Nigerians need to learn a lot from the politics of the first Republic, especially in the South Western part of the country before jump to conclusion
When one considers and reflects on some historian and the entire background of the Awolowo/Akintola feud ultimately one has to make a choice and come to a decision as to who was right and wrong and determine which side was really at fault.
I see the era of Awolowo and Akintola like the present day political games play of the fourth republic you either belongs to progressive or conservative, however, we can see the trait of each group at they govern now. The era of Awo and Akintola political imbroglio what as a result of mass illiteracy of 60s/70s where tales of lies were assimilated easily without vetting
Before one can take a legitimate position on this many questions need to be answered. For example, what was the agreement between Akintola and Awolowo before Awo left for the Federal government poll? Who is responsible for the socio-political and economic development of the old Western region? Who was the traitor amongst the two?.
For answer to these questions one has to look at the history books even though, as Napoleon Bonaparte once said, “History is more often than not written by the Victor and not the vanquished”.
Samuel Ladoke Akintola and Obafemi Awolowo were of the same age bracket Awolowo being born on 6th of March, 1909 and Samuel Ladoke Akintola 10th July, 1910. They exchanged notes and started their legal and political friendship in 1952, they started the Action Group (AG) party together and they were jolly good friends. They were the brightest legal minds in the party
The both sagacious politicians and leader with the love of the Yorubas has same motive to place Yoruba to a better position but with different strategies, Akintola entering into a political alliance with the north and Awolowo entering into a political alliance with the East. This was the essential difference in strategy between the two and it represented their respective worldviews.
Akintola who had deep suspicious for the Igbo, felt that the interests of the Yoruba were better protected and served by an alliance with the Northern ruling class while Awolowo, who had equally deep suspicious for the northern ruling class and the Hausa-Fulani oligarchy, felt that the Yoruba interest was better served and protected by an alliance with the Igbo
Why the humongous contributions of S.L Akintola to the development of the Western region and the immense footprints he left in today’s South West have remained unappreciated. He established the airport hotel; he was instrumental to the establishment of the university of Ife; he had a hand in his government’s acquisition of the Cocoa House and many others
Where is the traitor/betrayal came from?
Can i say SL Akintola is a man with a genial heart who loved Yoruba land to a fault
With what i read about him then and now Akintola Baba lami lami was not a traitor as he was portrayed. But in politics everybody aspired a better positions. His ambition then was not different to what politicians are doing today even Atiku, Tinubu, Saraka and others did more than he did today.
The funny part is, what Akintola was advocating for in the first republic, is what Yorubas are practising today, formation of APC a case study.
Alabi Quadri Adetunji
alabiquadri13@gmail.com
0901820193
