The birth and building and the death and demolition of Awo’s statue opposite the Government House in Ibadan is a demonstration of democrazy and destructive spending of public fund by all the parties involved.

The bad politics with which the three civilian governors and a soldier governor had played and still playing with the late sage’s integrity also bothers me. The disrespect for Awo’s statue has weaken my believe that doing good is good. It has shown me that it is so easy to slap we – the Yoruba – in the face and go scot-free. Whoever it is behind the destruction of Awo’s statue have murdered the Yoruba and shall never be Yoruba again.

However, I am quite sure that the uneconomical erection or extravagant destruction of Awo’s statue could not take away the man’s historical history which has elevated him among his people. The man Awo was too much for mere mortals to destroy, even in death. At least, he distinguished himself among his peers; among the best in what he called geographical expression. Awo’s name simply goes past statue.

Why then should any government unwise in dealing with large sums in the name of Awo’s statue? For what they have been doing was to drag the man’s name to the mud. For what they have been doing was spendthrift in the name of Awo, the man. For what they have been doing was to politicize Awo’s name for their own gain. There is no exception. The so-called Awoists are not different from others in this game of playing politics with Awo’s name.

With due respect, Lam Adesina, an Awoist and former governor of Oyo State, started the game – of reckless waste. It was he who replaced the original statue of the Unknown Soldier erected by the soldier-governor, Abdukareem Adisa, with that of Awo’s at the cost of N3m. Lam must tell us his basic intention for such replacement. I am quite sure that Lam knew from the beginning that his political opponents would dismantle the statue after he might have left the office. Yet he went ahead. For that matter, he did it at the end of his administration in 2003. If Adisa as a military zombie walked like the drunken man tottered over the table, I expect Lam to have walked steadily. I expect him to have applied the wisdom with which Awo was blessed with.

Lam shouldn’t have destroyed before he built. What’s wrong in building Awo’s statue alongside that of the Unknown or is it Known Soldier – at least to save some money? I also believe there are many other historical and better places in Ibadan to erect Awo’s statue. He took such decision perhaps to score a political point, which I repeat was unnecessary. I want to believe he knew that whoever succeeded him among the PDP aspirants would eventually destroy Awo’s statue and replace with the original one. But this didn’t bother him probably because his real intention was to cause confusion. He needed to paint his successor as Awo’s antagonist so as to lose the people’s vote. But he would be deadly wrong because none of his successors would need the people’s vote before winning any election.

Meanwhile his prediction came to pass as Awo’s statue was eventually vandalized during his successor, Rashidi Ladoja’s tenure. Although Ladoja, who also claimed to be Awoist, denied any involvement in dismantling Awo’s statue, it was clear to me then that the game had just begun. Was it a coincidence that the Awo’s statue pulled down on May 29 when Ladoja was being inaugurated? And why did he fail to re-erect the structure during the three years and one month he spent in that office? Perhaps he was being careful and sensible – a prudent manager in deed.

And so they started the game. Didn’t it exhaust them? I mean the drag up the hill of Awo’s statue. If Lam Adesina who could rightly be described as an Awoist, took a dim view of things, why not Alao-Akala? Akala has accused his predecessors of playing politics with the replaced statue. I would like to add that everyone of them is playing politics with the statue. Who then would you blame? Is it Lam or Ladoja or Akala or the soldier-governor Adisa? Or is it their godfather, the Ekarun Olubadan of Ibadan, the "Garisson commander" who seems to have the Oyo State treasury in his pocket?

Fast forward to the issue that must be taken for what it is. If it were to be one of the Awoists that had replaced the late sage statue, then tongue or even tail could wag. What did Alao-Akala gain from Awo for the former to want to keep in safety and protect from decay or loss Awo’s forest and the lakes? Akala does not owe Awolowo anything inspite of his fake adulation of the sage. Whereas he has benefited from Unknown or even Known Soldier hence he must honour and, or pay his debt. A debt that can lead to his removal on failing to pay it. Either way, I suspect Alao-Akala will carry his regret to the grave concerning Awo’s statue. It seems to me that the man has dug his own grave with this Awo’s statue. Time will tell.

I think he was merely playing further politics when he promised to construct a befitting statue for Awo at the State Secretariat, Agodi, this year. Akala should stop worrying his conscience after the damage has been done. He should stop fooling us further by saying, "The replacement of Awo statue with that of an Unknown Soldier did not mean that he had anything personal against the late sage". Damn right it is not personal but Akala should be man enough to tell us who exactly is behind his audacity to replace Awo’s statue.

