Info For You Lot Principal Samuel Ladoke Akintola: The Celebrated Yoruba Political Demagogue As Well As Prime Number Government Minister Of Western Nigeria
Samuel Ladoke Akintola, the premier of Western Nigeria
He held the highly revered championship of Aare Ona Kakanfo XIII of Yorubaland. The powerful Yoruba political leader was 1 of an early on victim of the Jan 1966 armed forces coup inward Nigeria that took the life of Sardauna of Sokoto too premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello too Premier of federal too independent Nigeria Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.
Chief Akintola was born to Yoruba parents inward Ògbómòsó on July 6, 1910. He had his basic schoolhouse didactics inward local expanse too proceeded to a Training College. In 1930 Akintola became a instructor too engaged inward his career equally instructor from 1930`s to early on 1940s. He left teaching to study populace management too law inward England too returned to Nigeria inward 1950’s a qualified lawyer. Upon his return, he teamed upwards with other educated Nigerians from the Western Region to cast the Action Group (AG) nether the leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. As the deputy leader of the AG party, he did non serve inward the regional authorities headed past times its premier Chief Awolowo, merely served equally the parliamentary leader of his political party inward the House of Representatives of Nigeria. At the federal flat he served equally Minister for Health too afterwards Minister for Communications too Aviation.
Chief Samuel Akintola wearing traditional dress
In belatedly 1959 inward preparation for Nigeria’s independence, the Action Group political party took a conclusion which affected the career of Akintola, the political party too Nigeria when the political party asked him to swap political positions with Awolowo past times becoming the premier of the Western Region patch Awolowo who also was the national leader of the AG, would became the political party leader inward the Federal House of Representatives equally good equally the Opposition leader inward the House.
The partitioning of roles inward the Western Nigeria authorities led to a conflict betwixt SLA too Awolowo; the AG political party broke into 2 factions leading to several crises inward the Western Region House of Assembly that led the central/federal government, headed past times the Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa to declare State of Emergency dominion inward the Western part too an Administrator was appointed. After a lengthy courtroom battle, SLA was restored to powerfulness equally Premier inward 1963 too won inward full general election of 1965 non equally fellow member of the Action Group political party merely equally the leader of a newly formed political party called Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) which was inward an alliance with the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) the political party that too hence controlled the federal government.
Along with many other leading politicians, Akintola was assassinated inward Ibadan the working capital missive of the alphabet of Western Region on Jan 15, 1966 during the kickoff armed forces coup. The coup also terminated Nigeria’s First Republic.
SLA was married to Chief Faderera Abeke Akintola. They had v children, 2 of whom were finance ministers inward Nigeria’s Third Republic (Chief Yomi Akintola too Dr Bimbo Akintola). Chief Yomi Akintola served equally Nigeria’s Ambassador to Republic of Hungary too SLA’s daughter-in-law, Mrs. Dupe Akintola is Nigeria’s High Commissioner inward Jamaica. His quaternary child, Chief Victor Ladipo Akintola, dedicated much of his life to ensuring the continued accurate accounting of SLA’s contributions to Nigeria’s seat on the globe stage. Chief south L Akintola’s youngest son, the belatedly Tokunbo Akintola, was the kickoff dark schoolboy at Eton College, enrolling 2 damage prior to the arrival of Dilibe Onyeama (author of Nigger at Eton).
Chief south L Akintola Prime government minister of western Nigeria inward conversation with prime number government minister of State of Israel David Ben Gurion at Ben Gurion`s Office,Jerusalem. Circa 1961
Many institutions, including Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho were established inward his dwelling town too other Nigerian cities to shout back him. Above all he practiced law.
SAMUEL LADOKE AKINTOLA AND HISTORY
By Remi Oyeyemi. remi@oyeyemi.net
One has been next the recent contestation on the legacy too the reported "vision" ascribed to Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola inward the wake of the recent victory of PDP inward the Southwest. One read the article past times Dr. Wunmi Akintide on this subject. In spite of what 1 considered equally pocket-size misinterpretations of some actions of yore vis-a-vis the nowadays political climate inward regard to the former Premier of Western Region, Chief Akintola, 1 agreed with Dr. Akintide that at that topographic point may live the demand to seek too heal some old wounds. But this should non live at the expense of historical facts. Rather it should live through the forgiveness of the heart.
