Awo family without an Awo - A rebuttal

Written by Ayotola Ayoyinka Ayodeji 

 Papa (Chief Obafemi Awolowo) was, among other things, a visionary, a philosopher, a statesman, an eminent strategist and tactician, an accomplished economist, an orator of enthralling eloquence, a man of letters and, above all, a most affectionate husband, father and grandfather. He was a lover of good wholesome food, a disciplined politician, a devoted and committed Christian; a self-taught scientist who enjoyed good music, had an insatiable quest for knowledge, and was quick-witted and humorous. To say the very least, he was a man of many parts.
His political legacy, for which he is so widely acclaimed, is unparalleled in the history of Nigeria; and regarding his vision, he has often been said to have been born way before his time. When Odumegwu Ojukwu referred to him as “The best president Nigeria never had” he very aptly alluded to Papa’s enormous and untapped potential to lead Nigeria into infrastructural, intellectual, economic and social well-being of the sort that abounds in the so-called developed countries.
Papa remains the point of reference in the conversation to move Nigeria forward. It’s difficult to put into words the sense of pride that goes with belonging to such an accomplished person as Papa Awolowo.
There are those who imagine that this sense of pride is accompanied by contempt for anyone outside the natural family, who identifies with the legacy of our patriach and claims to be his follower. Such contempt would be indicative of a myopic view of the sheer magnitude of his legacy. The best tribute anyone can pay to his memory is not only to further the ideals he stood for, but to claim, of their own volition, to be an Awoist. Whilst some would love to disown their heritage, we are blessed with a father whose name is claimed by numerous followers; this is a tremendous honour.
Scripture records that when Christ’s disciples felt threatened by the outreach of persons outside His inner circles, who were successfully professing His name all over Judea; Jesus wisely pointed out; “those who are not against us are for us”. And so it is that natural/biological Awolowos must relish the success of Awoists whoever they are, wherever we find them. This is a good reason to celebrate the so-called resurgence of Awoists, led by Bola Tinubu, in the South-West of Nigeria.
However, in celebrating this fete, Sam Omatseye, in his column, (published in The Nation, on Monday, 6 June, 2011) indulged in a scathing condemnation of the Awolowo family. This is unfortunate and cruel.
Bola Tinubu deserves credit for being an astute politician and tactician. He has built himself a formidable political empire; he is bold, and has confronted established power bases with notable success. He has set out to tread the path Awolowo charted, and should be respected in his own right, but there is no need to pronounce him the new Awolowo and in so doing seek to demean the Awolowo family.
For all his success at recent elections, true and close followers of Papa know that he is no Awolowo.
Sadly, he has begun to evoke what Nikita Khrushchev described as “The cult of the individual”. One way to look at it is that he is a supplanter, who has acquired a signature cap, got the ‘Awo glasses’ and even an ‘Asiwaju’ title. He is widely reported to have carefully crafted his identity to suit his ambitions, and has managed to convince many that he has evolved into who Awolowo was.
There is no doubt that Tinubu is entitled to engineer his political career as he deems fit. Presumably, he is conscious of the burden of Awoism; the legacy of the sage is a double-edged sword; the name will get you noticed and possibly even elected, but it will also set the standard by which you will be judged. In that sense, it has been the downfall of many.
As long as Tinubu keeps faith with Awo’s genuine legacy; he will succeed. He must also beware of the sycophancy and delusional allegiance of those who think that if you repeat a statement often enough it will crystallise into truth.
Papa’s motive was not fame, power and control of men; he set out to liberate Nigerians from the scourge of poverty and illiteracy, and captured their hearts in the process. People did not so much as follow him as they bought into the eternal and infallible ideals to which he was committed, and for which he literally gave his all. In this mission, he was ably and devotedly supported by his dear wife, Mama HID Awolowo.
His books are replete with copious accounts of the vital role that she played in his life. She was his closest ally and confidant; a partner throughout the ups and downs of his life. He simply could not have achieved most of his many accomplishments without her unflinching and competent support. His reliance on her was absolute and he never hid it. She and his children (from very tender ages) paid a heavy price for his career they made enormous personal and collective sacrifices; some of which are easily deduced from his writings. They suffered through the Coker Inquiry, the treasonable felony trial, and his incarceration. That does not include the immeasurable cost of sharing their husband and father daily, with so many, and supporting him through his political ventures; sustaining a domestic atmosphere that was conducive to his distinct needs. His most formidable backing was from the home he described as “a true haven”. It’s unfortunate that Sam Omatseye would overlook and berate this sacrifice without which there would not have been the Awolowo he celebrates today.