However, Alao-Akala, like Lam Adesina who had replaced the Unknown Soldier’s statue with that of Awo’s, has demonstrated he is not a betrayal. Alao-Akala, by committing N17.5m to the renovation of the Remembrance Arcade, has proved himself to be the dog that never forgets its owner. He has paved way for further Amala politics to be played regarding Awo’s statue. Now Adedibu has said he would erect Awo’s statue at his Molete Den. Did Adedibu instigate his godson to replace the statue of Awo so that it can be erected around Adedibu’s vicinity? What does Adedibu tend to gain in all these?

One thing is clear to me though. Replacing the statue of Awolowo is a bold move from Akala considering what Awo’s name means to Yoruba people. Then, to really show how bold he is, perhaps he should have replaced the statue with that of Obasanjo’s or Adedibu’s. At that point it will have been cleared to us the intention behind the whole thing. It is an open secret that Obasanjo never liked Awo. And I won’t be surprised if Obasanjo is involved. Now, the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) through its factional leader, Gani Adams, has appealed to the present governor, Alao-Akala, to replace Awo’s statue and move the Unknown Soldier’s statue to some other area in the city.

Whichever way one looks at it, I think Awo wouldn’t have approved of his statue replacing that of the Unknown Soldier. Awo being a prudent and highly intelligent man would have preferred the money to be spent on education or something along the line of which might benefit his people. Too much money had been wasted unnecessarily over the statue. Lam Adesina destroyed the Unknown Soldier’s statue and erected Awo’s with the public funds. Ladoja or Obasanjo (permit me the assumption) destroyed Awo’s statue and now Akala has replaced it with the Unknown Soldier’s. I hope one day they would be compelled to account for how the money had been spent.

Thus, it becomes a question of whether Awo’s achievements surpass that of the Unknown Soldier or Known Soldier in our midst? Awo instituted free education among other things useful to his people till today. His accomplishments and touch on every aspect of Yoruba life will remain forever. Says Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, Action Congress (AC) Gubernatorial Candidate in Oyo State in the last election: Chief Awolowo’s contributions are evident in every aspect of life in Ibadan. His accomplishments as a politician and administrator were all achieved from Ibadan, the seat of power of the old western region.

Those who are on the side of the Unknown Soldier or Known Soldier argue that it is highly necessary to remember the fallen heroes of the first and second World Wars as well as the country’s civil war. They failed to highlight the Unknown Soldier’s contribution on every aspect of Yoruba life. What of the Known Soldier? I leave the readers to their own judgement. But tarry a little. Isn’t it possible for the two statues to stay beside each other? I mean for the sake of justice and em..peace...and em saving cost. Or does it mean that if an Awoist becomes a governor again, the statue will be demolished again?  

Lastly, Awolowo in death remains as controversial as when he was alive. They love using his good name to raise themselves from a lower to a higher position; to make themselves the darling of the moment; they hate to love him and love to hate him. It appears they are jealous of the dead. Perhaps because they want to be like him but never will they be.

Copyright 2008                                    mysmallvoice@yahoo.com

Robot  # 1 | 16.01.2008 08:36

...Read the full article.

Lagos Boy  # 2 | 16.01.2008 10:13

Awo is perhaps the greatest contributor to development of the Yoruba race in contemporary times. For those who may want to refer to his short comings I have this question; If OBJ, Adedibu, Akala and other Yoruba leaders, governors etc were only as competent as Awo and also had the same level of limitations or short comings as the man (Awo) where would the West be today? The same? better? or worse? My Submission.