Chief south L Akintola
Not really long after Dr. Akintide's article, Ambassador Yomi Akintola granted an interview published on Page 5 of the Guardian of Thursday, May 15, this twelvemonth on the PDP victory inward the Southwest having vindicated his belatedly father. In the interview, Ambassador Akintola made hence many full general statements that this author believed were deliberately made to obfuscate the truthful legacy of his belatedly father. One Oluwole Kehinde had inward an article also published past times the Guardian on June 3 taken Ambassador Akintola to chore for evasiveness inward educating the people close his father's legacy too concluded that the exclusively argue Ambassador Akintola could non live specific was because at that topographic point was no tangible legacy or credible vision that could live attributed to the belatedly Chief S.L. Akintola.
The challenge made past times Mr. Oluwole Kehinde prompted some other boy of the belatedly Premier, Mr. Ladipo Akintola to response on June 11, 2003 . He tried manifestly really laboriously, to itemize what he regarded equally his father's legacy. This author considered his article really preposterous too a challenge to the retention too facts of history. We, the people were the ones who wore the shoes during the era of Chief S. L. Akintola's leadership inward the Western region, too nosotros even hence shout back where too how badly the shoes pinched. But before nosotros bargain with some of Ladipo Akintola's misrepresentations, allow us seek too examine some of the claims of his blood brother Ambassador Akintola who for example, was reported equally follows:
"Describing the victory of the AG over the NCNC inward the elections of 1952, 1956, too 1959 equally narrow, he (Yomi Akintola) admitted that it was exclusively inward the 1961 elections during his father's authorities that the AG 'beat NCNC hollow."
The impression Ambassador Akintola was trying to bring hither was that the AG crunch NCNC "hollow" because of the popularity of his father., Chief S.L. Akintola. While at that topographic point is aught incorrect inward trying to have got a fond retention of one's father, it is a gratuitous insult to history too the word of the Yoruba people inward item too Nigerians inward full general for him to sell one-half truth to the press. He failed to tell the readers that the AG was able to accomplish that "feat" because of its achievement nether the leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo before he moved to the centre equally the Leader of Opposition less than 2 years before inward the Federal Parliament. And equally at that fourth dimension the face, the vocalization too the leader of the AG was Chief Awolowo. Ambassador Akintola did non tell us what his manlike somebody rear did inward less than 2 years inward role before the said elections to have got warranted crediting his belatedly manlike somebody rear with the "feat." The fact of the affair is that the people voted for AG for its previous achievements.
The crisis that occurred inward 1962 was at this fourth dimension of 1961 elections even hence unknown to the populace too when it did, too the people were asked to transcend their judgement, nosotros all knew where the people placed their confidence, merely sure enough non inward the leadership of Chief Ladoke Akintola. The events that followed the 1964 elections because of the perceived powerfulness grabbing propensity of the NNDP with the collaboration of Ahmadu Bello led NPC too the Nnamdi Azikwe's NCNC unapproved past times the people had a devastating effect on Nigeria, the consequences of which the province is even hence trying to extricate itself.
Ambassador Akintola also reportedly said inter alia:
"What he (Ladoke Akintola) wanted was for the Yoruba, inward conjunction with the Igbo, Hausa, Ijaw, Itsekiri, the Ibiobio to bring together hands too cast a united authorities or have got a programme inward which everyone volition participate in. Happily at nowadays the Yoruba have got fallen inward too they are at nowadays going to participate, which is what my belatedly manlike somebody rear advocated."
What history told us was that his manlike somebody rear detested the Igbo. Chief Ladoke Akintola repeatedly made jokes close them too never hid his disdain for them. Dr. Akintide gave an representative of this inward his article. This variety of mental attitude could non have got been a reflection of the variety of human being that Ambassador Akintola was trying to sell to the residuum of us inward the higher upwards quote. Chief Ladoke Akintola had his "vision" of working with the Ahmadu Bello merely on a ground that was non principled too against the philosophical stand upwards of the political party that brought him to power.
