[size=15pt]Awo, best leader to ever emerge - Nigerians[/size]
Idowu Samuel, Abuja - 03.10.2008

THE sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, has been named by Nigerians as the greatest leader to ever emerge in the country. In a nationwide survey conducted by the Daar Communications, owners of Africa Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower FM, Chief Awolowo was rated as the Nigerian Leader of All Time.


Awo, who all through his political career fought for the downtrodden with his progressive philosophy, was voted the best among the leaders in Nigeria as he scored 54 points in the poll anchored by four presenters with the organisation.


The votes were taken in the six geopolitical zones of the country. He was chosen based on his egalitarian principles and commitment to socialist ideals which led to his party’s four cardinal programmes of free education, free health services, rural development and provision of basic infrastructure to the people of the entire old Western Region.


Nigerians who voted Awo described his education policy as the best tool for advancement given to the people by any government or leader so far while expressing optimism that his socialist ideals would remain evergreen in the minds of generations yet to come.


They recalled that the great politician, during the period, provided free books, chairs, desks, lockers, benches, chalks, pencils, biro and even food, at no cost to parents, a feat which they said leaders had not been able to equal, let alone surpass.


Interestingly too, the immediate past President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, emerged second with 21 points while Buhari/Idiagbon came third with the same points.


In spite of the widespread condemnation of his government’s policies, especially reforms alleged to have brought hardships to Nigerians, a cross section of Nigerians identified as a leadership quality, Obasanjo’s decision to hand over power to civilians in 1979.


Obasanjo also received good ratings from the participants for courageous establishment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as well as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to wipe out corruption in the land.


Buhari/Idiagbon came third on account of their dogged fight and struggle to instil discipline in Nigerians and within the government. Former Head of State and Chairman, Nigeria Pray, General Yakubu Gowon, came fourth with 16 points while the late General Murtala Muhammed came fifth with 14 points.


Other Nigerians whose leadership qualities were acknowledged in the poll are Dr. Olusola Saraki, General Ibrahim Babangida, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Professor Dora Akunyili, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, Dr. Ken Nnamani and President Umaru Yar’Adua.


In their brief remarks, the presenters said that the choice of Chief Awolowo was a challenge to Nigerian leaders to perform well and respect their followers.

source:http://www.tribune.com.ng/03102008/news/news1.html

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

Tribune is NOT a national newspaper, though they said they conducted the opinion pool in all the 6 geo political region, I doubt if their sample population is a true representation of the Nigerian people.

hahaaaaahaaa Awolowo ke,
Awolowo that sold off Nigeria asets to his Yoruba kinsmen and call it privatilization.

hahaaaahaaa Awolowo ke,
Awolowo that sold off Nigeria assets to his Yoruba kinsmen at give away and call it privatization

The worst tribalist ever to be in Nigerian politics.
The records are still there

WilyWily:

hahaaaahaaa Awolowo ke,
Awolowo that sold off Nigeria assets to his Yoruba kinsmen at give away and call it privatization

Thank You.

The worst tribalist ever to be in Nigerian politics.

seems like exaggeration there. awo was part of an era of a tribalistic my people first politics.

Awolowo that sold off Nigeria assets to his Yoruba kinsmen at give away and call it privatization

what evidence of this do u have

I disagree. Zik or Herbert Macaulay will do for me.
Awo too self-centred for my liking. Imagine, wanting to eat his cake and have it. Giving premiership of western region to Akintola, and wanting to take it back after losing at the central.

you people are just tribalist, give it to the oldman awolowo was the best.

The only man that would have been good for Nigerian politics is Gani Fawehimi (and perhaps ZIk).
In my opinion.

nigeria1@/:

you people are just tribalist, give it to the oldman awolowo was the best.

In what way?
If Western Nigeria was a country of it's own yes but to Nigeria as a whole,the man was a tribalist to the bones and wore it in the sleeves of his agbada.

guys like gani fawehmni and femi falana are whiners who are unable to compromise. those kind of people are good as activists and not lawmakers. herbert macaulay and zik are good choices.

nigeria1@/:

you people are just tribalist, give it to the oldman awolowo was the best.

Count me out.
Awo built the university I finished from.
My father is a core Awoist.
I'm a Yoruba.

I just don't agree Awo was Nigeria's best leader. Zik and Herbert Macaulay will do for me.

queen the award is for the best leader. either the west or east or bauchi, Leadership is about serving people and taken them to the next level. Awo did this and there is no other person in nigeria history that can claim to have done better than him. Who do you know list them. Gani was not a leader. He is a stateman. Gani never rule in any form in nigeria. so is felana. you have to have lead someone to be a leader. Awo did, and did it well.

He was never a tribalist. If he was why was Ajuluchuwku, Joseph tanka, enahoro is followers. why?