No one is perfect, and a union as intimate as that of Papa and Mama Awolowo would certainly have entailed the acceptance of each other, irrespective of their personal flaws, yet Awolowo’s mostly endearing and eternal tribute to his wife reads: “... my wife has been to me a jewel of inestimable value”. He paid her various tributes some of which are best left in his own words: “With my wife at my side, it has been possible for us to weather all financial storms... I am no match for her at all in her exercise of infinite patience and forbearance under all manner of circumstances. She absorbs without a word of complaint all my occasional acts of irritability. ... She has been of immeasurable assistance to me in the duties attached to my career as a public man. ... I do not hesitate to confess that I owe my success in life to three factors: the Grace of God, a Spartan self-discipline, and a good wife... It is on record to my wife’s credit that she never made a financial demand on me throughout my stay in the United Kingdom...she always sent me good news every week about herself and the children; but when I returned home I learnt that she had passed through many anxious times with four children the oldest of whom was only five when I left home, and the youngest of whom arrived four months after my departure.
Whatever your interpretation of who is or who isn’t a genuine Awoist; do not be deceived, no true lover of Papa Awolowo, would, under any guise, berate or demean his wife!
I recall Mama’s 70th birthday, we (grandchildren or ‘Jomo’ as Papa affectionately called us) along with all our close family and friends were all in Ikenne getting ready for the occasion. On the eve of Mama’s birthday, we were all struck by Papa’s enthusiasm; when he felt we were not taking things seriously enough, he began to arrange chairs for the Communion Service [held in the family chapel] by himself! We often remarked that, contrary to the erroneous talk of Papa being unforgiving, he was in fact very forgiving; the only crime we thought he would find unforgiving was one committed against his wife!
Mama has earned her place not only as the preeminent mother of Yorubas, but of the nation. She should not reject politicians who seek her fellowship, whether they are Awoists or not. She must not also be expected to grovel at the altar of those who arrogate to themselves the superior office of being the only ‘true Awoists’, even as they undermine, by stealth, the interests and goodwill of her immediate family.
Biological Awolowos learnt a lot from being daily domestic witnesses to the phenomenon that was Awo. We were insiders to the many parts of the private man of admirable and rare integrity; a grandfather with whom we annually queued up for exciting rides at theme parks; enjoyed cultural shows and plays; threw ‘knock-outs’ at Christmas and New Year; went on political campaigns; even took turns to accompany him to doctor’s visits during his annual medical check­ups, watched ‘top of the pops’, visited rubber and cocoa plantations; and learnt that true service begins, not just in public, but wherever you find yourself. He showed us that greatness lies within that can only be actualised through serving others.
Has Omatseye any idea of how most of us live or to what we have devoted our lives? Papa would have been very proud of how his many great­grandchildren are being educated and nurtured; and of the Christian values they are being taught. We were privileged to be exposed to the sheer quality of the man, and there is no doubt that God expects us to do justice to that privilege, but that does not require us to be politicians or to hold public office. Whether or not we have kept faith with our legacy is certainly debatable, but Omatseye’s sweeping condemnation is wholly inappropriate and grossly uncharitable.
Those who confuse nepotism with democracy would indeed expect Awolowo’s children and grandchildren to feel entitled to political office, or perhaps to be on the entourage of elected officers.
Papa did not seek personal gratification for himself or his family; he served Nigeria with no strings attached. Perhaps if Awolowo were a Tinubu, (as it is evident from recent elections in Lagos State) many of us would hold political office, but we are Awolowos and if Omatseye wants to encourage us to be active politicians he should have the graciousness to do so without being insulting.
Papa told us repeatedly that his name was big enough for as many as would wish to identify with it; he said it was too big to exhaust; how true. We are comfortable enough in our own skin to let Awoists of all types blossom. Papa was not and is not a cult, and his name is larger in death because of the cause to which he devoted his life. We have enough understanding to accept that fact. Should we abide by his legacy? Of course; do we have to be politicians to do so? Not necessarily.
Awoists, natural and otherwise, will be judged by the ideals they live by and for; not the blood running through their veins.

Ayodeji, Chief Awolowo’s granddaughter, is a lecturer in law in the United Kingdom.