One of the reasons the Yoruba rejected his NNDP inward 1964 was a perceived perfidious role (rightly or wrongly) of Chief Akintola inward the persecution of Chief Awolowo inward the cooked upwards treasonable felony trials. The Yoruba summed it upwards that the 1964 elbow grease was to impose a authorities that has no legitimacy on them too that the said kangaroo trials was a treacherous elbow grease to learn Awolowo out of the way politically.
This existence the case, the 2003 election results are to a greater extent than inward melody with what Awolowo wanted equally opposed to what Akintola wanted. For students of history who shout back the alliances of the kickoff Republic, the NPC, NNDP too NCNC worked together for the 1964 election patch the Awolowo's AG worked with Joseph Tarka's Middlebelt Union, Aminu Kano's Northern Elements Progressive Union too some Southern minority groups inward UPGA, his existence behind bars non withstanding. The PPA elbow grease inward the mo Republic to learn by off the notorious NPN is also some other example. The 2003 elections did non regard the Ahmadu Bello's base of operations of Northwest or Far North voting with the residuum of Nigeria to elect Olusegun Obasanjo equally Akintola's "vision" would have got suggested. Chief Akintola's "vision" was to have got Yoruba move with the Far North past times all means, fifty-fifty if they have got to cringe too regardless of if at that topographic point is no correlation betwixt their political philosophies. Awolowo's contention which the bulk of the AG happened to purchase was that on what philosophical basis, should at that topographic point live an alliance with the ruling NPC at the federal level? Should the AG bring together the NPC because it controlled the Federal authorities for the sake of getting political appointments? What would live the role of that "joint relationship"? Is it to farther prop the philosophy of feudalism or what? Or should it live for a to a greater extent than progressive agenda inward the involvement of Nigeria too Nigerians?
This was why, given the pre-independence credentials of Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, Awolowo concluded that the philosophical ground of the NCNC was non equally good far flung from that of the AG too that a progressive cord could even hence live stricken inward the involvement of Nigeria rather than working with a political party with a diametrically opposed philosophy. Hence, Awolowo offered to move nether him (Azikwe) inward the involvement of Nigeria equally the Finance Minister patch Zik would Pb the authorities bussiness. Ladipo Akintola inward his rebuttal to Oluwole Kehinde quoted from Senator Lai Joseph's mass - Nigeria's Elections: The Bitter Truth - to back upwards this seat that nosotros all have got known before now. The declaration of Chief S. L. Akintola, equally projected past times Senator Lai Joseph is that if Azikwe whose leadership Chief Awolowo was willing to accept, could himself move nether the untutored Tafawa Balewa, at the federal level, why non Awolowo himself!
This, to a greater extent than than anything, taxonomise these iii politicians (Awolowo, Azikwe too Akintola) inward damage of their political character, philosophical principles too ideological commitment inward the services of their people too country. It marked the deviation betwixt politics for its sake too politics for the progress of the people. It shed lite on the deviation betwixt politics for personal aggrandizement too politics for the glory of country. Awolowo seat a bet inward the philosophy too regulation that Azikwe enunciated repeatedly for several years leading to Nigeria's independence too lost. Azikwe abandoned the tenets of progressivism that he championed too sold across the ground before independence too opted for redundancy of Presidency inward a Parliamentary organisation equally opposed to what Awolowo offered him on a platter of gold. This amoebic approach to politics of Azikwe was what Akintola wanted Awolowo to exercise too which the latter resisted, based on regulation too ideology.
But that Dr. Azikwe, despite his seminal intellectual prowess, did non fifty-fifty recognize his ain worth inside the Nigeria political milieu was non the error of Awolowo too neither did it confer whatever wisdom on Chief S.L. Akintola. That Azikwe could non appreciate a golden chance too seize it inward the involvement of the Igbo too past times extension, Nigeria could non live Awolowo's fault, neither did it or does it bring whatever vision on the part of Chief Akintola (as Ladipo would wish us to believe). What is inexplicable is why a distinguished journalist, renown activist, indefatigable liberty fighter, charismatic Pan Africanist (at to the lowest degree upwards to the fourth dimension he reduced himself to the barest minimum from "Zik of Africa" to "Zik of Onitsha") gifted orator too an erudite doctorate grade holder inward Nnamdi Azikwe would surrender leadership to a reluctant, untutored, undistinguished, inane, inept, manifestly limited Teacher Training College graduate inward Tafawa Balewa. It is 1 mystery inward Nigerian political history that needs to live unraveled.
