Chief Obafemi Awolowo Interview | Premier of Western Region of Nigeria | 1957
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- čas přidán 20. 08. 2024
- 1957.
Footage of an interview of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the premier of the Western Region of Nigeria which had recently attained self-governing status.
He was interviewed by British journalist Robin Day.
Original Credit: ITN News (via Getty Images).
Obafemi Awolowo - Newsreels (1957-1983)
czcams.com/play/PL6J1OzLHamQ8DQkshjyygX9qskT-SQ0uD.html
You did well !
First time I heard chief Awo voice . Am an igbo man but I remember growing up in north London and my Dad saying that Awo was the best president nigeria never had.my father said that he was a member of action party then that chief Awo was very intelligent man full of ideas to make our peoples proud to be Nigerians. that he start DVLA and other important issues such as free education which gave the western Nigerian peoples the encouragement to embrace education which is still the case. He said that there was good competition between the eastern part and western part of the country to excel in education. I don't know this man but my Igbo father spoke very highly of him.
I’m neither Igbo nor Yoruba YET i recognise that The tribal jibes were ills that generation left with us; the Army capitalised on it subtly and drove the wedge further!!!
The next generation would do well to shed the cloak from that blessed nation; currently held under State Capture 😢
Can anyone point out what developmental idea Nigeria asa country has used today, Pa Awo didn’t speak about even back then??
You need to do more research about the man, especially read his books like voice of reason, voice of wisdom, my march through prisons, path to Nigerian freedom, the strategies and tactics of the federal republic of Nigeria, etc. The reason I suggest this is that, your dad might be one of the few Igbos that looked at things and events of Awos life from an objective point of view to understand why Awo made certain decisions in the course of Nigerias history. I don't consider him a saint or infallible, but unlike your dad, most Igbos of his generation have distorted Awolowos personality and projected him to their kids as an Igbo hater bcos of certain roles and decisions he had to take at certain stages in nigerias history. If you don't read widely about him, you could be deceived to change your views and see him in the negative colours they painted him. They would distort historical facts and hide the details to attract hatred to his memory. They would accuse him of playing tribalism to deny Zik of becoming premier of Western region. They won't tell you it was Awos party AG that won the majority of the votes with Ziks party trailing behind. Other parties and independent candidates won the remaining seats. And bcos no party could form govt with that simple majority, AG and NCNC began lobbying the other parties for alliance and AG was able to get more of those candidates to their side. They claim it was Yoruba solidarity that made AG win those members. One thing about him is that he never shy away from taking tough and hard decisions if he is convinced about its benefits even if it appears to bring temporary hardship. This sometimes made him unpopular with some people. He introduced tax to fund education, which made him unpopular initially but the people later appreciated him for it. He, a Southerner ran in 1979 with an Igbo (Barrister Phillip Umeadi) as VP for president and the vice chairman of his party was Mrs Oyibo Odinamadu from South South. You can imagine how crazy that was whereas other candidates were after geographical balance. During his campaign he categorically stated he would probe the military govt if he became president. You can understand why Obasanjo would do everything to make him lose the election. Awo was too blunt and realistic.
No wonder they compensated him with 1999 ticket for being their errand boy against awo. My father will not forget OBJ statement in a hurry. "The best candidate might not win"
@@limatglobaltemp7181 a lot of truth here’s sir
So awesome to hear Awo’s voice. All your labour on this country will not be in vein…
In Sha Allah Kareem 🤲🤲🤲🤲
I'm hearing Awo voice for the first time. I didn't even know until now
Me too I think. Except those short short clips on Facebook. 😂
After listening to the interview, I sadly concluded that Nigeria has remained stagnant. The debate hasn't changed since independence.
I'm an Awoist, and I am proud and unapologetic about it.
Awo was the preeminent thinker of that generation. Even the ‘66 coup plotters were in agreement as their defenders claim they wanted to hand over to him.
me too l am Igbo but love this man he was the best president that never ruled according to Ojukwu
This is where Awolowo missed it .Not all Nigerians want to remain as a nation
@@JosephOlawumi Awo did not miss at all.
