Press Releases

Let’s Return To Awo’s Ideals For Good Governance - Fashola

Jan 29, 2009 - As prominent Nigerians and foreign nationals gathered in Lagos Thursday to celebrate the 100th Post Humous Birthday of Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has urged the nation’s leaders to fall back to the immortal words of the late sage as a means to enthrone good governance in the country.

Governor Fashola who spoke at the Shell Hall of the Muson Centre, Onikan said the greatest honour that could be done to late Chief Awolowo was to “listen to his immortal words as he speaks to us in his written words to enthrone a government that is good, that cares and that serves the people for whom it exists”.

Said he: “What we must fear are ourselves. What we must do is to get back to the basics and listen to him as he talks to us even today, seemingly from the grave, in the immortal words contained in his publications. They remain evergreen as useful roadmaps to solving the problems of Nigeria and even the world”.

Governor Fashola reiterated that the late Premier of the Western Region was a very selfless leader who was loved so dearly and worked very selflessly for the people.

The Governor added that that the contents of various books of Chief Awolowo have become handy in assisting him in presiding over the affairs of Lagos just as the policies formulated by Chief Awolowo in the 1950s are still relevant in today’s governance, calling on leaders to share from it.

In his words: “As we are faced with the impact of a global recession in 2009, and how to manage our recent oil boom and the role of Government as regards taxation, budget implementation, Chief Obafemi Awolowo had dealt with all of these issues over fifty years ago”.

He said the evergreen words of the late sage uttered in 1952 on a budget policy that is dominated by extreme and unwarranted caution, conservatism and traditional street beggar economy are no less true now about how Nigerians have been reticent in managing vast oil resources for over nine years, and are now unsure of what will happen next because such resources have dwindled.

Governor Fashola added that late Chief Awolowo also made his views known on those predicting gloomy times ahead for Nigeria and the role of taxation saying the problem does not lie with the resources of the country, but with the quality of leadership and the management policies they choose to pursue.

Governor Fashola recalls that “the question to be asked is that whether our budgets have delivered maximum social advantage when our people have no access to qualitative education, healthcare, housing or power supply, especially when compared with other oil producing nations especially in the Middle East, or our brothers in Angola”.

According to him, Chief Awolowo also preached that the windfall realized from sale of Cocoa in 1954 be allowed to benefit regions just as States are now agitating, before the Supreme Court, that funds unconstitutionally kept as Excess Crude Funds should be distributed to the federating units for the purpose of achieving the maximum social benefits of budgets for the benefit of the people now.

He said “Let us look at the Cocoa house, the first television Station in Africa , the Liberty Stadium, the University of Ife , various industrial estates, his policy on education and health. I personally share the optimism of the late sage. I personally owe him unquantifiable gratitude. His contribution goes beyond Lagos. He is greater in death than in life.”

The event, which was marked with the presentation of a book, “Awo: On the Trail of a Titan” was chaired by the former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon and had Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Deputy Governor of Osun State Erelu Olusola Obada and a representative of President Umaru Musa YarAdua in attendance.

Speaking at the event, Gowon had described Chief Awolowo as the undisputed leader of the Yoruba race, adding “Chief Awolowo is a leader no one can equal”, adding that he learnt many things from the late sage including his free education policy.

According to him, it was late Awolowo who started the Universal Primary Education programme, which the Federal Government later copied for the benefit of all regions.

He said, “I copied his UPE free education policy in 1973 for the whole of Nigeria.”

He described the late Awolowo as a sound politician, whose political parties and four others gave direction to the future of the country.

The representative of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Minister of Health, Professor Babatunde Oshotimehin personally confessed to being one of the first set of pupils who enjoyed free education in 1955.

President Yar’Adua, in the address read on his behalf, noted that late Chief Awolowo was a colossus, a democratic and visionary leader. In his words: “Awolowo was a precious gift to Nigeria. He lived beyond his time. After his demise, we recognized that he stood up for the advancement of people. He was known for his discipline. His policies were a benchmark for transformation even as the nation works towards sustainable economy. He had left an indelible foot print.”

The Executive Director of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Dr. Olatokunbo Awolowo- Dosumu in her message on the centenary,said that the event was to inspire, challenge and renew the collective commitment to the better future of the country.

This, she said could be achieved by refocusing peoples’ attention to the lessons that could be drawn from the life and example of a great man like Chief Awolowo.

She said, “We aim in our own small way to encourage the present generation not only to walk worthy of its heritage but also to forge a determination to do business in every sphere of endeavour and keeping in perpetual focus the verdict of history.

Other notable personalities included the widow of Chief Awolowo, Chief (Mrs.) H.I.D Awolowo, Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka who wrote the foreword to the book, Prince Bola Ajibola, His Royal Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Chairman of Oodua group, Chief Julius Adelusi Adeluyi and several important dignitaries.