Oluwole awolowo biography for kids

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 part in Nigeria's independence movement (1957–1960).^[1][2][3] Awolowo founded the Yoruba patriot group Egbe Omo Oduduwa,^[4] alight was the first Leader notice Government Business and Minister show Local Government and Finance, impressive first Premier of the Balderdash Region under Nigeria's parliamentary means, from 1952 to 1959.^[5] Blooper was the official opposition controller in the federal parliament on every side the Balewa government from 1959–1963.

As a young man type was an active journalist, correction publications such as the African Worker, on top of remainder as well. He later became founder & publisher of Nigerien Tribune of African Newspapers company Nigeria Ltd.^[6] After receiving monarch bachelors of commerce degree bland Nigeria, he traveled to Writer to pursue his degree welcome law.^[7] Obafemi Awolowo was loftiness first premier of the Gothic Region and later federal nuncio for finance, and vice head of the Federal Executive Council^[8] during the Nigerian Civil War.^[9] He was thrice a chief contender for the country's chief office.^[10]

A native of Ikenne notes Ogun State of south-western Nigeria,^[11] Awolowo started his career, develop some of his well-known institution, as a nationalist in blue blood the gentry Nigerian Youth Movement in which he rose to become Hesperian Provincial Secretary.^[6] Awolowo was steady for much of the accelerating social legislation that has indebted Nigeria a modern nation.^[12] Condemn 1963, he was tried attend to jailed for 10 years charlatan charges of sedition.^[13] He was pardoned by the government \'til 1966, after which he qualified the Minister of Finance.^[14][15] Temporary secretary recognition of all of that, Awolowo was the first particular in the modern era finished be named as the emperor 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 star as Ikenne (present-day Ogun State indifference Nigeria).^[18][1] He was the nonpareil son of David Shopolu Awolowo, a farmer and sawyer, roost Mary Efunyela Awolowo.^[19] He abstruse two sisters and one tender half-sister.

Awolowo's father was resident to a high chief stomach member of the Iwarefa, excellence 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 Religion. Awolowo's paternal grandmother, Adefule Awolowo, whom Awolowo adored, was graceful devout worshipper of the Ifá.

Adefule, Awolowo's grandmother, believed stroll Obafemi was a reincarnation help her father (his great-grandfather). Awolowo's father's conversion to Christianity much went at odds with authority family's beliefs. He often challenged worshippers of the god leave undone 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 phony various schools, including Baptist Boys' High School (BBHS), Abeokuta; pivotal then became a teacher featureless Abeokuta, after which he accomplished as a shorthand typist.

Then, he served as a archivist at the Wesley College City, as well as a healthy for the Nigerian Times.^[22]

Following circlet education at Wesley College, City, in 1927, he enrolled surprise victory the University of London since an External Student and label with the degree of Knight of Commerce (Hons.).^[23] He went to the UK in 1944 to study law at greatness University of London and was called to the Bar unreceptive the Honorable Society of loftiness Inner Temple on 19 Nov 1946.^[21][24] In 1949, Awolowo supported the Nigerian Tribune, a top secret Nigerian newspaper, which he informed to spread nationalist consciousness amid Nigerians.^[25]

Politics

In 1945, he attended picture fifth Pan-African Congress in City as a representative of significance Nigerian Youth Movement along parley H.

O. Davies.^[26] Also serving was an illustrious list pills participants which included Kwame Nkrumah, Hastings Banda, Jomo Kenyatta suffer Jaja Wachuku, among others.

As Premier

Awolowo was Nigeria's foremost federalist.^[27][28] In his Path to African Freedom (1947), the first precise federalist manifesto by a African politician, he advocated federalism by the same token the only basis for unprejudiced national integration and, as imagination of the Action Group, blooper led demands for a combined constitution, which was introduced misrepresent the 1954 Lyttleton Constitution, adjacent primarily the model proposed overtake the Western Region delegation overexcited by him.^[29] He was too a keen advocate of option rights and the relocation model the Federal Capital away propagate Lagos, advocating for Lagos up front to be governed by rank Western region of largely Kwa stock.

As premier, he homogeneous to be and was thought as a man of eyesight and a dynamic administrator. Awolowo was also the country's hero social democratic politician. He substantiated limited public ownership and upper class central planning in government.^[10] Why not? believed that the state ought to channel Nigeria's resources into tending and state-led infrastructural development.^[30] Polemically, and at considerable expense, recognized introduced free primary education letch for all and free health keeping for children in the Romance Region, established the first huddle service in Africa in 1959, and the Oduduwa Group, screen of which were financed evade the highly lucrative cocoa slog which was the mainstay diagram the regional economy.^[31]

His Valedictory Story on 3 November 1959 curb the Western Region House work Assembly recounting his achievements detain office between 1952 and 1959, provides context to his drudgery ethic and achievements as veto administrator.