spaco  # 3 | 16.01.2008 13:28

ADDITIONAL WITH YOUR ARTICLE MEMO TO: GOV. ALAO-AKALA Governor, I think you are looking for relevance where there is none, but unknown to you that, what you will get is embarrassment, rebuke, resentment and bombardment. You came to office through a very dubious election that is still being contested and challenged in court, you don't know what the outcome will be, even the way you won your primaries was very unusual and left much to be desired, the least you want to do is to embark on an equally sensitive and controversial project that could mar the way your handful supporters see you. Your recent move does not portray a smart politician who can sway the public opinion to his side. This is a grossly miscalculated political endavour on your part, only you know whom you are trying to impress, but certainly not the yourbas and other well meaning Nigerians. Replacing Chief Awolowo's statue with that of Unknown Soldier is not only uncivilized, it is barbaric, despicable and mind bugling. What were you thinking? Looking for fame, accolade or both? I don't think so. Mr. Governor, why don't you follow your mind and be your own person. Why do you have to listen to the advice of the machinery dancing around you? These people are your detractors, they are certainly not your fans, but they are pushing and leading you astray, and they have succeeded in making you a laughing stock. By the way, Chief Awolowo spent his entire life fighting for the cause of down trodden and common people, He was a known soldier of the common people, and why will you replace the statue of a known fighter with that of unknown soldier? Take it or leave it, Chief Awo fought fiercely for the common people of Nigeria, the only difference is that he did not carry a machine gun or drove armored thank. His vision can not be faulted by any Nigerian politician dead or alive. Even the military you are trying to impress and curry favour from treated him with respect and high sense of decorum Your action did not and can not diminish the lager than life image of Chief Awolowo, the illustrious son of Africa. However hard you try, you cannot re-write history. As a Yoruba adage goes "Ajanaku Kooja mori nka firi, bi aba ri Erin, a o mo pe a ri Erin" Chief Awolowo, is till very great even at death, it is also not within your power to undo what papa Awo had done during his lifetime. I can say with all humility that your action is not only myopic but jaundiced and not well thought of before you embarked on it, or better still, one can say that you have very unseasoned advisers around you, otherwise somebody who has a good head on his shoulder should have told you that your action is not only an affront to the Awolowos, but to all Yoruba race on the face of this earth! By this singular act of sacrilege, you have opened up a Pandora box, the fall out will not be palatable for your administration or anybody in your circle for that matter. Like Fela once said, "trouble sleep, yanga wake am" Agreed that an unknown thug vandalized Chief Awolowo's statue, we do not need an equally "unknown governor" to complete the handiwork of the savage thugs who started it. I will expect a governor like you to salvage it and restore the statue to its previous position. Tai Sholarin in his book, "Message to young Nigerians" said, "Life is like an echo, what ever you give comes back to you" it follows that, somebody long after you might have gone off the stage, will obliterate your memory, it's that simple! Chief Awolowo gave the best he had to all Yorubas and indeed to all human race, he was known far and wide, nothing somebody like you can do now to alter that fact. I was sad when I read in the news paper that, you have the gut and the effrontery to replace Awo's stature with that of an unknown soldier! That is a wrong move, politically incorrect, nonsensical and costly attempt at looking for relevance. Your action could open up an old wounds that people want to put behind them for good. You think about this, an Ogbomoso man, demolishing an Obafemi Awolowo's statue only to erect another statue of an Unknown Soldier in the same place that formerly played host to Awo's statue. How do you fell about that? Your behaviour singles you out as somebody who has little respect for elders, contrary to the image you were trying to portray when you fell flat on your face for your political godfather chief Adedibu, I don't know of any other Yoruba man well brought up in the culture of our race who will do what you have done to an elder-statesman who spent his entire life defending the defenseless. Your action exasperates many Nigerians, not yorubas alone. The only logical thing to do now is to show contrite and apologize to all the people you have offended as well as all yorubas home and abroad for forgiveness. What you do today becomes history and it remains long after you. How do you want history to remember you, a builder or somebody who tears what other people have built down? Chart your own future!

tonsoyo  # 4 | 16.01.2008 22:24

Akala and his co-travellers have murdered sleep... they shall sleep no more, in or out of government.

kako  # 5 | 17.01.2008 00:00

It is unforunate that people that have know business in government are the ones now ruling us. So what do you expect anything better

