Press Releases

Unveiling Of Awo Museum: Fashola Urges All To Imbibe Spirit Of Competition, Cooperation
…Tinubu, HID, Akande others honour late sage in Lagos

Jun 25, 2009 - Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Thursday officially presented the Institute of Government and Public Policy incorporating the Awo Museum with a charge that everyone should devote time and efforts to encourage competitive and cooperative attitude among one another.

According to Governor Fashola who spoke at the renaming of the former detention camp of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo located in Lekki town, Ibeju Lekki, added “never again should we allow any resolvable conflict deter our time and efforts to encourage cooperative and competitive attitude”.

The Governor expressed the hope that the institute would help to provide answers to nagging questions as to why Africa as a continent that is richly blessed and a continent that supplied oil, gold, diamond, coffee, copper cocoa and all the basic raw materials that supports human race still remains the most underdeveloped continent.

Said he: “One hopes the institute would encourage debates to find answers to questions on what we must do to add value to and take benefit of nature’s extraordinary generosity to this continent of vast opportunities and provide the clear roadmap for the implementation of solutions that has so evolved.”

He expressed optimism that the centre would help in finding solutions to Nigeria’s problem of leadership problems and crises and would help in charting a roadmap that will deliver true federalism and democracy where the vote of the people will count.

Governor Fashola said: “Much of Nigerian history can be understood as an elaboration of Chief Awolowo’s works, ideas, programmes and policy implementation as leader of Government business and Premier, Leader of opposition and Prisoner”.

The Governor also said late Pa Awolowo believed that success was achievable through anticipating appreciation of the individual through good education, job creation, provision of security by government for themselves, their families and their localities.

He explained that the entire social welfare scheme of Chief Awolowo had a cost which was financed through taxation, grants and public partnership.

His accomplishments as leader of Government Business through massive development of public infrastructures, comprehension of problems and possible solutions as leader of opposition, was seen as a threat and later manifested into conflicts amongst brothers.

Governor Fashola recalled that it was the crises of leadership arising from papa Awolowo’s unrepentant commitment to federalism and true democracy resulted in his being detained at the infamous colonial Lekki guest house.

Governor Fashola expressed appreciation former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu for initiating the idea of the centre while in office and also gave kudos to Chief Bisi Akande and all other who would constitute a faculty of intellects and resourcefulness.

The Governor who said he could not help but try to recollect what the place looked like in 1955 when Pa Awo was detained there as it was described as a “mosquito infested island”, added that it is to the credit of the people of Lekki that they did all they could to ensure that the very unsavoury and inhuman conditions was mediated by their warn hospitality.

“Today the reward has become evident as Lekki has become the fastest growing real estate corridor in Africa”, Governor Fashola added

He described Papa as a leader who was deeply, educated, sophisticated, civilized and polished leader who admired and respected equally endowed followers.

In her message to the occasion, wife of the late sage, Chief Mrs Hannah Idowu Awolowo described the event as very overwhelming and momentous for her.

She commended Governor Babatunde Fashola and the brains behind the initiative for immortalizing her husband.

She added that the period of detention of her late husband represented a period of trial and turbulence for a man who stood for truth but was incarcerated for no just cause.

Mama Awolowo said she is filled with joy to once again see the sea side which used to serve as her praying point and come to witness the transformation of what used to be a house of restriction to a museum.

The Chairman of the board of the institute and National Chairman of the Action Congress, Chief Bisi Akande said the centre would serve as a non- profit think tank that would make the area a place of research for the whole society.

He added that the centre would try to encourage innovative thinking by creating and awareness of civic responsibility.

Also speaking, Former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba said late Papa was a virtuous man who was also not a vegetarian as many people claimed.

Former Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Lam Adesina commended Governor Babatunde Fashola for immortalizing late Chief Awolowo and described him as a true Awoist.

Senator Anthony Adefuye in his testimony said he used to hawk edible food items on the streets and that if not for the free education policy of Chief Awolowo he would have been a nobody .

In their testimonies, two of the men who worked at the camp during Chief Awolowo’s detention , Pa Mondiu Ogunbekun and S.O Ajayi commended Governor Fashola for successfully transforming the centre during his first term in office, adding that former Governor Lateef Jakande made a similar promise to uplift the centre during his second term but could not do that as his government was overthrown.

Also speaking, a poet and former private secretary of late Papa Awolowo, Odia Ofeimun and Dr Wale Adebanwi of the University of Ibadan described the late sage as a selfless leader who was always preoccupied with the interest of the people

Prominent among those who witnessed the event were the children of late sage, Chief Wole Awolowo, Chief Mrs Tola Oyediran, Mrs Ayo Soyode, former Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, members of the State Executive Council, prominent traditional rulers, members of the board of the Institute like the Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, Secretary, Mr Ibukun Fakeye, Mrs Francesca Emmanuel, Prof Sophie Oluwole, Prof Segun Gbadegeshin, Prof Adebayo Williams and members of the Awolowo family.