I do believe that Awo would have love to reunite the yorubas with the republic of benin because Awo would love what is best for the general yoruba over that of some individual who for personal greed they get to nigeria. Do not care about the future of the next generation of Yorubas in a failed country called nigeria, that would take more than a miracle to get out of failure. Inshort, even if jesus rule nigeria, the man go get problem. naija get problem.

your post actually makes awo look worse

no it does not. Awo believe in justices. And i do, but if justice is not allow, then you look for alternative. That was why awo made the statement many igbo were mis-lead to believe yorubas would break out of nigeria. Awo believe it was wrong for the north to killed helpless innocent igbos . Women and children who knows nothing. Is that a tribalist. Some people thru propaganda and selfishness who have remain in power for 40 years by dividing the yorubas and the igbos have been responsible for tribalist statement.

Awo as minister of finance paid every igbo family money to help adjust to a restructured nigeria after the civil war. is that your tribalist.

If they did not rigged the 1979 election. An igbo man would have been president in 1987. And do you see me a tribalist. If you do, then you get problem. through the satellite picture. I have given the igbo a chance to be president. If yorubas vote for them in the next election an igboman would be president. the yroubas have enough population under a democratic rule to put an igboman into power. If we cancel the census and have a true census. An igboman may be president very soon. compare to the NEVER an igbo man arrangement. It is more easy for a yorubaman to vote an igbo president than a northerner would.

Tribalism is enshrine in our constitution, they called it quota system, sometime it referred to as federal character:
Its simply mean you are not guaranteed to get a position in Nigeria, even if you are the best qualified in the entire world.

there is no Nigeria alive that is not a tribalist. Tribalism is the currency that is used to trade position right from the local government area up to the federal level.

No Nigerian has the moral authority to point a finger. We ve all sinned and come short of glory of GOD

I dont subscribe to the fact that Awo was the best politician in nigerian history lai lai.

Nigeria 1 you don come with your satelite pictures agIf they did not rigged the 1979 election. An igbo man would have been president in 1987. And do you see me a tribalist. If you do, then you get problem. [b]through the satellite picture. [/b]I have given the igbo a chance to be president.

ain.

.

now u are just screaming 4 a round of satellite pictures

About 42 African ethnic groups live in this country; these various groups settled in Benin at different times and also migrated within the country. Ethnic groups include:

the Yoruba in the southeast (migrated from Nigeria in the 12th century);
the Dendi in the north-central area (they came from Mali in the 16th century);
the Bariba and the Fulbe (Peul) in the northeast;
the Betammaribe and the Somba in the Atacora Range;
the Fon in the area around Abomey in the South Central; and
the Mina, Xueda, and Aja (who came from Togo) on the coast.

42 ko, 42 ni. how many people live there. 8 million. Yorubas ,fon and bariba  consist of nearly 60% of the country. Now fon, which in nigeria we call egun. verify this fact. Which is found in nigeria. Bariba is also found in former kwara state. they are also called borgu. Please do your research of the Yorubas and bariba and fon people. before asking me question.


look , do you know that it would take you 18 minutes to drive from lagos to port novo the capital on a highway. it is 18 kilometers . This is about the same time it would take you in toronto to drive from young street to kipling avenue on the 401 highway.

or in new york the same time to take you from 231st St Subway Station to time square.

In abuja the same time it would take you from aso rock to zuma rock.  So if port Novo is that close why should we not join them.

In lagos the same time it would take you from ebute metta to get to ikeja. abuja from lagos is 12 hours. port novo is 18 minutes. Why should we not join them. At least they are our blood brothers. and you are seperating 3 blood brothers.

Awolowo, greatest leader? or do you mean Nigeria's Jim Crow?, may be but not until he pays my grand father all his money he seized after the civil war. Some people claim that IBB and the northerners started looting in Nigeria,  Fa-FA_FA, foul!. Awolowo bought up to 40% shares in Coca cola Nigeria and Unilever with igbo people's money even when the North that fought with igbos couldn't touch the money with a long pole. Who is bringing this tyrant up in here? He is a hero in the minds of only the yorubas that he helped give education with igbo peoples wealth. If igbos can ever forget that, then African americans will easily forget slavery. Some older generation of Yorubas that are upright will always tell you that what Awolowo did was evil. Where are his children today? even in yoruba politics? Awolowo was a devil who knew nothing but tyranny and AMORC. Whatever you sow, shall you reap. The curses upon his lineage by many sons and daughters of igboland can never depart from his home and they shall reap the evil their father sowed until they absolve themselves from that crime.
Look at his sorry life, after doing that, what happened? He thought the igbos will collectively become almajiris after that but he forgot that one thing every Igbo man teaches his sons and daughters is:
Go out there and conquer. Go and live wherever you desire. If they throw stones at you, pick up the stones and throw back at them. Hang on, work very hard and put your faith in God for He shall see you through and make you a shining star someday, no matter what your enemy think about you.

I disagree. Zik or Herbert Macaulay will do for me.

You are right on the money. Others are Tafewa balewa and Michael okpara.

