Awoism and the Search for Statesmanship and a Progressive Manifesto

"From the bottom of my heart, I congratulate our entire people of Nigeria and the people of Britain for this happy culmination of a political adventure which began in Nigeria less than One Hundred years ago. In the years that lie ahead, those of us who had the good fortune to lead our people will need statesmanship of a high order and God guidance in managing the affairs of our country for the benefit of every Nigerian citizen." That was Chief Obafemi Awolowo, talking about statesmanship of a high order... in managing the affairs of our country...following the vote to grant Nigeria self-rule on October 1, 1960,

A Synopsis

When Papa Awo died, there were more Professors from the old Ondo State, than the entire Nigerian combined. Be that as it may, the thought of consolidating and escalating the Awo Philosophy, otherwise known as Awoism, to the next generations via classrooms setting did not resonate with any of the Professors or Intellectuals in Awo's neck of the wood. It was the late Professor Claude Ake, a global icon, an internationally reputed Political Economist from the Niger Delta, who took it upon himself to take the Awo legacy to his Lecture Halls at the University of Port Harcourt. He developed a brand new course, which he simply titled "Awo" for the benefit of every Nigerian. Unfortunately, Professor Claude Ake was to suffer an untimely death in a plane crash years later. Why are these necessary? I will address that shortly.

Since the exit of Awo and his UPN Governors in the old Western Region and the old Bendel State from the Nigerian political scene, the necessity and affordability of free education and healthcare programs are no longer campaign catchphrases or manifesto worth dying for. From the emergence of President Obasanjo at Aso Rock in the Third Republic to this present day, no political party and no candidate from that region who outwardly exude progressivism (all beneficiaries of Awo free education) have had the audacity to campaign on the real Awo Platform - free education at all levels and free healthcare delivery.

A few days ago, a social media friend of mine who I have the greatest of respect and admiration for - as a Journalist and as a Senator - made his manifesto public in his quest to securing the Governorship position in Ekiti State. And after a random skimming and a few days later, a careful perusal of his blueprint and motivations, I was left in total disbelief as to the noticeable vacuum in his manifesto - the absence of a free education package, the Awo style. As grandiose and as evidently well articulated as the blueprint is, I must give it to him, the unwillingness to embrace Awoism - of what he stood for and die for - borders on fear. Not fear of the unknown, but of the fundamentals of the funding process. And that's the missing links. Awo had a good understanding of the fundamentals. Thanks, of course, to his Boys.

In all honesty, I take this gentleman to be the political heir apparent to the sage. Now that his manifesto is out, I am beginning to have a second thought. In spite of everything, I must admit that his goals as he lucidly articulated on his page are inspiring, innovative and seemingly groundbreaking. It stands in sharp contrast to the jejune package we have seen so far of other candidates aspiring for a similar position elsewhere. And I wish him the best of luck.

Awo's Uncompromising Approach to Free Education and Quality Healthcare Services

October 1960, confronted with the tasks of forming a government, Sir Almadu Bello (the Sadauna of Sokoto) and his protege, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, met with Chief Obafemi Awolowo, with a view to structuring a coalition government. As a condition, Awo insisted that his Free Education and Healthcare programs are non-negotiable; therefore, must be inculcated into whatever programs the NPC (Northern People Congress) campaigned on. Sir Bello and Balewa were unwilling to subscribe to Awo's demands, and the talk died stalemate. The two gentlemen, Almadu Bello and Sir Abubakar went to Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe of NCNC, and a deal was struck. Zik agreed to become the Ceremonial Head of State, while Balewa took control of the Government as the Prime Minister. And the Sadauna of Sokoto remained in Kaduna as the Premier of Northern Region.

Then, 1979, count down the Second Republic. After the Presidential Election, Alhaji Shehu Shagari who became the President via the Two-third of nineteen mathematical Legal mumble jumble of Mr. Richard Akinjide met with Awo and his UPN stalwarts with a view to forming a Coalition. As was the case with Balewa, Awo insisted on Free Education at all levels and Free Healthcare. In furtherance of his conditions, Awo took President Shagari and his negotiation team on a lecturing part, line by line and with facts and figures on the funding fundamentals of his programs. But Alhaji Shagari and his NPN negotiators were not interested in any mathematical equations in support of Awo's conditionalities. As expected, the coalition talk did not materialize, and Awo walked away holding his head high.

Leadership is all about motivations in power - why do you seek the mandate of the people and what do you have to give. To Chief Obafemi Awolowo, it was about service and the extension of a ladder to the less privileged in the society.

As was later reported by the news media, while Shagari was meeting with Awo, some of his key guys were also meeting with Zik and Mbadiwe at the same Eko Hotel, but at different floors. As expected, Zik and Shagari agreed to form the much talked about Accord. And as a compensation, about two or so Ministerial positions were granted Zik and his Political Party, the NPP. However, in about a year or so, the Accord degenerated into "Accord Concordia" and it was over.

Why are these historical accounts necessary? To establish Papa Awo's uncompromising approach to free education and healthcare coverage for the less privileged. His thought process, his sophistication, and number crunching prowess in readiness for the implementation of the education and healthcare pet programs are worthy of emulation.

To him, it was a no-brainer - you either inculcate them into your public policy initiatives or no coalition. Sad to say, these are the same programs that those who come across as his followers, especially those who benefited from them as students and as citizens of the old Western Region are seemingly encumbered by unknown forces to talk about or embrace.

There is no disputing the facts that there are more educated Yoruba Scholars and Intellectuals today than when Awo accomplished all the historical firsts in three months. Truth is, Awo was never afraid or intimidated by the intellectuals and the scholars around him and within his domain. They were his brain, tasked with the enormous tasks of researching and injecting flesh into his grandiose public service mindset, with a view to meeting the public expectations. It is about statesmanship, and the ability to think big, dream big, and surround yourself with big thinkers, the best brains in the field as advisers and subordinates.

In spite of everything, that is not the end of the road as per the consolidation and continuation of Awoism, Just as it took a non-Yoruba Niger Deltan Scholar, Professor Claude Ake of the University of Port Harcourt, to develop "Awo" as Course of Study at his University, the chances of a non-Yoruba man or woman emerging in the Nigerian political scene in no distance future in furtherance of the Awo Philosophy are very real. He came to my village to campaign on few occasions during his political odyssey. No other Presidential candidate has been able to accomplish that feat. Indeed, Papa Awo is gone, but what he stood for will never die. It is a promise.