Great nations are great not because of geography or who they cohabit with in the country. Great nations are not built by the virtues of their wealth but by the wealth of their virtues. Without every citizen being committed to the greatness of the nation by consciously imbibing cultures of diligence, honesty, integrity, discipline etc., there will be no great nation inspite of any name we choose to call ourselves.
Browsing: Chief Obafemi Awolowo
We need to refine ourselves as a people. Our mantra as Yorubas is omoluabi (a people full of character and virtues), a virtuous people, a dignified nation. But let’s be truthful, there is scarcity of omoluabi right now across Yorubaland.
If by genetic components, Nigerians are the same, then why do we hate one another so much? Why do we fight so much? Why do we give room for a lot of infightings? If over 500 tribes live in Nigeria and they speak more than 300 languages, why don’t we see our diverse languages and cultures as a beautiful thing? Why can’t we all see that we are related?
Like I have mentioned above, building a new country goes beyond creating a new geography, new currencies, new flags and new anthem. A new anthem will not make Oduduwa Republic great.
The group, which particularly condemned call for the break-up of the country and secession of the Yoruba from Nigeria, made this known in a communique issued on Sunday in Ado Ekiti at the end of its monthly meeting.
I am sure that statement was made in error. His critics charged that the statement was overbearing and disdainful. We are told everyday that no knowledge is lost.
Ever since his student days, Odumakin had been fearless and unrelenting in speaking up in promoting the cause of justice and what he perceived as the best interest of the citizens of Nigeria. He participated actively at the forefront in the various students and youth struggles against successive military dictatorships in the 1980s and 1990s. In the process, he was arrested, harassed and even detained several times. Yet, he never allowed himself to succumb to tyranny or be pressured into submissive and pliant silence.
SWSSG is an amalgam of Amotekun and all other existing security support systems and is to be led by the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams.
There was applause on Wednesday as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu broke the news at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan on Lagos Island where eminent citizens and ordinary folks gathered to bid the foremost politician a final farewell.
In the photograph, on the front row was the Premier, sitting in the middle. He wore a resplendent white agbada. Of particular significance was that, Awolowo had his cap removed and held in his hands, apparently in reverence to the Obas.
Babatope told the News Agency of Nigeria on telephone on Thursday that he was devastated by the demise of the former governor.
Sanwo-Olu made the announcement through his verified Twitter handle.
As a young lad in the 80’s I was a beneficiary of the free education and other laudable party programs propounded by Chief Obafemi Awolowo but aggressively promoted and implemented by Late Jakande. His approach to quality and free education is so laudable that people moved their wards from other states to Lagos; I narrowly escaped same.
He reportedly died on Thursday at the age of 91.
About a decade after this incident, as I convened leaders from civil society on the aegis of Save Nigeria Group, I engaged some exceptionally brilliant young Nigerians, some of whom have now become some of the most influential young people in the country, contributing significantly to the cause of good governance.
In it, he discusses the importance of mentoring in leadership recruitment.
Adebanjo, a leader of Pan Yoruba group, Afenifere, made the remark in his reaction to the death of Kanu, a former military governor of Imo in 1975 and governor of Lagos State in 1976, who died on Wednesday, aged 77.
The three main Nigerian leader were participants and high stakeholders in the 1959 general elections. There were Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, the teacher and local government administrator, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, journalist and publisher of the famous West African Pilot and Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the lawyer, trade unionist and journalist.
The PDP said this in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Monday.
Olukoya said despite the greatness and exploit of Awolowo on the political scene, he refused to give his life to Christ even when the great Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola, once went to his house.