Awo’s home to become national monument

26.11.2007

IN recognition of the contributions of the sage and foremost nationalist, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, to human emancipation and national development, Ogun State government is on the verge of giving his home in Ikenne official recognition as a national monument.

The state governor, Chief Gbenga Daniel, has sent a bill entitled: “The Obafemi Awolowo Home, Ikenne (Designation as monument) Order, 2007,” to the state House of Assembly for debate and subsequent passage into law.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Wale Adebayo, said: “His Excellency believes that a historically significant personality like the sage, whose prominence transcends Nigeria’s boundaries and generations should have his personal residence adequately protected and maintained by government. Whatever belongs to Papa Awolowo is part of our unique history as a people.

“As is obtainable in the developed democracies of Europe and North America, the government of Ogun State intends to preserve and maintain the estate so that generations yet unborn would have the opportunity of feeling firsthand the site where Papa Awolowo spent a better part of his life.

“It is a heritage we are proud of and we intend to maintain it as one.” The Historical Sites and Structures (designation as Monument) Law No. 3 of 2004 provided the legal framework under which the bill was brought to the Ogun State House of Assembly.

It has four sections: Citation, Designation as Monument, Appointment of Management Committee and Functions of the Committee. Its citation read: “This Order may be cited as the Obafemi Awolowo Home, Ikenne (Designation as Monument) Order, 2007,” while the following section reads: “The Obafemi Awolowo Home Ikenne is hereby designated a State Monument.”

Section 3 of the bill provides for a five-member committee to “manage the monument and perform such other functions in relation to the monument as may be directed from time to time by the governor or any person so designated by him.”

The committe would be headed by a chairman, it would have two permanent members to be nominated by the Awolowo family while the remaining two members would be changed from time to time.
Lawmakers in the state House of Assembly have expressed readiness to debate the bill and hasten its passage process.