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Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo is a statesman and nationalist of the Nigerian Federation, whose impact to the development of the nation Nigeria is second to none.
History cannot forget this man of honor who used his platform as the premier of western region within 1962- 1966 to have exercised a lot of successful achievement for his dearest country.
Worthy of note is that Chief Awolowo is the man who established the West Nigeria Television WNTV now known as the Nigeria Television Authority NTA in 1959, the television station which happens to be the first indigenous television station in the whole Africa.
He also contributed to the Agro - Economic investment of Nigeria through the construction of the Cocoa House, a 25 storey building sited at the heart of Ibadan, which also happens to be the first sky scrapper in Nigeria.
As the leader of the Opposition party, The Action Group, Awolowo faced a lot of victimization from his political enemies during the 1962 to 1966 power struggle which later result to him charged with treasonable felony and jailed for 40 years with the assistance of his political ally, Chief Ladoke Akintola.
In respect to this charge, Awolowo while moving in to the Ikoyi Prison where he was to be remanded, was fully kit in his Yoruba attire, wearing his Awo regalia cap and his traditional wrapper.
The monitoring warder of the prison saw Awolowo moving in with positive hope to get out of the prison as soon as vindication is done on his charge.
The warder approached him and ordered chief Awolowo to removed his golden wristwatch. he go further by saying "kinni idunnu elewon to n fi aago sowo".
Historical approach from a lot of journals and books revealed that since that fateful day, Late Obafemi Awolowo had decided not to use wristwatch again due to the harassment he faced from a prison officer who is very far to him in rank.
After 2 years in prison, Chief Obafemi Awolowo was later pardoned with a 'prorogation of mercy' by the leader of the Supreme Military Council, Gen. Yakubu Gowon who doubles as the Military head of state between 1966 and 1975.
In recognition of Awolowo's commitment for a better Nigeria, Gowon made him his Federal Minister of Finance.
Awolowo as a political strategist and reasonable thinker assisted Yakubu Gowon to defeat Odumegwu Ojukwu and conquer the Biafra republic in the 1967 to 1969 Nigeria Civil War.
Gowon described Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo as "Sage" while receiving his resignation letter as a federal minister in 1971 and in his posthumous address when Awolowo died in 1987.
Late Chief Awolowo was born in Ikenne, in Remo Division of Ogun state on March 6, 1909 to the family of Pa. David Sopolu Awolowo and Mrs. Mary Efunyela.
He contested as the president of Nigeria in 1962, 1966, 1979 and 1983 under the umbrella of AG, AG, UPN, and UPN respectively but never won election.
Arguably, Awolowo thrust himself into national prominence through a dint of hard work, gift of organization and his administrative skills.
He won accolades as an innovator and welfare state builder as the premier with indelible marks as his legacy are still visible for succeeding generations to admire.
Another notable achievement of Chief Obafemi Awolowo is the advent of free education policy which give the right for any citizens of Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti and Lagos state to have access to education without paying a dime.
An adage says behind a successful man, their is always a woman, Awolowo's wife, Mama Hanna Idowu Dideolu Awolowo is a very vibrant woman just like his husband.
She has been with her husband through thick and thins. she also led a lot of political campaign for her husband when he was still in politics.
they got married when Awolowo was 26 years and she was 22 years only.
Politics since his death seems to be his imitation.
This article was gathered from series of books and historical write - up, and journal sources. Some of them are the collections of Awolowo Posthumous Address in 1987, Yakubu Gowon: The Supreme Commander, a book by Olufemi Ogunsanwo, and Awo the Unfinished greatness also by Olufemi Ogunsanwo 2009.
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