Nigerian Tribune 32 Tuesday, 20 October, 2009

With Adewale Oshodi 08062086668 Delving into Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s politics who exhibited transparence, integrity, A report by Ayo Onatola on the public presentation doggedness and clear commitment to cherished of the book, OBAFEMI AWOLOWO AND THE ideals in governance. He stated that, to AWO, politics was not for personal enrichment or MAKING OF REMO: THE LOCAL POLITICS OF A treasury looting as exemplified in the events leading to his vacation of Premiership of the NIGERIAN NATIONALIST by Insa Nolte, which Western Region for Late Chief Samuel Ladoke was held in London recently. Akintola in order to vie for the headship of the Federal House, which he lost. HE epoch-making event to celebrate the quest for national development. Otunba Daniel further debunked the claim launch of a well-researched publication The Executive Director of the Obafemi by some opponents that AWO was a tribal Ton the Sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Awolowo Foundation did acknowledge the leader. He said rather, AWO was a by a German and lecturer on African Culture extent of thorough research that was distinguished democrat and the best President at a UK-based university in this 21st century undertaken by Insa Nolte which culminates that never had. As the head of is affirmative of the personality of AWO, as a in the quality book she authored. Dr. Awolowo- Government in the defunct Western Region of prophet without honour in his place, but Dosunmu was quick to add that it is a rich Nigeria, he successfully implemented free discovered outside the Nigerian shore to be an book on the life and times of her father, not education, free health care, integrated rural epitome of exemplary leadership and a credible only as a frontline Nigerian politician, but development and gainful employment. manager of men and resources, which future someone who, along with his political It is against this backdrop that the governor leaders should see as a role model in the associates, viewed public offices as declared modelling his programmes after enthronement of enduring and opportunities to diligently serve the people. AWO’s laudable achievements as his own way good governance in Nigeria. According to Awolowo-Dosumu, AWO’s to mobilize the people of Ogun to keep faith In the centenary year of his birth, precisely record indicates that he reproduced the with the Legendary AWO. He pledged his on October 6, 2009, there was a remarkable “general cultural politics of Remo - an ethic of determination to continue whatever AWO acknowledgement of the good deeds of one of enlightenment, accountability and duty to the symbolizes while he lamented on the game of •Cover of the book the foremost Nigerian politicians, the leader community” through the deceit played by some politicians, who often services and advice of all the talents which of the Yoruba people in Nigeria and the Sage, Government of 1952-59. She reinforced the dress to look like AWO whereas their activities Nigeria and nations friendly to her can provide. Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo, SAN, author’s description of AWO that “he was are incomparable to what AWO stood for on Nigeria has in her all the makings of greatness. GCFR at an event organized by the respected by his peers for advocacy on their what good governance is. But we would be deluding ourselves if we International African Institute, London, in behalf”. He was a proud and principled man The author of the book, Insa Nolte, lectures imagined that size, population and natural collaboration with the Obafemi Awolowo who did not tolerate what he perceived as at the Centre for West African Studies, University resources, which are nothing but latent factors, Foundation, and Edinburgh University Press. injustice and was certainly not prepared to of Birmingham. Insa, a German, married to a are all that are required to boost us into a position The event, which was anchored by make baseless promises or profess sentiments Briton, dressed gorgeously to the occasion in a of eminence and leadership. On the contrary, it Professor J.D.Y. Peel, General Editor, he did not feel”. Yoruba tailor-styled gown which was specially is the amount of patriotism, unstinted effort and International African library Series, took place Speaking further, Dr. Awolowo-Dosumu designed and adorned with the photograph of wisdom which we apply to the exploitation of at the Brunei Suite, School of Oriental and said politics to AWO meant that “election AWO to commemorate the centennial birthday our vast resources, and of the just and equitable African Studies (SOAS), Russell Square, promises were made to be kept” and this value of the Late Sage in March 2009. She was distribution of the results of such exploitation, London. The two-hour long programme was made him to be a “Man of the People”. Dr accompanied by a few colleagues from her that will determine the measure of our greatness witnessed by a large turnout of the eminent Awolowo Dosumu noted that many present- university, together with her father, Prof Hans and happiness as a people.” Nigerians in diasporas, representatives of day politicians in Nigeria like to identify with Heinrich Nolte and husband, Prof Simon Green. Dr. Awolowo Dosumu then She finally various community development associations the name AWO irrespective of the variance of Insa Nolte won the heart of everyone in the presented the book Obafemi Awolowo and the including