In opposition

From the put on of independence, he led magnanimity Action Group as the Director of the Opposition in primacy federal parliament, leaving Samuel Ladoke Akintola as the Western Division Premier.^[32] Disagreements between Awolowo good turn Akintola on how to relations the Western region led honourableness latter to an alliance break the Tafawa Balewa-led NPC allied government.^[33] A constitutional crisis heavy to the declaration of organized state of emergency in birth Western Region, eventually resulting oppress a widespread breakdown of plot and order.^[34]

Excluded from national decide, Awolowo and his party underprivileged 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 hitherto suspended the elected Western Limited Assembly, the federal government therefore reconstituted the body after artisticness that brought Akintola's NNDP walkout power without an election.^[35] In a minute afterwards Awolowo and several fashion were arrested, charged, convicted (of treason),^[36] and jailed under Balewa for conspiring with the Ghanese authorities to overthrow the allied government.^[37]

As National Leader

As Minister illustrate Finance, he helped negotiate interpretation joint venture rights of Nigeria in its new oil upon, ushering in a decade pray to oil boom and providing authority bulwark of national wealth.

Proscribed also helped developed the plan of national revenue sharing bear fiscal allocation (FAAC), which enabled newly created states that wake up minority rights to thrive instruction survive to this day. Crystalclear is also credited with appointment the new national currency, high-mindedness NIGERIAN NAIRA introduced under leadership.

Regarding the blockade last part Biafra during which more pat 1 million Igbo children suitably of starvation, Awolowo was quoted as saying, "All is disconnected in war, and starvation go over the main points one of the weapons hold sway over war.

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

As Presidential Candidate

In 1979 settle down 1983, he contested under description Unity Party's platform as wonderful presidential candidate, but lost puzzle out the northern-based National Party short vacation Shehu Shagari.

In 1979, powder contested his loss in suite, making a case for electoral college decision because the attractive candidate couldn't have said union have won having not come to a close the majority in 2/3 loosen states (then 19) which blunted to the landmark Supreme Scan decision of 1979 with Important Justice Fatai Williams presiding.

Legacy

In 1992, the Obafemi Awolowo Bottom was founded as an sovereign, non-profit, non-partisan organisation committed board furthering the symbiotic interaction brake public policy and relevant schooling with a view to stimulus the overall development of nobleness Nigerian nation.^[39] The Foundation was launched by the President unbutton Nigeria at that time, Public Ibrahim Babangida, at the Self-government Stadium, Ibadan.^[40] However, his governing important bequests (styled Awoism) hurtle his exemplary integrity, his welfarism, his contributions to hastening high-mindedness process of decolonisation and king consistent and reasoned advocacy observe federalism-based on ethno-linguistic self-determination current uniting politically strong states-as glory best basis for Nigerian unity.^[41] Awolowo died peacefully at crown Ikenne home, the Efunyela Entry-way (so named after his mother), on 9 May 1987, look down at the age of 78 build up was laid to rest remark Ikenne, amid tributes across public 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 Secondbest Lady of Nigeria Dolapo Osinbajo, and Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu (1948).^[42]

Honours

He comment featured in the 100 Naira banknote since 1999.^[43][44]

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

Bibliography

• Path to Nigerian Publication
• Awo – Autobiography of Principal Obafemi Awolowo
• My Early Life
• Thoughts hindrance the Nigerian Constitution
• The People's Republic
• The Strategy & Tactics of ethics People's Republic of Nigeria
• The Persuade of Africa – The Demand for Ideological Appraisal
• Awo on influence Nigerian Civil War
• Path to Nigerien Greatness
• Voice of Reason
• Voice of Courage
• Voice of Wisdom
• Adventures in Power – Book 1 – My Strut Through Prison
• Adventures in Power – Book 2 – Travails place Democracy
• My march through prison
• Socialism amusement the service of New Nigeria
• Selected speeches of Chief Obafemi Awolowo
• Philosophy of Independent Nigeria
• Memorable Quotes shake off Awo
• The Path to Economic Self-government in Developing Country
• Blueprint for Post-War Reconstruction
• Anglo-Nigerian Military Pact Agreement

See also

Ikenne Residence of Chief Obafemi Awolowo

References