Aloy.Emeka did you have any family member who went to school from 1979 to 1983? if you do please ask them if they recieve free book and others while they were in the west,   

Aloy.Emeka  who never took any of an igbo properties. if you have prove display it on the internet. Look anyone can own share. if your family fail to buy share, na awo failure. look Aloy.Emeka  if you bring a company into nigeria, you would get certain of that company. i want to bring a company to nigeria once. i was to get 20% of that company in nigeria shares. it is commission for life. this company is worth billion over here. but i still they wait to see oga yar adua govt stop all this arrest and returning of company back to govt. it not yet investment friendly. I no want oga yar adua go claim say govt take back company. make white man come arrest me because of that say i do 419 to whiteman while na oga yar adua take back company.

Aloy.Emeka, look go and look at the satellite picture, it show the yorubas under a true democratic system. have over 30% of nigeria population and they can deliver the president to your people. For posting this picture, look i am saving the next generation of igbos and south south from slavery.

It's like something is seriously wrong with your head. What has satellite pictures gotta do with this? I am telling you what Awolowo did to Igbos after the war and you are here trying to deny it for him. Is that you guys worship idols or skim your fellow human being? Unless you are his family's image maker but they know the their father did.

Awolowo may have done other good things but that single act against the igbos meant that if he had a chance he'll order for ethnic cleansing of igbos. That is what is called H.A.T.R.E.D.

Do you think Nnamdi Azikiwe will use yoruba people's money to buy shares for his children and children's children? Stop supporting evil please before it's visited upon your head and your family.

I repeat, AWOLOWO MUST BE BURNING IN THE DEEPEST PART OF HELL FOR HIS SINS AGAINST NDIGBO. If you want to know how much my grandpa had before Awolowo cashed in on it and let him have 20 pounds, i'll tell you.

If you don't know about this story, go and ask your father instead of writing bull shit here.
Insert Quote

Aloy.Emeka, look go and look at the satellite picture, it show the yorubas under a true democratic system. have over 30% of nigeria population and they can deliver the president to your people. For posting this picture, look i am saving the next generation of igbos and south south from slavery.

It's either you are on medication or you are a juvenile. Yorubas may be on a treacherous democrazy and not democracy. Awolowo and his lineage will not have peace until reparations are made. We Igbos are cormfortable  now against Awolowo's wish because he thought we were down and finished. We need our reparation in form of a simple apology otherwise the curse on his family shall remain ever green. Awolowo's action had nothing to do with the Yoruba ethnic group, he just happens to be Yoruba. I am too mature to heap it on Yoruba's when 99% of them didn't plan it with him. It's like blaming the actions of Hitler on Germans. So Hush with your tribal sentiments. 100% of Yorubas are not good people just like 100% of igbos or hausas are not good people. Stop extolling a manic tribalist like Awo. His name has no place for immortality in the mind of any igbo person unless it's their assurance that his soul is damned eternally.

@ Aloy.Emeka

u r just ranting.
post evidences to substantiate any of ur claims on Awo`s alledged injustice to the igbos.
and any reasons to justify ur choice of tafa balewa and azikwe as better leaders.

if u can't do this u can easily realise how tribalistically beclouded your opinions are.

Aloy.Emeka , awo never used your money to buy anything, what do your research. It was Okirika brother who lived in PH that did that now and all your houses they refused to give you back. It is on record, that every igboman who own a house in the west , when he came back from the civil war, till today own that house. Ojukwu is an example for you. His father house in apapa nobody touch it.

Awolowo that sold off Nigeria asets to his Yoruba kinsmen and call it privatilization.

RayPower had never erred like they did in announcing Awolowo as the Nigerian Leader of all time. I was part of that poll from the first day to the last day, and I was very much disappointed. Awo was voted mostly by the Yorubas for giving them free education, and it was based on this that they went ahead to announce him. Awo was a hard tribalist who only knew his people, and as far as I am concerned, I do not and will never recognise him as my leader. I wrote a protest lettere to Raypower that the announcement was unaccepted and capable of glorifying tribalism. Awo can be the greatest leader to have emerged for the Yorubas, but for the whole nation: Its NO! NO!! NO!!!

@post
Funny enough, all the people disputing that Awo is not the best Nigerian leader of all time have not been able to present alternative credible leader so far. I think the problem is not because Awo is not the best, rather it is because as Nigerians every of our decisions is not without an ethnic colouration. Sincerely, It is not our fault everything in Nigeria is premised on ethnic sentiments, that is why we have quota system, rotational presidency, even now some ethnic group are warming up for the presidency in 2011 and beyond. Above all, whether at local, regional or national level, no Nigerian leader has measured up or surpass Awo's vision, leadership and achievements. Some of the Posts and comments above are classical example of how ethnic colouration and sentiments can obscure and blurr objectivity. An average Nigerian sees life from ethnic perspective. It is a sin we re all guity of as Nigerians.

if the award was AWO BIGGEST TRIBALIST TO EVER EMERGE-NIGERIANS would have more than agreed,the dude was the father of tribalism