You are poorly educated, and still cannot see the wisdom of Awolowo, almost 100 years later.
Under the umbrella of Nigeria, Yoruba Nation would still flourish in a decentralized structure, where each region develops their own natural resources or products, and controls 100% of their resource revenue.
Even now, that is the only way Nigerian economy will diversify, create economic opportunities, and rescue Nigeria from further descent into insecurity and chaos. That is the practice in advanced economies.
Instead, Nigeria crippled itself with centralized economic system that makes every State equal, thereby killing progress, and nationalizing poverty.
@@michaeludeze8470 anyone still talking about micromanaging the structure as we have it haven't learned a thing.
Awolowo missed big time. The security rests in the centre. The centre will always be stronger which means whoever controls the centre controls /can control everything once they decide to which is what we are seeing now.
The only way to stop a raging powerful entity is to eliminate it
My first time hearing him speak. thanks to this platform.
He was the greatest among them all....
Great Man ....Awolowo your Values and Principles as well as your Legacy shall forever remain
It's grest hearing the man Awolowo speak, what an intellectual. So sad we have never been united.
Honestly, I'm grateful to the West for bringing education
Stfu. That's so ignorant
Awo, it was reported, was grooming Rotimi Williams, a younger loyalist but intellectual giant to succeed him as premier of the Western Region. Whereas, among the Action Party grandies, Awo's deputy, SL Akintola, a very colourful character, had his loyalists. Awo had no option than to allow the grandies had their ways in the hope that Williams, would eventually emerge in his own right at the right time. The rest, as they say, is history.
My late dad said this too. So it was never a lie. Chai man proposes, God disposes…
I wanted to share some thoughts on a pressing issue that affects us all. Currently, we are witnessing the consequences of Nigeria's lack of unity, a situation rooted in our colonial past. The British amalgamation of the Yoruba, Hausa, and Ibo to form Nigeria was, arguably, a strategy to divide and rule, ensuring perpetual disunity for their benefit.
As it stands, our nation is grappling with severe challenges-corruption, nepotism, and tribalism-that seem insurmountable. These issues have taken a toll on our progress. Not long ago, Nigeria was Africa's largest economy; now, we've slipped to third place behind South Africa and Egypt. This decline is both alarming and disheartening.
It is crucial for us to reflect on these challenges and seek ways to foster unity and growth for the betterment of our nation.
You're a true Patriot!.👊🏽
You forgot to include Religion as part of the severe problems we're facing in Nigeria...
I saw Baba at a political campaign in 1982, from that day I knew he was different from his compatriots. He had deep knowledge of Nigeria. Awo the great will always be rated higher than any politician of his time.
He was a great man. Very intelligent man.
Things never really changed
Here we are in 2024 (70yrs later) still contemplating the oneness of Nigeria!!!!
The useless ZIK put all us in ds mess
@@princeabdulsalami4595 leave zik out of this
The regional governments, which more or less operated as a confederation was the best
I don't like the way things later went wrong between him and Ladoke Akintola
The military did not give this man enough time to complete the magic of western Nigeria. Under his leadership, we would have become like Singapore.
Chief Obafemi Awolowo
What a great man, rest in peace baba awolowo
I saw Baba Awo with his wife Mama Hanna last when I'm in primary school in yr 19 78. When he came for camping grounds with Elecoptal landed on the field ,
Two Titan's here. Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the late Sir Robin Day a master of the Interview back in the day. The chief was to be proved wrong in his assumption of Unity 10 years later. Whole another part of Nigeria opted to separate and belong to Cameron, without resultant bloodshed.
The referendum went both ways. The Muslim-majority Northern part of Cameroon joined with Nigeria, while the Christian-majority (I believe English-speaking) Southern Cameroon integrated into Francophone Cameroon.
Today we have the English-speakers conducting an insurgency with the goal of creating "Ambazonia".
