by Julius Afolalu
If you read this to the end, you will never look at Nigerian politics the same way again.
Everyone talks about Awolowo’s achievements in Yorubaland.
Free Education.
Free Healthcare.
Full Employment.
Cocoa House in Ibadan.
University of Ife.
GRA Ikeja.
Apapa Wharf.
First Television in Africa.
Breathtaking, right?
But here is the part they never tell you.
CHIEF OBAFEMI AWOLOWO DID ALL OF IT WITHOUT OIL MONEY.
Not one kobo from petroleum!
Think about it.
From 1954 to 1959, just 5 years as Premier of Western Region, there was no crude oil revenue. Nigeria’s oil had not even become the mainstay. No federal allocation sharing trillions every month. No excessive crude account. No IMF loan.
What did Awo have?
Cocoa. Palm produce. Rubber. Taxes. And BRAIN.
And with that, look what he built for his people:
1. FREE EDUCATION FOR ALL
While other regions were still debating, Awo declared free and compulsory primary education in 1955. The son of a cocoa farmer could sit in the same class with the son of a king. That is why Yorubaland produced the highest number of professors, doctors and lawyers in Africa. Your father, my father, many of us are products of that vision.
2. FREE HEALTHCARE
He built modern hospitals and made healthcare free for all children and adults. A sick child was treated because he was a child of the West, not because his father could pay.
3. THE TALLEST BUILDING IN AFRICA
Cocoa House, Ibadan. 26 storeys. The first skyscraper in tropical Africa. Built with cocoa money in 1965. At that time, Dubai was still desert!
4. FIRST TELEVISION IN AFRICA
WNTV, Ibadan, 1959. Yes! Yorubaland had television before France, before South Africa, before many European countries. Awo said Africans must tell their own stories.
5. A UNIVERSITY THAT LOOKS LIKE HEAVEN
University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University. He built one of the most beautiful and most respected universities in Africa.
6. INDUSTRIALIZATION
Ikeja Industrial Estate, Apapa Wharf that still feeds Nigeria, GRA Ikeja, Liberty Stadium which was the best stadium in Africa then, Oodua Textile, Ifon Ceramics, Oluwa Glass Factory… He created JOBS. He did not share rice.
My people, listen.
This man did all this in 5 years, with money from farm produce.
Today, governors collect hundreds of billions from Abuja every month from oil money for 8 years. What can they point to? Bad roads? Schools without roofs? Hospitals without drugs? Youth riding okada with Masters degrees?
The problem of Nigeria was never money. It has always been LEADERSHIP.
Awolowo proved that when a leader loves his people, even cocoa can become oil. And when a leader does not love his people, even oil becomes curse.
Let me ask you honestly.
If we score Awolowo’s 5 years with cocoa money, and score our leaders today with oil money for 25 years, who wins?
Drop your honest answer in the comment. Let us talk as Omoluabi.
And if you are a proud beneficiary of Awo’s free education, proudly say IT in the comments and SHARE this so our children will know what true leadership looks like.
I am Julius Afolalu. I bring you the hidden history they will never teach in school. Follow this page so you don’t miss tomorrow’s episode.
#Awolowo #AwoWithoutOilMoney #YorubaHistory #CocoaHouse #FreeEducation #TrueLeadership #HistoryMatters
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