Kaduna State Governor Nasir El–Rufai yesterday said the All Progressives Congress (APC) governments are the inheritors of the progressive legacies of the first Premier of Western Nigeria, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
El-Rufai said Awo’s great legacies should propel APC leaders and members to strive as he did to meet Nigerians’ expectations.
The governor spoke in Ikenne, Ogun State, as the Chairman of the symposium titled: “Awo, Then and Now: Politics, Economics and Education” to mark the sage’s 2016 posthumous birthday.
The symposium, which took place at the Efunyela Hall within the Awolowo family home, was organised by the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation.
He expressed confidence that if the political marriage between the North and Southwest is “managed and nurtured”, the country would be the better for it.
El – Rufai said the “Change” alliance was forged by the trio of President Muhammadu Buhari, APC national leader Bola Tinubu and former interim chairman Chief Bisi Akande.
The governor added that the union of the progressive forces saw the emergence of Buhari as President.
He said Kaduna State has started Awolowo’s journey of good governance in an era of increasingly dwindling revenue, adding that what is “important and consequential” should drive governance and not what is “popular”.
El – Rufai recalled that the late sage reached an understanding with some prominent northerners in 1983, to stop the hegemony of the then National Party of Nigeria (NPN).
The former Federal Capital Territory Minister noted that despite resistance, Awolowo increased taxation to enable the government fund the universal basic free education, saying 60 years after the region is better for that hard decision.
He described Awolowo as a giant in his lifetime and a political colossus, who galvanised the West for rapid development.
His words: “The topic chosen for the symposium features aspects of Awo’s legacy as a man whose politics were governed by progressive ideas, and a leader who combined what he called mental magnitude with an ability to implement his policies.
“He was rightly regarded as a giant in his lifetime. His achievements were legendary.
“Chief Awolowo stood his ground for the common good. It is a lesson for political office holders, an admonition to do what is necessary, important and consequential.
“As the inheritors of the progressive legacies of Awo, we, the leaders and members of the APC, must strive as he did, to meet the expectations of our people.
The guest lecturer, Prof Segun Gbadegesin, upbraided Awo’s disciples for compromising the ideals bequeathed on them by the late sage.
Gbadegesin of Howard University, Washington, United States, said the disciples have failed to co-operate to uplift the message of their leader.
His words: “Today, there are original disciples of Awo. There are also second and third generation followers.
“They all take seriously the man we all regarded as sage, averter, baba, philosopher and politician.
“The irony is that they all accept him as their political leader, study his words and try to emulate his deeds but they would rather not get together to push the agenda he bequeathed on them.
“They would rather behave like proverbial snakes who wander alone until they become victims of their loneliness.
“The post-Awo disciples would not even cooperate to uplift the message of their great master and leader. How are they different from his adversaries?
“Considering that they would want to resume their chats with Awo in the future, what will be their report? How will he respond?
“I challenge each and every Awoist here today to rethink and reflect on what has been lost to progressivism in the last 29 years of his passing.
“What have they collectively contributed to the progressive maturation and practicalisation of his philosophy?
“How will the present chaos and confusion in the camp of Awo shape the future of his ideals in Yorubaland, in Nigeria and in Africa?
Are they in their inability to get together as Awoists, inadvertently contributing to the strength of his known political enemies, who had predicted his political death more than 50 years ago?”
Gbadegesin said Awolowo did what was possible to make Nigeria great, but Nigeria shunned and disrespected him.
“But for the faithful who believed in him and his strategies for making Nigeria great, he left them the tools, the outcome of his sleepless nights, the result of his deep thoughts, to consult and reflect upon as we struggle for our nation’s progress and development,” he added.
Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun urged the Awo Foundation to ensure that the sage’s legacies and achievements are passed on to generations so that future leaders can emulate him.
In her welcome address, the Executive Director of the Foundation, Dr Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu, urged participants and speakers to examine Nigeria’s situation to ascertain if Awo would endorse the nation’s militarised and over centralised Federal Government.
Other speakers include former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili, Senator Femi Okunrounmu among others.
At the event were Akande, Admiral Akin Aduwo, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Senator Biyi Durojaiye, Senator Oloruninmbe Mamora, Tokunbo Ajasin, Secretary Yoruba Unity Forum(YUF), Anthony Adefuye, Senator Demola Seriki, former Lagos State Deputy Governor Mrs. Kofo Bucknor-Akelere and Pastor Tunde Bakare, among others.
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