Agidimolaja  # 6 | 17.01.2008 00:11

The recent action taken by Akala should surprise no one.Remember that Akala is an Ogbomosho man,the same place with Akintola. Akala came into power as the "governor" of Oyo State the same way in which Akintola became the Premier of Western Region - through dubious election. Akala stabbed his boss and helper Ladoja in the back just as Akintola stabbed his boss and helper Awolowo in the back.He then in like manner became the Governor through the most dubious election in Nigeria. With Akala as the dubious Governor of Oyo State,history just repeated itself. "Governor" Akala and his likes,please lend me your ears. The name of Obafemi Awolowo is already written in the hearts of well meaning Yorubas with indelible ink.It cannot be erased by crooks like you.Also on pages of history books,the name of Obafemi Awolowo is already written in gold.Obafemi Awolowo deserved such. Think ye therefore,that demolishing his statue would change what has been written?You lied!Do you in your weak mind think that demolishing the statue of the late sage would erode the good works he had done which none is yet to match including your own Akintola? Awolowo is dead physically yet he is well alive in our hearts and his works endureth till this moment. Whenever Awolowo comes into your mind, try to remember just few of his works: WNTV Ibadan{first in Africa} Liberty Stadium,Ibadan Cocoa House(the first skyline in Nigeria) Pepsi Cola Cooperative Bank National Bank WNHC Marketing Board Free Primary Education Niger Motors The list is endless. I agreed with Ikemba Emeka Ojukwu,the Biafran warlord when he said that""Obafemi Awolowo was the best President we never had". No one has ever disputed the statement and no other Nigerian is so described.

keem  # 7 | 17.01.2008 01:42

The Awo Statue Controversy....Nigerian Tribune Editorial ADESINA had announced upon assumption of office that the unknown soldier statue would be replaced with that of Awolowo, partly as a symbol of the triumph of the people’s democratic will against marauding soldiers who hijacked power for several years. THE statue of Chief Awolowo was destroyed upon the assumption of office of Adesina’s successor and the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, two days later. Ladoja himself had accused a high-ranking member of his party, Chief Lamidi Adedibu, of masterminding the destruction of the statue. Others, who confessed their complicity in the act also affirmed that they did so on the latter’s instruction. Chief Adedibu, however, denied the allegation. But the then Governor Ladoja later promised that he would honour not only Awolowo, but would also erect the statues of other late leaders that he deemed worthy. He did not keep his promise. FOR more than four years, the remnants of the statue of Chief Awolowo were left at the Fountain Square, perhaps as a testimony to the violation of the people’s will in Oyo State and a testament to the challenges faced by a society led by those who do not know how to honour or appreciate greatness. ORDINARY, nothing recommended returning the statue of the unknown soldiers to a place that symbolises the democratic spirit of the people. The Government House and its surroundings are supposed to be hallowed grounds of democracy. But if the current administration would not be bothered about honouring a man who is widely acknowledged as perhaps the most capable administrator in the history of the continent, it should have considered it unwise to raise unnecessary controversy by replacing freedom with authoritarian image of the jackboots. The decision, therefore, to return to the “original plan” cannot but be seen by a wise political community as a perverse and recalcitrant attempt to disregard collective memory and the public’s mood. Nothing, but ill will, recommended it. A rash of lies and distortions has necessarily been used to burnish this needless action. One of such is that the Adesina-led government intentionally erected the statue only a few days before it left office. Anyone familiar with the three-stage tortuous process of producing a bronze statue, such as the type that was destroyed, would know that it takes several months. The truth is that work began on the Awolowo statue no less than two years before it was erected by the Adesina government. This has already been elaborated in a newspaper article by Mr. Adebayo Faleti, who led the Oyo State Council for Arts and Culture as chairman. THERE is not much to be said to those who think the symbol of democracy, federalism, egalitarianism, free education, progress and development, such as Awolowo, should be substituted by the unknown soldier, more so when a statue had long been raised to immortalise the unknown soldier at Dugbe, the city centre, before the late General Adisa decided to symbolise the martial capture of the state in the frontage of the Government House. Awolowo’s qualification for such honour has already been consecrated. As Professor Cris Shore noted, “monuments enshrine the status and authority of those who finance and commission them”. “Democrats” who wish to enshrine their status and authority through the symbol of martial culture are welcome. GOVERNOR Alao-Akala has stated that he was a beneficiary of the free education programme instituted by the government led by Chief Awolowo. He is yet to say what he has benefited from the soldiers that he is eager to honour. It is not Obafemi Awolowo, and the millions of enlightened people he continues to represent, even in death, that are diminished by this action. THE governor was also reported to have promised to erect the statues of Awolowo, the late Chiefs Samuel Ladoke Akintola and Adelabu Adegoke at the state’s secretariat. But the problem is not about erecting these new statues. It is about the destruction done to a people’s legacy and an attempt to rewrite the history of those people. The issue is about robbing the people of their democratic legacy by removing the representative of that symbol and replacing it with an illegitimate symbol of those who robbed them of that legacy through the barrel of the gun. It is about protecting democratic ideals. EVERY rationalisation that has been offered by the administration and its spokespersons is a further reflection of this. Alao-Akala has a choice to reverse himself today and partake of the unparalleled and undiminished public adulation that is enjoyed by the late sage. If he chooses otherwise, long after his days in office have been forgotten, the statue of Chief Awolowo will be raised on that very same ground. Even Akala’s spokesperson said as much: “For the avoidance of doubt, Chief Obafemi Awolowo lives in our heart as the most enduring testimony to the greatness of the Yoruba race.” AWOLOWO is more than that. He remains a shining example of the possibilities of the Blackman, as the man who pointed the way to the greatest concentration of Black people in the world. Despite the current crisis of governance in his homestead and beyond, Awolowo will always be honoured.

