HOW FAR CAN THE AWOLOWO CLAN GO AGAIN
The beginning of the end in Awo's camp
The tension in the political clan of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, first premier of old Western Region, did not begin with the recent and ongoing controversy on the autobiography of Chief Bisi Akande. But there are sufficient evidences that the spate of current controversy may signal the end of that clan and the beginning of another that will be different in composition.
Awolowo wielded the Yorubas together like nobody before him did. In his life time, he suffered two major disputes among his followers. The first was by his lieutenant Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola who later succeeded him as premier. It is instructive to note that Akintola's disagreement with his leader brought down Awo's political machine, the Action Group (AG) and remotely led to the termination of Nigeria's first republic.
The second was the fracas in old Ondo State, one of the states that emerged out of the defunct Western Region. The ensuing crisis was the battle to unseat Governor Adekunle Ajasin, an ally and longtime associate of Chief Awolowo, who was up for re-election in 1983 on the platform of Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). The titanic gubenatorial battle had pitted Ajasin against the Young Turk and his erstwhile deputy, Chief Akin Omoboriowo.
Consumed by vaulting ambition, Omoboriowo revolted against the party leadership, he switched camps and went on to join the conservative National Party of Nigeria (NPN). The die was cast. Later he squared off with Chief Ajasin in the governorship election. Thereafter Omoboriowo was declared winner of the election. But the cascading events that followed his victory led to a bloody revolt by the people. He fled the state and never consumated his pyrrhic victory. That second war in the House of Oduduwa led to the termination of Nigeria's second Republic.
Chief Dare Babarinsa, chairman of Gaskia Media, himself an Awoist, chronicled this second crisis in a book he authored, titled: " House of War." Again, Dare is playing a role in another book, an autobiography titled My Participations by Chief Bisi Akande, the first civilian governor of Osun State at the onset of civil rule in 1999. Dare's company is the publisher of Chief Bisi Akande's autobiography which has stirred up so much dust as predicted by the publisher. Chief Akande has stirred up many controversies that had hitherto been discussed in whispers while those affected by his blistering criticisms and attacks are also returning fire-for-fire.
The accusations and counter-accusations bordering on corrupt deals, which was anathema to Chief Awolowo, is now painting the house that he built as House of Sinners. This may likely affect the perception of the Yoruba people. The image of incorruptibility and decency previously accorded these old men is steadily being eroded.
Chief Adebanjo, leader of Afenifere, a Yoruba socio-cultural group and one of those who went to jail along with Chief Awolowo, had to go the extra length to convince the public that he did not pressure Chief Bola Tinubu, first governor of Lagos state at the onset of democracy in 1999, to build a house for him in Lekki, Lagos. Adebanjo stated unequivocally that he personally financed his own building in Lekki as against claims made by Chief Bisi Akande in his book. Chief Adebanjo presented documents and provided names to convince the public that he sold his properties to build his house in Lekki. So far, neither Asiwaju Bola Tinubu nor Chief Bisi Akande has replied to Chief Adebanjo's rebuttal.
Chief Ayo Adebanjo also made several allegations against Chief Bisi Akande. He stated that Akande seen in many quarters as a saint, allegedly built his house in Ibadan from gratification received from the contract he awarded for the building of the Osun State secretariat. Further, he declared that Chief Bisi Akande also owe the public an explanation on how he came about the money that financed his four-storey building in his hometown, Ila, Osun State. He also asked how Bola Tinubu, political godfather in Lagos State, came about his humongous wealth, which, he said, should be of tremendous interest to both the public and the anti-graft agency.
In the same vein, Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola who defeated Chief Akande in the 2003 Osun State gubernatorial elections has also alleged dirty deals against Akande. Oyinlola alleged that the money that funded Akande's second term re-election campaign, which he subsequently lost, were proceeds from the contract for the state secretariat, which he claimed the contractor did not complete.
Critics think the book was written by Akande to help launder his ally, Bola Tinubu's image, in his bid for the presidency since it is an open secret that Tinubu, National Leader of APC has his eyes trained on the presidency in 2023. My Participations is also seen as making a case for President Muhammadu Buhari whose government is facing a crisis of confidence among Nigerians.
But many are wondering whether the book and the timing of its public presentation as well as the controversies surrounding it have not further damaged Bola Tinubu’s chances as a credible candidate to carry the South West flag in 2023. By the antecedents and character of Tinubu, he is unlikely to answer publicly but he may speak through proxies. But whether he speaks or not, or whether Akande replies or not, some have even asked him to withdraw the book, certainly what Dare Babarinsa chronicled as House of War has turned to a house in ruin and it may be difficult to rebuild it again.
As it happens, all the positive images associated with progressive politics being for the greatest good, rather than selfish gain, as the main motivation and reason for public service by the Awolowo political clan may have been eroded and finally whittled down.
What may likely happen as it is also happening in other parts of the nation is the emergence of a new crop of leadership among the Yorubas that will have no association with the Awolowo clan but breathing the Awo philosophy with a breath of character that is clean.
Indeed when old men begin to write their autobiographies, they are signing off. With these signing of is also a signing off of their acceptance by the Yorubas. And so we may be seeing the last of these men in Nigeria's public life.
Furthermore, the same thing is happening in the East where Nnamdi Kanu has successfully challenged the old order of leadership with virtually all the youth behind him. Similarly in the North, while the bandits and Boko Haram insurgents may not represent new leadership, they have successfully broken the invincibility of northern leadership. Emirs, clerics and politicians who were seen before as tingods have been abducted and sometimes killed.
This will definitely encourage a new crop of young and fresh leaders who will not hold on to the principles that have held the North down for a long time. A good example; a young and beautiful lady, Shatu Garko from Kano State, home to undiluted and ultra conservative Islamism, broke the tradition when she contested and won the Miss Nigeria pageant. It was a taboo before her.
With these wave of changes sweeping through Nigeria, the nation is certainly ready for its next phase of development where the actors may not be the crop of leadership since independence in 1960 or as presently constituted now.
Guest Writer:
Tunde Akande is both a journalist and Pastor. He earned a Masters degree in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos
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