Both Nigeria and Cameroon have of course been afflicted by the diabolical campaign of Boko Haram.
@@adeyinkamakinde6164 I was not aware of this is still going on. I am learning new things all the time , thanks.
He was known as the grand inquisitor
Great Awo.
Best president Nigeria never had.
I can only imagine the strides Nigeria would have achieved if Awo & some of his progressive cohorts where allowed to lead.
I think Nigeria's full potential or almost full potential would have been achieved by now.
I saw him campaigned for presidential election in 1983 along side with late Adekunle Ajasin, rest in peace chief Awolowo, I benefited from your idea of free education in Ondo state then, free note books, and all text books are free, also my aunties/ uncles benefit from free education in old Western region.
Great man🎉
Deep down his mind he knew that One Nigeria is a scam.
Lol true 🤣🤣
The British left a structure that recognised our differences behind. The 1966 coup derailed this.
This was when Nigeria was still being governed by sensible leaders. Now, no more sensible people in power. That's why everyone wants to japa
why everything come fall on leaders? name the, or feme la bouche!🤣
Tesrs in my eyes listing to great Awo.
Because the Dr is quite in his argument doesn't mean he is not right ......he not being tribalistic he just being realistic and striving for fairness and equity
After benefitting from a man like Chief Awo and his ideas, yet some pple to installed Buhari and now claim ignorance of true Federalism. There is God.
Nice one mr adeyinka
Great man
Chief. Obafemi Awolowo was a realist and not an idealist on like President. Nnamdi Azikiwe. Awolowo as a realist knew the Nigerian project realistically does not stand the chance of succeeding giving the radical differences amongst the ethnic groups. This Awolowo opine that Nigeria is not a nation but a mere geographic entity. I think being a politician, he was only trying to be politically correct in this interview.
Mhmm ! What a great man !
Awoist for life
Yoruba Nation Now
Nigerian Best!
So sad, Awolowo puts Yoruba's in bondage. Yoruba sovereign Nation is the answer.
How did he put Yoruba in bondage, was there any one in his time that was clamouring for Yorubas? He fought for secession clause to be included in our pre-independence constitution, it was the likes of Azikiwe who opposed it. He was ultimately jailed for treason for the same cause of fighting for semi-autonomous regions by Azikiwe’s government in 1963. Blame Zik not Awo
@@user-pw3hu8ry3s He betrayed Ojukwu. Ojukwu freed him from prison. But when the northerners offered him a governorship of the western region he capitulated and sold out Ojukwu and the Igbos. If he had gone with Ojukwu the western region will be far better of today. We are all paying the price of his decision today. The folks that have paid the greatest price are the Ogonis and the Ijaws.
@@jewulo You are confused with your betrayal assessment because Ojukwu was never in position of power when Awolowo was sent to prison. Nigeria was a democratic republic then. Ojukwu only came through the military regime. Awolowo never promised Ojukwu any thing,he was in prison.
@@jewulo, Igbos need to make up your minds on who freed Awo. Ironsi’s supporters claim it was he who did, that he had done it before he was killed even though they did not present any evidence.others claim it was gowon. On Awo and Ojukwu, Ojukwu chose his path and stewed in his juice, unfortunately leading to the unnecessary death of a lot of people.don’t put that blame on anyone other than Ojukwu and those who supported him particularly with regards to the delay in ending the war.
@jewulo why do people write stupid stuff like this. Before you comment, the least you can do is to research it. OR get a neutral book and read
It's clear here in this interview, that even under the regional government, the federal government controlled the main economical asset's of the regions . The ports, railways, and the airways were controlled by the federal government. So when people blame aguiyi ironsi for introducing unitary system of government, I wonder what they are blaming ironsi for. There is nothing we are practicing now under unitary system of government, that wasn't being practiced then. I believe ironsi meant well by introducing unitary system of government. His aim was to foster a United nigerian state were everyone would have a Sense of belonging.
