Historical Figures

Obafemi Awolowo

AwolowoChief Obafami Jeremiah Oyeniyi Awolowo born in March 1909 to Chief David Sopolu Awolowo and his wife Mary Efunyela Awolowo, was a Nigerian nationalist, statesman and a political writer who influenced Nigerian politics positively. As a Yoruba and a native of Ikene in Ogun state, Nigeria, he started his career as a school teacher, stenographer and later as Daily Times reporter. He later became the secretary of (NYM) Nigerian youth movement (1933). He was the opposition leader in the parliament to the Tafawa Balewa government from 1959 to 1963. He is a recognized Yoruba political leader who led his people through the dark valley of politics. In 1949, Awolowo founded the Nigerian Tribune, the oldest surviving private Nigerian newspaper. in 1947, he also formed the Egbe Omo Oduduwa which later metamorphosed into Action Group (AG) [which is also known as Egbe Afenifere in some Western part of Nigeria] in 1951, which he led to victory in the Western region elections of 1951. In 1963, Awolowo was charged with treason and felony, therefore was jailed for 10 years.
He was released in 1966 and made as a minister. He later died on the 9th of May 1987.
Awolowo
 

Cite this article as: Teslim Omipidan. (June 23, 2015). Obafemi Awolowo. OldNaija. Retrieved from https://oldnaija.com/2015/06/23/obafemi-awolowo/

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