No one has history of being robbed of electoral victories or being conspired against politically, economically more than Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
He was thoroughly humiliated politically and he was the only Premier in Nigeria that was jailed, put in black maria. Unlike those thieves of today who are real criminals but have opportunity and resources to hire 20 SANs per count charge, Awolowo was denied opportunity to hire a lawyer that would defend him. His Briton Lawyer was denied Visa. But Awolowo knew that he was facing a death sentence if he couldn’t defend himself. He didn’t turn to blackmail, he was extremely intelligent unlike the idiots of today!!!
Awolowo’s first son, Segun was the first International Lawyer in Africa. So, he hired him! As Segun was going to Court to defend his father, he had a fatal accident and died instantly! His father and other accused were waiting for him in the court when Abraham Adesanya entered and whispered into the ears of Awolowo but with uncontrollable tears coming from his eyes “Leader, it is Segun o..”, “Yes, what happened to him?” AWO asked! “He had an accident sir”…”…..”Is he dead?” “I’m afraid, Yes sir…”…..
Wow, Awolowo quickly remembered his wife, he told Adesanya ” be a man. Wipe your tears, go to my house and be with my wife immediately before the news breaks. I want you to be there before she knows, pls leave….”
And then Obafemi Awolowo informed the Judge openly about what happened to his second lawyer and pleaded with the court to allow him defend himself and other accused. The Judge agreed!!!!
Awolowo was an EDUCATED LITERATE. He believed in the existing order and never called for the collapse of Nigeria because of his adversity. He had issues with our laws and he advocated for TRUE FEDERALISM but he didn’t call for destruction of Nigeria or adopt blackmail as a tool.
Whenever Awolowo criticize a Government, he had no business with the life of any leader or his family, he criticized policies and decisions only and proffer realistic solutions. And on few occasions, he commended some policies he agreed with via a Press Conference, Publications, Press Releases or Personal Visits. He was a man with decorum!!!!
Those he criticized too knew. And Shagari gave him GCFR. Gowon called him the Best thing that happened to him. Ojukwu called him “The best Nigeria President that never was”. Aminu Kano said “Chief Awolowo is a genius”…..IBB said and quote “Since 1959, the politics of Nigeria has been redefined into two. Either You are for Chief Awolowo or Against him…”…..
He said “a time is coming when good people of Nigeria will come together and the bad ones will also gather…..” and that will be the two parties!!! Exactly as we are seeing today!!!
That is opposition politics that I grew to know not the nonsense madness we see today. Not hate, not envy, not opportunism!!!