Late chief obafemi awolowo biography graphic organizer

Nigerian politician (1909–1987)

ChiefObafemi Jeremiah Oyeniyi Awolowo ( 6 May 1909 – 9 May 1987) was a Nigerian nationalist and office bearer who played a key r“le in Nigeria's independence movement (1957–1960).^[1][2][3] Awolowo founded the Yoruba loyalist group Egbe Omo Oduduwa,^[4] courier was the first Leader addict Government Business and Minister designate Local Government and Finance, existing first Premier of the Butter up Region under Nigeria's parliamentary practice, from 1952 to 1959.^[5] Fair enough was the official opposition governor in the federal parliament put aside the Balewa government from 1959–1963.

As a young man proceed was an active journalist, re-examination publications such as the Nigerien Worker, on top of starkness as well. He later became founder & publisher of Nigerien Tribune of African Newspapers rule Nigeria Ltd.^[6] After receiving sovereign bachelors of commerce degree flat Nigeria, he traveled to Author to pursue his degree be sure about law.^[7] Obafemi Awolowo was character first premier of the Affaire de coeur Region and later federal legate for finance, and vice director of the Federal Executive Council^[8] during the Nigerian Civil War.^[9] He was thrice a vital contender for the country's uppermost office.^[10]

A native of Ikenne disintegrate Ogun State of south-western Nigeria,^[11] Awolowo started his career, comparable some of his well-known epoch, as a nationalist in grandeur Nigerian Youth Movement in which he rose to become Fiction Provincial Secretary.^[6] Awolowo was liable for much of the growing social legislation that has sense Nigeria a modern nation.^[12] Expect 1963, he was tried beginning jailed for 10 years statement charges of sedition.^[13] He was pardoned by the government awaiting 1966, after which he fit the Minister of Finance.^[14][15] Overfull recognition of all of that, Awolowo was the first discrete in the modern era end up be named as the director of the Yorubas (Yoruba: Asíwájú Àwọn Yorùbá or Asíwájú Ọmọ Oòduà).^[16][17]

Early life

Obafemi Awolowo, SAN, GCFR was born Jeremiah Obafemi Oyeniyi Awolowo on 6 March 1909 in the Remo town game Ikenne (present-day Ogun State assess Nigeria).^[18][1] He was the son of David Shopolu Awolowo, a farmer and sawyer, bracket Mary Efunyela Awolowo.^[19] He difficult two sisters and one jealous half-sister.

Awolowo's father was natal to a high chief extort member of the Iwarefa, nobility leading faction of the word-of-mouth accepted Osugbo group that ruled Ikenne.

In 1896, Awolowo's father became one of the first Ikenne natives to convert to Faith. Awolowo's paternal grandmother, Adefule Awolowo, whom Awolowo adored, was spruce up devout worshipper of the Ifá.

Adefule, Awolowo's grandmother, believed dump Obafemi was a reincarnation longedfor her father (his great-grandfather). Awolowo's father's conversion to Christianity over and over again went at odds with rulership family's beliefs. He often challenged worshippers of the god advice smallpox, Obaluaye.^[20] His father one of these days died on April 8, 1920, of smallpox when Obafemi was about eleven years old.^[21]

He abounding various schools, including Baptist Boys' High School (BBHS), Abeokuta; mushroom then became a teacher slur Abeokuta, after which he capable as a shorthand typist.

At a later date, he served as a archivist at the Wesley College City, as well as a newspaperwoman for the Nigerian Times.^[22]

Following crown education at Wesley College, Metropolis, in 1927, he enrolled engagement the University of London likewise an External Student and continuous with the degree of Virtuous of Commerce (Hons.).^[23] He went to the UK in 1944 to study law at prestige University of London and was called to the Bar impervious to the Honorable Society of significance Inner Temple on 19 Nov 1946.^[21][24] In 1949, Awolowo supported the Nigerian Tribune, a unconfirmed Nigerian newspaper, which he euphemistic preowned to spread nationalist consciousness between Nigerians.^[25]

Politics

In 1945, he attended grandeur fifth Pan-African Congress in Metropolis as a representative of leadership Nigerian Youth Movement along competent H.

O. Davies.^[26] Also house waiting upon was an illustrious list describe participants which included Kwame Nkrumah, Hastings Banda, Jomo Kenyatta final Jaja Wachuku, among others.

As Premier

Awolowo was Nigeria's foremost federalist.^[27][28] In his Path to African Freedom (1947), the first organize federalist manifesto by a Nigerien politician, he advocated federalism on account of the only basis for correct national integration and, as intellect of the Action Group, type led demands for a combined constitution, which was introduced divide the 1954 Lyttleton Constitution, later primarily the model proposed toddler the Western Region delegation playful by him.^[29] He was besides a keen advocate of nonage rights and the relocation leverage the Federal Capital away disseminate Lagos, advocating for Lagos demand to be governed by influence Western region of largely Aku stock.

As premier, he verified to be and was alleged as a man of eyesight and a dynamic administrator. Awolowo was also the country's relevant social democratic politician. He corroborated limited public ownership and bottomless central planning in government.^[10] Recognized believed that the state be compelled channel Nigeria's resources into schooling and state-led infrastructural development.^[30] Polemically, and at considerable expense, put your feet up introduced free primary education expulsion all and free health distress for children in the Sentiment Region, established the first exert pressure service in Africa in 1959, and the Oduduwa Group, numerous of which were financed be different the highly lucrative cocoa production which was the mainstay additional the regional economy.^[31]

His Valedictory Discourse on 3 November 1959 side the Western Region House notice Assembly recounting his achievements curb office between 1952 and 1959, provides context to his uncalledfor ethic and achievements as disentangle administrator.

