Let me illustrate some fact here, if chief Awolowo had his way, when he attempted to went to the center in 1959 federal election, probably he would have love to hand over to his Attorney general in the western region, the stormy petrel of Nigeria law, Chief F.R.A Williams known as timi the law or chief Anthony Enahoro, the young man from Ishan division that move the first Nigeria independent motion at the floor of parliament in 1953, but the then party leaders like Chief S.O Gbadamosi of Ikorodu, Alfred Rewane and Others; prevail and put pressure on him to hand over to the deputy leader of action group S.L.A. Akintola, after the demise of Bode Akanji Thomas, the then Balogun of Oyo Empire; Awo succumb to the voice of his lieutenant and enthroned Akintola to succeed him, F.R.A Williams resigned angrily from the government, the rest have become an history. Nearer in the 2nd republic in Oyo state between Rev. Emmanuel Alayande and Cicero of Esa-oke Bola ige, both of blessed memory; Awo have preference for Rev.
Alayande, the former chaplain of the action group, and the former principal of Ibadan Boys High School; for the prized job; but ige insist on his own right also, to went into the ring, what happened is that, Awo had known Rev. Alayande since early 50, since the day of formation of Egbe Omo Oduduwa, while his path cross with ige, though his lawyer friend, chief Moroundiya, Ige worked under Moroundiya as a young lawyer at Moroundiya chamber at Ibadan when the chief told Awo, about the young man then, Awo were eager to met him because since early 50s, Ige do write an article and do critizing Awo action Group Party Foreign Policy, any time Ige wrote , mostly in Nigeria Tribune, Awo was fond of having interest on it, and awo usually cut out the write-up for up keeping.
On the day Ige met chief awo, through chief Moroundiya, chief Awo brought out all his write-up to the amazement of Ige and he told Ige that as you are criticizing our foreign policy, gave us you own idea; from there he accommodated Ige in his ad-hoc committee member on foreign relation, come 1961, he became the publicity secretary of Action Group; now in 1979 there is a dilemma between trusted friend from early 50’, and a boys knows in early 60’s. God bless Awo, with wisdom and foresight, because between Alayande and Ige, they were some scenario also, because when Rev. Alayande was a principal Ibadan Boys High School, he is the one that appoint Bola Ige as the senior prefect of the-school, what a great fate awaiting former principal and his senior prefect to slug it out for the U.P.N. Governorship ticket, in 1979.
Ige won the primaries two times, Awo was not comfortable, but H.I.D, his jewel of inestimable value prevails on him to accept the wishes of the delegates. After all the young man has also faces baptism of fire along with you, when you are in prison, he was among your loyalist that administrator Koye Majekodunmi former physicist to Tafawa Balewa, banished to Ubiaja in Mid-west State as house arrest.
In Lagos, the scenario where interested, Ganiyu Olawale Dawodu (G.O.D) a blueblood of Lagos citizen to the core, as an Action group Stalwart, love and admire a lot among the Lagos populace, and good mobilization of men,Awo met him after independence; but he proved his ability within the short time; when Awo was in prison, without any financial help from anywhere, then all the Action Group Leaders had been incarcerated throughout the country, even Awo testify into this situation from an excerpt from his book, My March through prison; he says in the night when he was listen to his small transistor radio, he couldn’t believe his ear for the victory won by the Action Group; due to Dawodu effort, because he thought the election had been lost; G.O.D won the election overwhelms, G.O.D is a leader of men, and he loves his leader so much, he wrote a book on him “who is greatest Zik or Awo”.
Chief Akanbi Onitiri of Surulere fame, and a bosom friend of justice Theophilus Adewale Thompson, the former chief justice of old Oyo State, under Bola Ige is a strong candidates also, he went into prison along with is leaders, chief Awo in 1962, during the treasonably and felony trial; but fate moved him out of U.P.N guber race, Why? Some hawks in the N.P.P deceived him that the old man; Owelle of Onitsha won’t run as a presidential candidate of the party, due to his advancement on the stage in 1979. He left certainty for uncertainty and left U.P.N to cross to N.P.P; with the sole aim of becoming the presidential aspirant of majority Igbo lead party! When he realized that he had been deceived, no going back again, he died in ghastly motor accident, (may GOD bless his soul). Then out of the race, the ticket is clearly between Lateef Kayode Jakande and Ganiyu Olawale Dawodu, Jakande the son of Oluwo of Lagos when many people believe that his great grandfather is from kwara, a great journalist, he didn’t have the opportunity to attain a tertiary education,Before he became the editor of the Nigeria tribune in the year 1949 at Ibadan, a media printing paper belong to Chief Awolowo, he had a long relationship with Chief Awo. Awo do send him an errand to his wife at Gbagi/Ogunpa textile market, even I can recall that he met his 1st wife from the stall of H.I.D at Ogunpa.
He went to prison with his leader, like Akanbi Onitiri also in 1962. Unfortunately he was with his leader Awo in the same prison room together in the day Abraham Adesanya broke the sad news of Awo’s late son. Segun’s death to him in ghastly motor accident on July 10, 1963; Lateef Kayode Jakande wept profusely through-out the night, Awo looked him and amused and says Kayode weep for yourself, do not weep for Segun anymore.
