How the idea of new UPN was mooted – Frederick Fasehun

How the idea of new UPN was mooted – Frederick Fasehun

Is it only a resuscitation of name or the ideals of the party as it were those days? Vanguard

"It is not the cap, or the spectacle, but the ideologies that is expressed in the welfarism and social democracy of the people. That is Awoism." - Fasehun, the Vanguard - April 12, 2013.

Our Comment: 

Since the start of this Blog, we have, without any reservation,  treated the name, Awo, as well as the Awo philosophy; otherwise referred to as Awoism, with unparalleled reverend and admiration.  So, coming by this story earlier today, April 12, 2013, it is expected that we will post it on our Blog. The UPN ideological bent is totally in sync with our definition of politics. The Awo philosophy, in other words, his leadership style, is people focused - populist. Unfortunately, the present leadership cadre in Nigeria lacks the courage to develop a coherent and robust framework for people oriented planning and development. I used to interpret that shameful abhorrence of populism by present day Nigerian leaders in the context of intellectual deficiency or audacity deficit. Not any more. They know exactly what they are doing. It's all about the bottom line - how much they will be able to take home for their personal use, if free education and affordable healthcare provisions are taken off the table. Let's hope and pray that Mr. Fasehun and the new breed Awo disciples at home and abroad are ale to register the party. 

Below you will find some highlights of his leadership virtues culled from this Blog.

"I reject the ‘destroying this temple’ (Nigeria) narrative of our bloggers, opinion leaders and writers. I would rather we focus on a unifying and nation building narrative - doing exactly what Chief Obafemi Awolowo did – educate everyone and provide for everyone the right incentives for empowerment, for industrialization, and entrepreneurship and simultaneously, do exactly what Mallam Nassir El’Ruffai did at FCT- clean up the Temples, without regards to race, religion, and class and make it (Nigeria) WHOLE again, without bloodshed."

"We might not have a Bill Clinton or another Awo, but if we could gather enough wisdom, enough foresight and look beyond our present anger and resolve to jettison ethnic and religious considerations when making leadership choices, if we could stand and remain objective in our assessment of our potential leaders, I am optimistic that we will find greatness again very soon."

"When Awo left for England for his law degree he made a commitment that every child of school going age, will never walk a long distance to school again, when he is back in office. On his return from England and back in government, he accomplished that dream in the magnitude that defied human imagination. There were elementary schools and grammar schools within walking distance for every eligible candidate. As at the creation of Midwest region on August 9, 1963, my village, Ewohimi, had about thirteen Primary Schools, Three Modern Schools and a Grammar School. All built before 1960 under the leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his Action Group political party. In a nutshell, every child wanting to go to School, did so without sweat."

"PDP, as a political party is personification of everything that is resentful about Nigeria. The party does not stand for something that you and I could easily relate to as trademark of what is real and noble in a political party. Same is true of other political parties. Awo and UPN stood for Free Education at all Levels. President Shehu Shagari and NPN stood for Quality Education. Republican Party in the U.S espouses limited government and lower taxes."

"I stand to be corrected, PDP, ACN, Labor, and CPC do not have any ascertainable or easily understood policy or manifesto that one could readily relate to or attribute to the brain child of any of the top brass of the parties - be it on education; be it on healthcare; be it on how to manage our federal system and making it more efficient; or be it on real economy with a view to creating more jobs and improving public service."

"For instance, the fact that you wear an Awo hat doesn't make you an Awoist or imbue you with Awo's values and his leadership virtues. Do you profess Awoism and be willing to apply them to the best of your ability relative to the volume of resources within your control - pragmatism? That is the test."

"You don’t have to be an Afenifere to wear the crown. After all, Professor Claude Ake who introduced “Awo” as a course of study in his Faculty at the University of Calabar, was not in any shape or form a politician or of the Yoruba race. He was simply an authentic Awoist and a true witness to the accomplishments of the late sage. That he decided to propagate the message to the younger generations via classroom setting was quite understandable. Awoism shouldn't be about slogan and rhetoric, but action and performance. Right now, there are no traces of Awoism in any of the political party in the country."

"In similar vein, the fact that you exude an Aminu Kano's populist activism image doesn't make you a lover of the talakawa or a talakawa sympathizer. Do you have what it takes to organize with righteous intent, designed exclusively to serve the under-class? Are you willing to practice egalitarianism? How many people have you liberated from poverty, decadence, illiteracy, and mental slavery? Are you willing to accept that there are people in your community deserving of emancipation? Those are the test."

...bits and pieces from the length and breadth of our Blog! You cannot find them in one spot.