some other Nigerians who flew into their political leanings to that of the Awolowo’s audience as she made a speech prepared in three Making of Remo: The Local Politics of a Britain from all over the world and other political family. She further observed that Insa different languages, namely: Yoruba (Nigerian), Nigerian Nationalist written by Dr. Insa Nolte members of the UK academic community. has touched on some issues which could open German and English. She was indeed to the public. The programme coordinator was Stephanie ways for further research in future, either by comfortable to speak much at length in Yoruba, Otunba Gbenga Daniel could not hide his Kitchen, the Chair of the Publications Insa or other researchers, so that “we will which appears to be jaw breaking to an average feelings at the occasion, by virtue of being the Committee; Dr Olatokunbo Awolowo- increasingly understand the factors that went German or British citizen. Insa used the governor at the home state of the subject of Dosumu, the Executive Director, Obafemi into the making of the transformational leader opportunity to express her gratitude for the large the discussion, as he offered thanks to the Awolowo Foundation, was the Guest Speaker that AWO was in life and the extraordinary turn-out of invited guests and the media people. organisers. and the Special Guest of Honour was the Ogun phenomenon that he has become in death”. She also acknowledged with thanks the support As a matter of fact, he confessed that it will State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel. The As part of the concluding remarks on her she received from many individuals and notable amount to a disservice to have missed such an Ooni of Ife, His Royal Majesty, Oba Okunade nine-page speech, the Executive Director of the organizations she enumerated. interesting and historical event in honour of Sijuwade (Olubuse 11) was ably represented Obafemi Awolowo Foundation re-validated The publishers were overwhelmed to see all his political mentor, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. by Mr. laurie Roullier. the position of the author that what AWO did the copies of the book brought to the venue The governor specially The day was full of erudition to nearly was to use his prodigious talents to re-affirm bought and not able to meet the demand for appreciated the initiative and dexterity of Insa invoking the spirit of AWO which caught the and apply traditional, and timeless values of the book by other interested readers. . Nolte in going that far to bring alive the hopes admiration of the foreigners in attendance, honourable leadership and responsible Finally, Professor lD.Y. Peel used the of the Nigerian masses for a better future as going by the introduction of Professor Peel, to citizenship to his time, contrary to the occasion to present a plaque of the Eminent she authored this new book on the Legend of speeches and talks presented by Dr. Awolowo erroneous claim that AWO came before his Personality Award of the Best Governor of the the Nigerian politics, the Great AWO which is Dosumu and Otunba Gbenga Daniel, all of time; the result is the phenomenon that we Year 2009 on behalf of the Board of Directors now being put into the public glare. whom cited some of AWO’s philosophical celebrate today. She referred to the final of Music & Movies Entertainment Limited Otunba Daniel presented a treatise entitled sayings dating back to 1950 on what paragraph of Nolte’s book which reads: “the (publishers of M&M Magazine), United Keeping faith with the Legend. According to leadership and good governance entailed, but commitment of Remo’s rural constituents to Kingdom to the Ogun State, governor, Otunba the Ogun State governor, Chief Awolowo which still elude Nigeria as of today. political participation suggests that, despite Gbenga Daniel. towered above his contemporaries as a leader Dr. Awolowo-Dosumu, as the Guest the authoritarian interventions of the colonial Speaker, used the occasion to emphasise the and postcolonial state the potential for essence of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation political transformation and reform exists at as the research institute for the propagation the Nigerian grassroots.” Briefly of the political ideals of Chief Awolowo and Dr Awolowo-Dosumu in her final what good governance is all about. She submission, quoted the last paragraph of Yinka Shonibare to exhibit in US highlighted the activities of the Foundation AWO’s autobiography published 49 years ago, IGERIAN-born British artist, Yinka Shonibare, will between November and made reference to the hosting of seminars which according to her, is hard to find, as 10, 2009 and Marcch 7, 2010, exhibit some of his works at the Smithsonian on such themes as Nigeria: In search of follows: “But in order that our independence Institute in the United States of America. leadership and Nigeria: Democracy and the may be worthwhile, it is urgent and imperative N Shonibare, who was born in England in 1962 and raised in Nigeria, currently Rule of law, which is a way towards that we should plan on a much bolder and lives and works in London, where he has gained international attention by explor- encouraging contemporary leaders, as well as grander scale. To this end, the governments of ing issues of race and class through a range of media that includes sculpture, citizenry, to make use of AWO’s ideas in our the Federation must avail themselves of the painting, photography, and installation art.