By Abdu Rafiu
In the twilight of his life, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, one personality a great many regarded as an exceptional leader, reflected on his political career and he knew pains. He agonized that he did not have the opportunity to realise his vision of a modern and towering country. Much as he sought to serve the country in the capacity of Prime Minister or President he did not succeed. Many would say he fitted into the picture former President Umaru Yar’Adua was wont to call the longed-for servant-leader of his time. Erstwhile President Ibrahim Babangida indeed said of him in his glowing tribute upon his demise that in the politics of Nigeria, Awolowo was the issue. You were either for him or against him! Sitting on the fence was impossible. And in seeming clearer recognition, Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu said Awolowo was the best President Nigeria never had! Long before these times, one-time British Prime Minister, Harold Wilson said he believed Awolowo would make the best Prime Minister for Nigeria. Speaking at the Commonwealth Prime Ministers meeting in 1969, Harold Wilson described Awolowo as a world class leader. Chief Awolowo was at the Commonwealth conference to represent the then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon.
Chief Awolowo, reviewing his struggles in political contestation in his last days, said it was lack of education in parts of the country to make informed choices that stood in his way and it was for the same reason to make the scale fall from people’s eyes that he sought to rule and provide free education for all Nigerian children. He had said: “I would like to be remembered for helping to build a strong and united multi-ethnic state. I want to be remembered for creating the basis for an irreversible revolution in education, in the provision of social justice in Nigeria. I have not yet succeeded in all these. But I have set a pattern which no other Nigerian can ignore.”
Writing in The Hope newspaper in May, Ayodele Fagbohun, a columnist, reported Harold Wilson as saying that given his competence, Awolowo could easily have been an American President sitting in the White House or in his own office at 10 Downing Street, London, as British Prime Minister.
Close to his departure from earthly life, Chief Awolowo granted a Nigerian scholar, Professor Moses Akinola, an interview on wide-ranging issues, a digital copy of which was forwarded to me during the week. The interview was captioned “Why My Presidential Ambition Failed — Obafemi Awolowo.” It is an excerpt from Professor Akinola’s main book titled ‘AWO: The Last Conversation.’
The encounter reads in part:“In 1959, during the election that was to usher in independence in 1960, I embarked on an elaborate campaign in the North. I was using helicopter to campaign in every nook and corner of the North. The most important aspect of the campaign of the Action Group was free education, life more abundant for the generality of the people etc, etc. Our manifesto was centred on the development of man. We worked so hard that the Sardauna of Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello, was forced to campaign, a thing he was never used to. My hope at that time was to liberate the North from illiteracy, ignorance and the ranka dede mentality. If I had won the election, I would have put a lot of money educating the North in order to bridge the educational gap between that region and the Western and Eastern Regions. This was because I saw the lack of education as a stumbling block against political enlightenment of the whole region.
“Because they were not educated the voters could not make up their own choices. Rather, the innocent people of the North had to be dictated to by Emirs and the elites who feed them on a regular basis whereas in the Western Region, people could argue with their Obas, could read manifestos and make an independent choice which party and which politicians to vote for. Unfortunately, all my efforts to liberate the North from the cruel jaws of the oligarchy were frustrated by those who prefer the status quo to a new dawn of educational advancement. You can see that even now, the educational gap between the North and South is increasing by leaps and bounds. All the talk about catching up is non-sense…how can you catch up with somebody who is running while you are crawling?”
“But I think that the sooner than later the leaders of the North will see the repercussion of their selfishness and carelessness in their attitude towards Western education. But the time will not be too late, and if they don’t regret it or blame themselves for lack of foresight, the Northern youth may ask their leaders some questions when they see the rate of development that goes with education in many parts of Southern Nigeria. They may then wonder whether it was in their stars or in the selfishness, carelessness and lack of foresight of their leaders. If I had been given the chance in 1959 or 1979. I would have changed the fortunes of the North as a place that can be compared favourably with the South in terms of educational, social and economic developments.”
“As for me, I don’t think we should always blame a President’s lapses on his advisers. It is the duty of a President, as an educated and intelligent man, to know what advice is good or bad for his people. If he considers the advice just and of public good, he will take it as he himself would have calculated the consequences of such an action. What is more, he should be able to use his own discretion as Mr. President. If he is in doubt, he calls experts from the universities where scholars must have done research about similar cases with particular consequences.”