He went to prison with his leader, like Akanbi Onitiri also in 1962. Unfortunately he was with his leader Awo in the same prison room together in the day Abraham Adesanya broke the sad news of Awo’s late son. Segun’s death to him in ghastly motor accident on July 10, 1963; Lateef Kayode Jakande wept profusely through-out the night, Awo looked him and amused and says Kayode weep for yourself, do not weep for Segun anymore.
He went to prison with his leader, like Akanbi Onitiri also in 1962. Unfortunately he was with his leader Awo in the same prison room together in the day Abraham Adesanya broke the sad news of Awo’s late son. Segun’s death to him in ghastly motor accident on July 10, 1963; Lateef Kayode Jakande wept profusely through-out the night, Awo looked him and amused and says Kayode weep for yourself, do not weep for Segun anymore.
Come the second republic Ganiyu Olawale Dawodu and Lateef Kayode Jakande both of them were of the Muslim faith, likewise Ige and Alayande of the Christain faith, Awo listened to the advice of his lieutenants and he put Lateef Kayode Jakande forward to the delight of Ganiyu Olawale Dawodu, no rancor, no fighting, no abusive or foul language, against each other,that’s how both of them worked together to defeated Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya of N.P.P. in Lagos. What is religion? To be candid religion is an opium of the mind, what is the essence of religion in politics when Awo shocks the world by picking his running mates in 1979 from Christian lgbo Philips Umeadi {Esq.} without any electoral value; with Umeadi as his running mate, Awo got the least votes among all the five contender at the presidential pool,( 0.8%) from the then South East States: people asked Awo why, he picked the man, instead of going into the core muslim north that has a lot of electoral value added to your already competent train; in response he told them that he believed at Umeadi’s integrity and capability to take over from him.
M.K.O and kingibe scenario is still fresh in our memory, Bola Ige /S.M Afolabi, LKJ/Rafiu Jafajo, Ajasin/Omoboriowo are they not performing administrator and excellent deputies during their times: Root or sources; this indigenous clause had to be settle once and for all; the issue is a very and most volatile issue in the ongoing confab sitting, even in Nigeria Constitution, when you have resided for up to ten years, anywhere in the country you must be able to participate in the political process of the area because you must have already being abiding by the rules and regulation of the community, by paying your taxes and rates, I did not seen any logic when Barrack Obama from Kenya became a Senator and later president of the most powerful country in the continent. Similarly in 1979, the great Owelle of Onitsha have a dilemma between C.C. Onoh, father of former Beauty Queen, wife of the late Biafra Warlord, and the present Nigeria Ambassador to Spain, Bianca Ojukwu; Onoh is Zik long standing Comrade during the day of the Zikist movement and a young Turk named Jim Nwobodo; on who should fly the N.P.P ticket of old Anambra State. As usual Zik admire Onoh for the job but his confidants thought otherwise and have a sympathy for Jim.
Zik accepted the majority voice, against his wish, he presented Nwobodo against his old Comrade, Jim became the 1st Executive Governor of N.P.P. while Onoh felt betrayed and left for the centre party N.P.N, and Onoh is the one that later chase Jim out of the Government house in October 1st 1983; through a controversial electoral verdict which led to litigation that both party went through in the Supreme court, through all this picture, I didn’t saw the hand and body language of the revered Obi Onitsha, late Offala Okague in the Picture, he kept aside as a traditional ruler and as a father to all. Imagine Obi dabble into the matter, against Onoh, I couldn’t imagine how his relationship with Onoh will be at the latter enthronement to power.
Onoh ruled for three months due to the military incursion on 31st of December, 1983, along with his co-newly elected Governors; Cornelius Adebayo of Kwara, Sam-Ogbemudia of old Bendel, and Victor Olunloyo, the present Balogun of Oyo Empire, all their names and legacy were wrote in gold, no matter the shortest opportunity they have to rule.
Ooni and Alaafin didn’t endorse Ige, frankly speaking due to the frosty relationship between Alaafin and Awo, the field is open for Oba Adesoji Aderemi to impose Ige on the throne, likewise Oba Lipede refused to dabble into Bisi Onabanjo/Soji Odunjo rancor in Ogun State, all of them understood and knows their limits as far Oba is a traditional ruler, and father to all, without an event there would be history, what is happening now, no matter how long, would become a history.
Life is full mystery, God Almighty knows all that is why no mortal can play God; not in politics only that God enthrone leaders, even in traditional setting God is in control of every human being. If not God, why Prince Alade Lamuye, the former Deputy Minister of Finance to Festus Okotie-Eboh in the first republics, did fail to fulfil his life-long ambition to become the Oluwo of Iwo Land; as powerful and highly connected he is; he lost the crown to unknown Oba Tadese; is it not an act of God, why Prince Raheem Ladepo former Assistant Commissioner of Police of Alowolodu/oranlola rulings house of Oyo empire, lost the crown also despite full and committed backing he got from the action group then against the present Alaafin.
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