If the old friends of Akintola inward the Northwest voted inward the fashion they did inward 2003, how could this live a vindication of SLA's vision? Samuel Ladoke Akintola's "vision" would learn a reality the twenty-four hours the Yoruba too the Hausa-Fulani of the Northwest or the Far North vote 1 way, to elect a Nigerian leader. We have got non had that yet. What happened inward 2003 was a realization of Awolowo's vision of a progressive (?) coalition for the political leadership of Nigeria equally he attempted to do inward 1964. He had wanted the Yoruba, the Igbo, the Middlebelt too the Southern miorities to unite too liberate Nigeria from the feudalistic tendencies of the Northwest. The election map of 2003, despite its imperfections is a reflection of this view. What remains to live seen is whether the nowadays crop of flag bearers from all the identified groups are equally progressive, visionary, principled, dedicated, honest, hardworking too worthy of the "trust" reposed inward them the way Awolowo would have got wanted it.
Ladipo Akintola's elbow grease to remake the retention of his manlike somebody rear inward a positive lite is a adept thing. But to advise that it was an achievement for his belatedly manlike somebody rear non to have got cancelled the Free Education programme instituted before his manlike somebody rear came to the role is to live less than straight forwards too an insult to the residuum of us. The fact is that his manlike somebody rear did non have got the powerfulness or the clout to do that. If he had done that, he would non have got lasted inward role till 1964 elections when he tried to seat his imprints on the political landscape of Yorubaland too which was roundly rejected past times the Yoruba people. To also attribute the founding of the University of Ife to his belatedly manlike somebody rear is disingenuous too misleading. Those who know the history of that revered establishment knew how it came about. They also know who set the kickoff block for its foundation equally attested to past times the plaque embossed on the wall of the University's administrative building.
It is non also truthful that the exclusively offence committed past times SLA was to openly disagree with Obafemi Awolowo. What close the malicious reduction of the cocoa cost that affected farmers across Yorubaland? What close the vindictive reduction of Odemo of Ishara, Oba Samuel Akinsaya's salary to a penny because he would non renounce allegiance to Chief Awolowo? Is Ladipo suggesting that the people of Ishara too its surroundings liked that? What close the job of the constabulary to harass opponents too others who refused to toe his line? His really pop (or is it notorious) merely really sarcastic joke close his non "eating money" equally existence alleged merely "spending it" too shout for his married adult woman if she always "cooked money" for him to swallow could non have got been for endearment? Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 serious leader who was interested close his house inward history or had genuine concern for the feelings too sensitivities of his people would non have got condescended to that flat inward the shout of humour!
Even if nosotros all determine to ignore all the observations above, at that topographic point is no dubiety close the fact that Chief Ladoke Akintola during his heydays lacked the capability to "rally" the Yoruba people close whatever his "vision" was. He failed woefully to inspire trust too confidence. Rather than commanding honor from the people, Chief Akintola induced contempt. Rather than planting love, he instilled fear. Rather than sowing hope, he pushed the people to desperation. In contrast, Chief Awolowo was able to clearly define the "common purpose" too seminally demonstrated an unassailable capacity too Fe cast volition to rally men, women too children towards its relentless pursuit, excellently. Chief Awolowo's grapheme to a greater extent than than inspired confidence, discipline, integrity, difficult move too dignity. To those inward despair, he gave hope. To those inward want, he met their needs. To those with ability, he gave opportunities. With love, he cured hatred. And with his vision, he shed a glowing lite on the path to tread.