Godwin  # 8 | 17.01.2008 06:36

I’ll Erect Another Statue for Awo, Says Akala The governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala yesterday declared that he did not have anything against the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the replacement of his statue with that of an unknown soldier. It was his first personal reaction since the controversy on the demolition of the late sage statue broke out.Akala spoke at the Armed Forces Remembrance Day where , along with top military officers of the 2nd Division of the Nigerian Army,he saluted the gallantry of the soldiers and officers of the Nigerian Civil War and those of the two World Wars in 1914-1918 and 1939-1945. Alao-Akala however promised through a statement from his Special Adviser on Public Communications in the state, Dotun Oyelade, moments after the ceremony, that his government would construct another statue of the late sage on the grounds of the Parliament building before the end of this year. The governor pleaded with "all those who are playing politics with the Awo statue, those who want to exploit our simple gesture of giving due recognition to our fallen heroes, all the hack writers and armchair critics of government and all the prophets of doom to please, keep the peace". The celebration almost ended in a tragedy as the driver of a military truck belonging to the Nigerian Military Police a.k.a Watch Dog in his bid to pick the soldiers at the ceremony back to the barracks lost control and rammed the truck into the premises of the State Universal Basic Education Board which is just 100 meters to the arcade. Two commercial motorcyclists who were plying their trade along the route escaped death by the whiskers as they attempted to dodge the truck but sustained minor injuries. The military vehicle was quickly removed to the military base for necessary actions. According to the Governor, his action on the replacement of the sage statue "was not intended to disrespect or humiliate Chief Obafemi Awolowo who was an acclaimed leader of the Yoruba race. I cherish and admire Chief Awolowo's sterling qualities as a great leader, first class administrator and brilliant politician.” "Apparently embittered on the controversies that had trailed the statue saga, Akala maintained that he did the right thing because the arcade was originally designed for the statue of the Unknown Soldier by the then military governor of the state, late Major General Abdul Kareem Adisa and not that of Chief Awolowo.He affirmed that if the statue had been built by his immediate past predecessor, Senator Rasidi Ladoja, "it would have been insane for me to demolish the statue", explaining that his government resolve to restore the statue of the Unknown Soldier was to go back to the original plan as this place is known as Armed Forces Remembrance Arcade."According to the e-statement, Akala is of the belief that having the statue of the sage at the Parliament Building is far more relevant to his role as a consummate parliamentarian and astute political leader rather than the Government House where he never lived.He assured the people of Oyo State and Nigerians in general that appropriate recognition will be given not only to worthy heroes like Chief Obafemi Awolowo but others like Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola who is also a former Premier of the Western Region and Chief Adegoke Adelabu among others.The governor in a chat with newsmen after the ceremony, pleaded with Nigerians to resolve to unite and make the country a better place than we met it "as we remember our fallen heroes today. I hereby extend my hand of fellowship to everybody, our bitter critics inclusive saying enough of rancour, bickering, politics of hatred and division. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dele4you  # 9 | 17.01.2008 08:34

history is a very patient observer; it watches patiently and records evidence of our deeds. it never fails to keep faith with even what we fail to do. when the time is right, it tells the story of our intentions in its own style and calculation of appropriate recollections dele

spaco  # 10 | 17.01.2008 14:11

"WNTV Ibadan{first in Africa} Liberty Stadium,Ibadan Cocoa House(the first skyline in Nigeria) Pepsi Cola Cooperative Bank National Bank WNHC Marketing Board Free Primary Education Niger Motors The list is endless" Agidimolaja Akala and his Baba Adedibu should not forget to demolish remaining legacies OUR GREATEST MAN (AWO) LEFT FOR US.

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