Bro had swag
This is one man who meant well for the country. They speak and do what they say. Not the druglord inec selected as president to Nigerians
God will surely reward dem accordingly 12 two third
No wonder late Dim Ojukwu paid a tribute to Awo as, “ best president Nigeria never had.” It was chief Zik pettiness that brought the south to its knees for north to lord over them. But history is not taught in schools, hence our eastern brothers see us as arch rivals.
Then , it was the East that was collaborating with the North to bring down the SouthWest, now it is the South West that is cooperating with the North to bring down Nigeria.
This man reinforced tribalism that u see today. He is very vindictive and unapologetically inhuman against other tribes. Egs. Starvation, 20 pounds, backstabbing of Zik, dishonouring agreements, etc.
This is the narrative you people have sold your souls to. Your chequered submission will never change the lofty political and economic ideas he was known for, which Zik could never dream of. Eastern people and their propaganda of lies!
The greatest mistake of Awo was to think we could be married together and develop, if he had supported the western Nigeria pulling out of the marriage, the westerners would've been better off today, but all of them wanted to rule a one Nigeria including zik, and see where we are now
True federalism or decentralization or State control, where each State develops their own natural resources and controls 100% of their resource revenue is the only way Nigerian economy will diversify, create economic opportunities, and rescue Nigeria from further descent into insecurity and chaos. That is the practice in advanced economies.
Instead, Nigeria crippled itself with centralized economic system that makes every State equal, thereby killing progress, and nationalizing poverty. Nigeria is doing the direct opposite of developed nations.
And it's all for the benefit of Northern Nigeria. After the counter-coup of 1966, Northerners have been controlling Nigeria like it is their private property. All National policies and decisions have been made with the interest of the North, leading to gradual and continued decline of the country.
Up AWO
What are the advantages? Please can someone list them under here?
Number one advantage is the number, you can produce anything in Akwa Ibom and take to Kano to sell without border crossing and export payment, meaning we have large market base to sell and buy from. Good advantage for productive economics
Not complete independent,we're never free
They were all afraid of this man ( both the colonial master and eastern region). He should have never allowed the west remain in nigeria for more than 4 years after independence.
The idea for a secession clause was mooted by Chief Obafemi Awolowo in 1954 during the Lagos Constitutional Conference, but Nnamdi Azikiwe rejected it and galvanised a majority of the conference attendees to kill the idea.
After this was rejected, Chief Awolowo again wrote to the then Secretary of State, who rejected the clause on the grounds that the majority, led by Nnamdi Azikiwe, was not in support of it.
It was because of Nnamdi Azikiwe that section 86 was inserted into our constitution with the proviso that if any region seceded, it would be an act of treason.
Nnamdi Azikiwe himself wrote about this in an essay, which was published by the New Nigerian Newspapers in 1975, and has since been republished by other papers and by Mr Azikiwe himself before he died, may God bless his memory.
The same Eastern people are the ones clamoring for secession now, see how the table have turned.
Nnamdi Azikiwe caused more harm to the Igbos than good.
@@BaronCapital-lt5oz All of them including Awolowo were self-centered & power driven.
Exactly my bro the same easterners way day cry now say dem no won be part of Nigeria anymore na them still be sabotage for regional government stupid people angry 😡. When every regions suppose to have their own government they screw it up now they are are screaming after them serve them biafra in bigger platter they reject it and now blame the weaternwr for their failure.
@ayekooto5791 Sure we human have selfishness imbibed in us, some selfishness benefitted family and society and some are just sole beneficiary.
Awolowo selfishness would have benefitted Igbos today if that clause were not inserted into the constitution to make a Treasonable offense for anyone who tried to separate.
The clause Awolowo wanted to add was to make it easy and possible for every individual region to separate from the body called Nigeria, I believe Yoruba would have gone long long time in the 80sss.
But Azikiwe betrayed Awolowo and Azikiwe selfishness made it difficult and treasonable offense for Igbos today to demand for own country.
Nigeria has never been one. I am sorry.
it is. Benin people ARE NOT NIGERIANS!