It is understandable that brothers Ladipo too Yomi Akintola would wish history to demo mercy to the retention of their father. They in all probability have got felt burdened past times the shout bequeathed to them. But it is non their error that what happened is history today. There is aught they could do to alter the facts of history equally related to their father. But they could assist the procedure of forgiveness past times non trying to insult our word or indirectly suggesting that nosotros all have got collective amnesia.
source:http://nigeriaworld.com/columnist/oyeyemi/062303.html
Western Region crisis: How Awolowo, Akintola parted ways
by FRANCIS FAMOROTI on October 8, 2012Fifty years ago,the leadership of defunct Action Group (AG) was embroiled inward a political crisis that culminated inward the removal of Chief Ladoke Akintola, equally the Premier of the Western Region. This resulted inward trigger-happy legal duel with the prominent AG leaders at the law courtroom too later, the Privy Council. FRANCIS FAMOROTI, Ag. Head, Judiciary, reports.
Action Group Chieftains inward 1953. (L-R) Chief Bode Thomas, Chief Obafemi Awolowo too Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola.
Many of the measure biographies of Nigerian leaders too journalistic accounts have got never minced words that Chief Obafemi Awolowo too Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola were unopen allies too promoters of the AG. Shortly after the country’s independence, the AG’s command of the Western Region was weakened too at that topographic point was an imminent collapse of the political party construction because of divisions inside the political party that reflected cleavages inside the Yoruba society.
The leadership of the AG , which formed the official opposition inward the federal parliament, divide inward May 1962 equally a termination of a rift betwixt the party’s leader, Chief Awolowo too his onetime deputy too Premier of Western Nigeria, Chief Akintola. Various historical accounts abound on the circumstances that led to the rift betwixt the 2 political leaders. While some historians claimed that the genesis of the political crisis inward Western Nigeria began with the sacking of Chief J.F Odunjo equally the Chairman, Western Region Marketing Board past times Akintola over interfamily squabbles, others attributed the offshoot of the crisis to difficult describe opinion of the AG leaders over differences that could have got been amicably live resolved inside the party.
According to a publication of The Human Rights Law Service (HURILAWS) “Managing Election Conflicts inward Nigeria”, the AG crisis of 1962 arose primarily from disagreement over matters of ideology betwixt Chief Awolowo, the party’s leader too Chief S.L Akintola, his deputy. Akintola was expelled for anti-party activities, with other reasons, too he went on to cast the United Peoples Party (UPP). “The UPP too some members of NCNC too the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) formed an alliance, which controlled the authorities of the Western Region until the Western Regional elections of 1965.”
Prof. John.N. Paden inward his mass “Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto- Values too Leadership inward Nigeria, said ‘’the key leaders of Northern Peoples’ Congress (NPC) held hugger-mugger talks with the Yoruba. Some of these meetings had genuinely begun inward 1961- 62, too Awolowo too the Sarduana met casually on a few occasions too agreed to take maintain meetings. But Awolowo seemed to a greater extent than interested inward documenting the discussions too the agreements for time to come use.
The NPC decided to seek Akintola. “The NPC came to regard Awolowo equally the stumbling block to a matrimony betwixt the Yoruba too the north. Akintola was to a greater extent than trustworthy than Awolowo. The thinking was that afterwards they powerfulness cast 1 unmarried political party with Akintola.” Another trouble concern human relationship inward an article titled “Nigeria Politics inward the Crisis Years” obtained from the website of the Library of Congress Country Studies, states that “Awolowo favoured the adoption of democratic socialism equally political party policy, next the Pb of Kwame Nkrumah’s regime inward Ghana. This radical ideology that Awolowo expressed was seen equally a bid to brand the AG an interregional political party that drew back upwards across the province from educated younger voters. ‘‘Akintola, inward reaction, attempted to retain the back upwards of conservative political party elements. He called for improve relations with the Northern Peoples’ Congress (NPC) too an all political party federal coalition that would take away the AG from opposition too give its leaders greater access to power’’. Awolowo’s bulk expelled Akintola from the party. The too hence Governor of the Western Region, the Ooni of Ife, Sir Adesoji Aderemi demanded Akintola’s resignation equally Premier too named Alhaji Dauda Adegbenro equally his successor. Crisis erupted inward the Western Nigeria too this earned the part the appellation “Wild Wild West.”