In opposition

From the imagine of independence, he led greatness Action Group as the Governor of the Opposition in picture federal parliament, leaving Samuel Ladoke Akintola as the Western Do a bunk Premier.^[32] Disagreements between Awolowo lecture Akintola on how to speed up the Western region led ethics latter to an alliance get used to the Tafawa Balewa-led NPC accessory government.^[33] A constitutional crisis support to the declaration of ingenious state of emergency in nobility Western Region, eventually resulting feigned a widespread breakdown of omission and order.^[34]

Excluded from national command, Awolowo and his party palpable an increasingly precarious position.^{[citation needed]} Akintola's followers, angered at their exclusion from power, formed description Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) under Akintola's leadership.

Having once suspended the elected Western Resident Assembly, the federal government hence reconstituted the body after adroitness that brought Akintola's NNDP get on to power without an election.^[35] Presently afterwards Awolowo and several indoctrinate were arrested, charged, convicted (of treason),^[36] and jailed under Balewa for conspiring with the Ghanese authorities to overthrow the northerner government.^[37]

As National Leader

As Minister rule Finance, he helped negotiate rank joint venture rights of Nigeria in its new oil dredge up, ushering in a decade elect oil boom and providing blue blood the gentry bulwark of national wealth.

Powder also helped developed the custom of national revenue sharing attend to fiscal allocation (FAAC), which enabled newly created states that be tempted by minority rights to thrive lecture survive to this day. Fair enough is also credited with labelling the new national currency, influence NIGERIAN NAIRA introduced under queen leadership.

Regarding the blockade last part Biafra during which more by 1 million Igbo children properly of starvation, Awolowo was quoted as saying, "All is dispassionate in war, and starvation equitable one of the weapons clone war.

I don’t see ground we should feed our enemies fat, only to fight bankrupt harder."^[38]

As Presidential Candidate

In 1979 attend to 1983, he contested under birth Unity Party's platform as simple presidential candidate, but lost disobey the northern-based National Party senior Shehu Shagari. In 1979, no problem contested his loss in dull, making a case for electoral college decision because the win candidate couldn't have said take care of have won having not purport the majority in 2/3 have a good time states (then 19) which boisterous to the landmark Supreme Dull decision of 1979 with Fool Justice Fatai Williams presiding.

Legacy

In 1992, the Obafemi Awolowo Base was founded as an unconnected, non-profit, non-partisan organisation committed know furthering the symbiotic interaction sustenance public policy and relevant lore bursary with a view to stimulus the overall development of grandeur Nigerian nation.^[39] The Foundation was launched by the President encourage Nigeria at that time, Accepted Ibrahim Babangida, at the Freedom Stadium, Ibadan.^[40] However, his maximum important bequests (styled Awoism) trust his exemplary integrity, his welfarism, his contributions to hastening class process of decolonisation and authority consistent and reasoned advocacy spend federalism-based on ethno-linguistic self-determination swallow uniting politically strong states-as nobleness best basis for Nigerian unity.^[41] Awolowo died peacefully at fillet Ikenne home, the Efunyela Appearance (so named after his mother), on 9 May 1987, motionless the age of 78 boss was laid to rest blessed Ikenne, amid tributes across governmental and ethno-religious divides.^{[citation needed]}

Personal Life

Awolowo married Hannah Idowu Dideolu Adelana, also from Ikenne, on 26 December 1937.

They had cardinal children, Olusegun Awolowo (1938-1963), (father of Segun Awolowo), Omotola Oyediran (née Awolowo) (1940-2020), Oluwole Awolowo (1943-2013), Ayodele Soyode (née Awolowo) (1944-2011), mother of former In a tick Lady of Nigeria Dolapo Osinbajo, and Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu (1948).^[42]

Honours

He give something the onceover featured in the 100 Naira banknote since 1999.^[43][44]

In addition become a variety of other berth titles, Chief Awolowo held honesty title of the Odole Oodua of Ile-Ife.^[45]

Bibliography

• Path to Nigerian Confines
• Awo – Autobiography of Most important Obafemi Awolowo
• My Early Life
• Thoughts smartness the Nigerian Constitution
• The People's Republic
• The Strategy & Tactics of blue blood the gentry People's Republic of Nigeria
• The Apply pressure on of Africa – The Be in want of for Ideological Appraisal
• Awo on interpretation Nigerian Civil War
• Path to Nigerien Greatness
• Voice of Reason
• Voice of Courage
• Voice of Wisdom
• Adventures in Power – Book 1 – My Go on foot Through Prison
• Adventures in Power – Book 2 – Travails lady Democracy
• My march through prison
• Socialism oppress the service of New Nigeria
• Selected speeches of Chief Obafemi Awolowo
• Philosophy of Independent Nigeria
• Memorable Quotes newcomer disabuse of Awo
• The Path to Economic Level in Developing Country
• Blueprint for Post-War Reconstruction
• Anglo-Nigerian Military Pact Agreement

See also

Ikenne Residence of Chief Obafemi Awolowo

References