“As the Premier of the Western Region I chose my ministers on merit and because of their education, standard and discipline. Every minister or adviser and top civil servant had to do his homework properly before bringing anything to a cabinet meeting or any other important meeting where it will be subjected to rigorous debate. Where there are grey areas, expert opinion would be sought for the purpose of objectivity. As the Premier, I had to follow all procedures vigorously, and meticulously, always relating our decisions and actions to the public good… It is because of this service to the public that I often maintained that the office of the President or Prime Minister is not for pleasure, Unfortunately, in Nigeria, it looks as if the office of the President, Minister, Adviser is for pleasure, like dining and wining and carousing with women of easy virtue both at home and at abroad.”
Are there any tips President Bola Tinubu can pick from the interview? According to a UNESCO report last year, there are approximately 20 million out-of-school children in Nigeria with the highest number of 1, 239, 759 being in Bauchi, although the figure emanating from the Federal Ministry of Education is different. It says it is Kebbi with 64.8 percent of the school-age children and indeed followed by Zamfara, 61 percent of such category of children.
In the South, Bayelsa is one of the states with a high number of out-of-school children. The Minister of State, in the Buhari Administration, Goodluck Nana Opia, flagging off the National campaign earlier this year to end the out-of-school children problem, urged the government of the state to enforce its law of 2018 which makes primary and secondary school education free and compulsory for children between six and 18 years. Of such children in Bayelsa, 60 percent of them are girls. Although enrolment has gone up generally, especially with the raising of the Enrollment Drive Committee, the figure of children not in school is still high at 250,000 given the population of the children.
The states with the highest number overall in the country are Kebbi (64.8 percent, 67.2% girls); Zamfara (61 percent), and Bauchi (60 percent). Imo State has the lowest total rate standing at 0.06 percent. Lagos has 3.7 percent out of school children, out of whom girls constitute 1.2 percent.
BusinessDay quoting UNICEF report states that one in every five out-of-school children in the world is a Nigerian. Katsina has 873, 633 and Kano is trailing with 837, 479. The concentration of out-of-school children is in the North with a figure put at 12 million. Boko Haram means Western education is a sin! Parents who have not freed themselves from such creeds are not likely to send their wards to school.
President Jonathan made a spirited effort to check the problem. He built several schools, especially for the Almaijiri. No sooner he left office, however, than the project collapsed. In the economic and social circumstances of the country, we do not need a sooth sayer to predict that the educational situation in the country will be in dire straits in the near future.
It is a challenge staring President Bola Tinubu in the face in the consciousness that without education there can be neither understanding nor progress. Harmony cannot be guaranteed. Education facilitates access to enlightenment and, indeed, to higher knowledge that answers all questions of life and existence. Without this knowledge as it is dawning on all that are attentive in the acceleration and intensification of events all over the world, we are in a new era entirely the principal feature of which is purification—bend or break; salvation or damnation!
In all lands, the election of leaders will be governed by the inner radiance of the inner lamp of the people. The brighter the stricter in the choice of leaders; the majority will always elect their own kind, displaying their tendencies and their standards. The leaders are their mirror. The robustness of the heart manifesting the maturity of the inner being and the attendant enthusiasm for good and beauty is waning in settled societies as well hence the decline in tastefulness and standards of behaviour so visible today. Where is the refinement, the polish, and beauty for which the civilized world was once renowned?
Ultimately, man will have no choice but to ask: What is the Will of the Most High in all this?
FUTURE CHAOS BUILDING UP ON IBADAN EXPRESSWAY
Bus stops at unauthorized places are arising on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Markets will soon arise and build up well to encroach on the highway, both combined to impede the much-awaited free flow of traffic. The problem area already is Magboro bus stop. Mowe bus stop is a disaster in waiting because, according to reports, multiple parking is already the order of the day!
Orderliness is not our way of life. Commercial vehicles stop anywhere and without warning to other road users, buses and heavy-duty vehicles. When there is heavy rain, the famous Long Bridge is flooded, to the point it is almost impassable!
The Guardian
