Growing up in a politically conscious household, I heard many stories about the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Though I was born in 1976, long after his most defining political battles, his towering presence loomed over every conversation about leadership and nation-building. My father, a politician himself, often spoke of the dynamics of politics during Awo’s era, and even as a child, I could sense the profound respect many held for the man, regardless of party affiliation.
What made Awolowo unforgettable wasn’t just his intellect or eloquence, though both were remarkable. It was his heart for the people, his deep, unwavering commitment to their progress. He understood, with clarity rare among leaders, that education was the gateway to liberation. And he opened that gate wide. The children of cocoa farmers, once destined to toil in the same fields, became doctors, engineers, teachers, and innovators because Awo dared to see a different Nigeria. His vision was as clear as the rising sun, and he cast its light far ahead of his time.
I often think of his words: “Any system that allows the rich to get richer while the poor get poorer will eventually collapse.”
Wise words, aren’t they? They linger in my mind as I watch the world today where inequality widens and hope sometimes feels like a forgotten currency.
But life, as we know, isn’t always smooth. Even the most visionary of men face storms. I remember reading about his trial and imprisonment, a test of resilience for a man who had already given so much. Yet, like gold refined by fire, Awo emerged stronger. His spirit remained unbroken. He never stopped believing in a Nigeria that could rise, proud, principled, and united.
Then came the devastating loss of his brilliant son, Segun a tragedy no parent should endure. Yet, in his grief, Awo showed us another face of strength. They say sorrow either breaks you or deepens your wisdom. For Awolowo, it did the latter. He carried his pain with quiet dignity, channeling it into deeper service.
As I reflect, I find myself wondering: do today’s leaders carry that same fire in their bellies? Do they see governance as a sacred trust or merely a game? There’s an old saying that when the shepherd forgets the welfare of the sheep, the flock scatters in confusion. Awo was a shepherd who never lost sight of his sheep.
The political scene today resembles a noisy marketplace hawkers calling out with promises wrapped in shiny packaging. But what lies beneath? Awo’s politics was more like the farmer’s patient toil, sowing seeds for a harvest that future generations would enjoy. His leadership wasn’t flashy, it was enduring, like a tree that offers shade long after the planter is gone.
Globally, Awolowo’s type of legacy places him alongside the likes of Nelson Mandela, whose moral compass never wavered even through 27 years of imprisonment. Like Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, he envisioned a self-reliant Africa rooted in education and economic strength. Like Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Awo believed that leadership must serve the collective good, not personal gain. One might even draw a parallel to Franklin D. Roosevelt, who reshaped America with his New Deal, much like Awo reshaped Western Nigeria with his free education and health policies. All these men had one thing in common: a fierce devotion to lifting their people.
When Chief Obafemi Awolowo passed in 1987, it was as though a light had gone out in the nation’s soul. But what followed was a wave of genuine mourning. Not the type prompted by protocol, but the kind rooted in deep affection and gratitude. Crowds gathered from every corner of the country to pay homage. Markets closed. Students, the elderly, farmers, professionals, they all came to honour the man who had given them hope and opportunity. He was celebrated not for his wealth or power, but for his deeds. Monuments could be built, but none would match the living testimonies of lives he had touched.
I remember the names of those who walked beside him like Chief Bola Ige, Pa Adekunle Ajasin, Bisi Onabanjo, men who believed integrity was the cornerstone of leadership. They were not perfect, but they were purposeful. They understood that leadership is not about privilege, but about sacrifice.
And now, I ask again: where are the Awoists of today? Where are the visionaries who will put people first, who will build schools instead of just walls? Who will light candles in dark corners rather than cast longer shadows?
Perhaps they are among us still finding their voice, still preparing for the moment to rise. Perhaps they are in classrooms, in rural towns, in lecture halls, quietly studying, dreaming of a better Nigeria. Perhaps they are you, reading this, wondering if you too can carry the torch.
The legacy of Chief Awolowo reminds us that greatness does not lie in titles or wealth, but in vision, service, and an unshakable belief in the potential of the people.
May we find our way back to that path! The path he walked with courage, clarity, and love. May we once again see leaders who lead with their hearts.
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