduwa, the General Secretary of which he was between 1949 and 1966. He also founded and led the Action Group (AG) as well as the African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, publishers of the Tribune titles in 1949.

Chief Awolowo was, at various times, chancellor of the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife) and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria. In 1978, he became the leader of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).

He was the first premier of the defunct Western Region as well as the Federal Finance Commissioner and Vice Chairman, Federal Executive Council in General Yakubu Gowon’s administration. Chief Awolowo also became the presidential candidate of the UPN of which he was leader in the 1979 and 1983 general elections.

His footprints as premier of Western Region remain points of reference in democracy, governance and public office.