We were not up to 80 million then oo
No doubt Chief Obafemi Awolowo meant well with his united Nigeria stance at the time. But I'm sure if he could roll back the clock, he would wish that he had seize the opportunity at independence to create a Yoruba nation and every region would have been able to develop and maximize its potential at his own pace. Nigeria is a failed project!
Not everyone in Nigeria is thinking like you. The real problem in Nigeria is low productivity and too much focus on mineral resources which does not make any country rich.
Can anyone point out what development idea Nigeria has used today, Pa Awo didn’t speak about??
We can not keep running from the truth!!!!
Awolowo was a great man but he should have focused on enlightening Nigeria than educating only the West. He made a catastrophic decision that is now the base of our problems
The leaders in other regions were responsible for them. Awo was only responsible for west not Nigeria
@@ladidikheemy7351 That was exactly the point. He should have foresee a trouble Nigeria without equal opportunities due to lack of education in some parts of Nigeria. I question Awolowo’s vision for Nigeria.
How will Awolowo have enlightened the other regions when he was only a premier of western region. Will he rule another region.
He wanted to be the president but the other regions didn't vote for him
@@rotimiaderehinwo1649 At the time of Awolowo, it was easy to unify our development with less political hassles. Awolowo was more passionate about his political empire that later crumbled. Nigeria must unite politically for an even political and economical growth. We cannot have the North that embraces only religion, the West that seconds religion to education and the East that loves only self-emancipation.
Articulate Awo!!!!.A man with uncommon leadership Acumen!!!.
Dear Enlightened Nigerians !😂
Yoruba Nation took sides with Northerners when Igbos saw that Nigeria was a drag. Sixty years later, you saw the light.
You are right. Azikiwe, a yoruba man formed an alliance with the NCNC and threw the igbo man ,Awolowo in prison.
@@ayoolaajakaiye915 Azikiwe did not even side with Igbos and Biafra. So, Igbos do not even respect Azikiwe. It shows you are not well-informed about Igbo people, if you are using Azikiwe to represent Igbo people.
The fact still remains Yoruba Nation took sides with Northerners when Igbos saw that Northern Nigeria was a drag. Sixty years later, you saw the light.
@@michaeludeze8470 claiming Zik did not side igbo is the most dubious statement i have ever read. Who did he side? He was also the leader of the eastern region before independence, and together with all his igbo men voted against peaceful cessation clause inclusion in our constitution just before independence. He is only a propagandist, who claim to know how to rule, but failed woefully because of his lack of every skill needed to develop any region or nation. This man ruled his region and could not contribute anything meaninful nor execute any meaningful project, yet, all igbos supported him again later after independence without questioning his ability to perform. He had nothing in his head except dubious sweet words to deceive people for votes.
@@michaeludeze8470 yet you colluded with them again in 79 and 83. Zik had the opportunity again and again to set Nigerian a path of glory and success but each time he failed. Claiming NCNC when the elections in the west when he know he did not. Calling back an Ibo man from sabbatical to come head UI when there there Yoruba s senior to him including the first Nigerian to be appointed a professor in Nigeria. Making only Ibos head of governing council of UI etc. Is it his dealing with Ikejiani or Okotiebo or Orizu that we should talk about? When Zik chose to join the North to form government at the center and be GG pre independence even though Awo offered to be FM while Zik would be PM, Zik was right abi?
@@michaeludeze8470the lies you tell yourself 😂. What do you mean Igbos saw Nigeria as a drag? How old was Nigeria then? The civil war was as a result of selfish political ambitions not about the plight of the Igbos.
What did he mean by "enlightened"? Westernised?
Good question!!.... If u knw.... U knw!!
He's a knowledgeable person, but he unfortunately the colonial institute has been beneficiary in tribals destructive, which many intrude Nigerian politicians are benefits from serving external occupation idiology 💯✍️
Even then..Propaganda!🤣🤣🤣 Hatred is from the South (Benin) towards the Eastern Igbos! Lord Luggard did not include Benin!
The sad rule of petty tribal Chieftains.