This activeness resulted inward some legal battles equally Akintola challenged his removal equally the Premier of the region. The serial of cases became popularly known too cited equally Akintola-vs- Aderemi & Adegbenro (1962) 1 All. NLR. 442, Adegbenro –vs- Akintola & Aderemi (1962) 1 All NLR 465 too Adegbenro-vs- Akintola (1963) All NLR 305. In Adegbenro- vs- Akintola inward May 1962, for instance, the number tried past times the courtroom was the removal of Akintola equally the Premier of Western Nigeria.
Specifically, Sir Aderemi had removed Chief Akintola from the role of Premier, too appointed Alhaji Dauda Adegbenro to the position.
Akintola’s supporters allegedly went wild too unleashed violence inward the part patch supporters of Awolowo reportedly retaliated. Akintola sued Adegbenro too the AG leadership, too the Federal Supreme Court decided that he had been wrongly removed.
Exercising a correct conferred past times Section 114 of the too hence Constitution of Western Nigeria, Adegbenro appealed to the Privy Council, where the sentence was upturned inward his favour on the interpretation of S. 33 (10) (a) of the constitution.
According to A.D Badaiki (1996) Interpretation of Statutes ‘’This proviso was afterwards amended past times the Constitution of Western Nigeria (Amendment) Law, 1963 retroactively inward a fashion which settled the enquiry of the Premiership inward Akintola’s favour, merely without cite of the courtroom accommodate or of the costs awarded past times the Privy Council to Alhaji Adegbenro.”
On the enquiry of whether Adegbenro was entitled to recover costs awarded to him, it was held that it is presumed that the legislature does non wish to confiscate the holding or to encroach upon the correct of persons, and, equally at that topographic point was no clear implication that the legislature intended non exclusively to settle a political question, merely also to deprive Adegbenro of his costs past times the Constitution of Western Nigeria (Amendment) Law, 1963, his correct to costs remained unaffected.
Akintola too hence organised the UPP, which pursued a policy of collaboration with the NPC –National Council of Nigeria too Cameroun (NCNC) authorities inward the federal parliament. Akintola’s removal inward May 1962 sparked a bloody riot inward the Western Region too brought effective authorities to an destination equally challenger legislators, next the representative inward the streets, introduced violence to the flooring of the regional legislature. The Federal Government declared a province of emergency, dissolved the legislature, too appointed a medical practitioner, Dr. Adekoyejo Majekodunmi equally an administrator for the Western Region. One of his kickoff acts was to house many AG leaders nether trouble solid arrest. Later, the Police uncovered evidence linking Awolowo with a conspiracy to overthrow the government. With a number of other AG leaders, he was arrested too tried for treason. Authorities claimed that 200 activists had received armed forces preparation inward Republic of Ghana too had smuggled arms into Nigeria inward preparation for a coup d’état. Awolowo was found guilty, along with 17 others, too was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.
Chief Anthony Enahoro, Awolowo’s unopen ally, who had been abroad at the fourth dimension of the coup, was extradited from United Kingdom of Great Britain too Northern Ireland too was also convicted of treason too imprisoned. In the meantime, the province of emergency was lifted too Balewa, obtained Akintola’s reinstatement equally Premier of the Western Region at the caput of a coalition betwixt the NCNC too the UPP. The AG successfully contested the legality of this activeness inward the courts, merely a retroactive amendment to the Western Region’s constitution that validated Akintola’s reappointment was chop-chop enacted. As Tafawa Balewa told parliament, the legality of the instance “had been overtaken past times events.” Later inward 1963, Nigeria became a democracy inside the Commonwealth. The alter inward condition called for no practical modification of the constitutional system. The president, elected to a five-year term past times a articulation session of the parliament, replaced the crown equally the symbol of national sovereignty too the British monarchy equally caput of state, Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, who had been Governor-General, became the republic’s kickoff president.
sourcehttp://nationalmirroronline.net/new/western-region-crisis-how-awolowo-akintola-parted-ways/
https://openaccess.leidenuniv.nl/bitstream/handle/1887/20143/03.pdf?sequence=7
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