A new book has revealed that few years before late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo died in May 1987, he expressed deep preference for a separate nation for his people, the Yoruba.
The new book authored by Dr Victor Olu Taiwo stated that Awolowo invited some of his trusted aides into a meeting where he told them the Yoruba would be better in a separate country of their own.
Victor Taiwo is Nigerian renowned activist who has written more books on Yoruba self-determination than anyone living or dead.
Chief Obafemi Awolowo was the most significant political figure arguably in Nigeria whose thoughts on Federalism embraced the rights to self-determination.
In the new book titled Nigeria on Gunpowder: The Climax of Misrule claimed that Awolowo wanted a free country for the Yoruba and had contemplated a Yoruba Nation sovereign from Nigeria. The book was made available to Irohinoodua. The author, our correspondent was informed, had sent copies of the new book to all the South West State Governors.
Dr Taiwo in the new book on page 521 of the 531 book stated that Obafemi Awolowo detected the impoverishment of the misgovernance and mismanagement of Nigeria and felt convinced that self-determination was the best alternative for Yoruba Nation.
He wrote in the new book that Awolowo who he described as the ‘prophetic and impeccable man’ had something to regret.
He wrote that Awolowo regretted not having Yoruba Nation. He said Awolowo confided in one of his aides, in a secret meeting with Michael Omoleye, who he described as a confidant of Awolowo before the latter’s transition. Hear Mike:
Omoleye was quoted in the book that ‘Chief Awolowo was never known to take an action after deep thought and to regret it later. On my honour, I state here that the greatest regret of Chief Awolowo was that he did not excise the Western Region out of Nigeria just as Mr Endeley of the Cameroon did before the attainment of independence in 1960.’
The author said Awo’s confidant claimed Chief Awolowo personally told him during his private discussion with him shortly before he died.
“I have kept this issue from the public because I thought our Northern brothers were sincere in their political programmes. What brought up the matter of Awo’s regret was the realization which I had that Oduduwa might have sent Awolowo to the Yoruba race instead of wanting to rule Nigeria. To which the Chief replied: ‘I never, for once, thought of it that way. But it would have been a different story today if I had concentrated my energy to advance the cause of the Yoruba race.’
He quoted Awolowo as saying ‘We would have shown then the way even though I might have been labelled a tribal leader.’
He said his instant reaction was to tell Chief Awolowo that it would have been better to be the head of a rat rather than be the tail of an elephant.
Dr Taiwo said in essence, if Awolowo were to be alive today having thus discovered the perpetual subordination and irredeemable surrogacy of the West in the affairs of the nation, he would have worked arduously and assiduously for the West’s secession, just as Ahmadu Bello would have done quite long ago were things not to be in his favour.
Awolowo was said to have raised the point at the 1957 meeting held at Lancaster House in London, that the secession clause be included in the proposed 1960 independent constitution. Nigeria is currently passing through a difficult moment with the mushrooming of several self-determination groups, some of them armed.
(Irohin O’odua)