EASTERN REGION, NIGERIA (COMMISSION OF INQUIRY)
§ The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Alan Lennox-Boyd)With your permission, Mr. Speaker, and that of the House, I should like to make a statement, which is rather long.
A dispute has arisen in the Eastern Region of Nigeria about the relationship between the Premier, Dr. Azikiwe, and the African Continental Bank Limited.
This Bank was founded by Dr. Azikiwe. On assuming office the Premier informed the Governor that he had resigned his directorship of the bank. He had enterprises with which he has been associated are still shown as large shareholders in it. I have been informed that during 1955 £877,000 of public money was invested in the Bank—and other large sums deposited with it—out of funds made available from Marketing Board reserves to the Finance Corporation, which the Eastern Region Government had established.
I have also been informed that, following this investment, the bank was a party to certain documents contemplating that the Premier should be life Chairman of the bank and purporting to give him the right to nominate certain other directors.
As long ago as last November I took the matter up with the Premier in London and we have been in correspondence since. In April of this year Mr. Eyo, a member of the Regional House of Assembly, who had until then been the Government's Chief Whip in that House and Deputy-Speaker and Chairman of the Regional Development Corporation, tabled a Motion in the House relating to the association of the Premier with the Bank. He subsequently called for the appointment of an independent commission of inquiry. Dr. Azikiwe has now instituted libel actions against Mr. Eyo and certain newspapers.
On 14th July, after receiving a report from the Governor, I sent a personal message through him inviting the Premier to agree to my appointing a commission of inquiry. I considered it essential that these matters should be fully cleared up before the next Nigerian Constitutional Conference. This Conference will consider further constitutional advance for 216 Nigeria, and, in particular, the grant of regional self-government to those regions that desire it, in accordance with the undertaking given by Her Majesty's Government in 1953 as recorded in the London Conference Report.
I pointed out that such a commission was appointed in the United Kingdom when last the conduct of a Minister was called in question. I suggested that I should appoint the commission as at least one of the matters to be inquired into is reserved to the Federal Government and the Governor of the Region is not competent to appoint a commission to inquire into federal matters.
On 16th July I received from the Premier a message couched in terms which, I must confess, disappointed me. His message, which has been quoted extensively in the Press, implied a rejection of my invitation. Shortly afterwards, I was informed that the Premier and his colleagues, after considering my message, advised the Governor of the Region to appoint a commission with a sole commissioner of their own choosing. Such a commissioner could not inquire into matters reserved to the Federal Government, of which banking is one.
On 18th July I made a further approach to the Premier, explaining this again. I also said that, although it would not be proper for the Premier to suggest the full membership of the commission since he would be personally involved in its proceedings, I would nevertheless be prepared to invite the person whom he had proposed as sole commissioner to be a member of it. I said this as I was satisfied that the person proposed was suitable for appointment.
I regret to say that the Premier rejected this second approach, also. Instead, he and his colleagues now advised the Governor to appoint a committee of inquiry and nominated three persons to serve on it. Such a committee could not compel the attendance of witnesses or heat evidence on oath, and its investigations of matters reserved to the Federal Government would be of doubtful propriety. The Governor did not consider that to proceed in this way was, in the words of his Royal Instructions "in the interests of public faith" and informed the Ministers that he felt unable to act on their advice. This decision of the Governor, who has a most difficult and 217 invidious task, has my unqualified support.
In these circumstances, I have decided that in order to secure a speedy, impartial and full investigation as to the investments made in the bank, and the grave allegations that have been made—matters closely affecting the conduct of Government—it is necessary that I should now appoint a Commission of Inquiry. I have invited Sir Stafford Foster-Sutton, the Chief Justice of the Federation of Nigeria, to be Chairman, and he has accepted my invitation. The names of the other members and the terms of reference will be announced as soon as possible.
I earnestly hope that the Premier and his colleagues will accept the decision I have reached as in their own best interests and in the best interests of public life in Nigeria as a whole. I need hardly say that there is no question of any attempt on Her Majesty's Government's part to impose a British banking monopoly in Nigeria, or to dictate financial policy.
The Commission will, I am sure, complete its work and report with all possible speed, but I am afraid that its appointment must almost inevitably mean some delay in convening the Constitutional Conference, which was to have met on 19th September. I hope that this will not be long, and I have asked the other Nigerian Governments to accept this delay, regrettable though it is to all of us, because in the interests of the Territory as a whole these serious allegations must first be fully investigated.
At the same time, I have made it clear to them that Her Majesty's Government stand by the undertaking given in 1953 about the grant of regional self-government to those regions that desire it. I trust that after the Commission has reported we shall be able to resume our work together.
§ Mr. BevanI am sure the right hon. Gentleman will appreciate that this is a very serious statement and may have serious consequences in Nigeria. First, I should like to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has any idea how long the September Conference will be postponed, because I am certain that that will have a bearing on the response to his statement in Nigeria?
Secondly, may I ask whether it was not possible for him to have set up this 218 Commission a little earlier, so as not to interfere with the September Conference?
Thirdly, is it not a fact—as has not been made in the statement—that the Speaker in the Eastern Nigerian Parliament stated that an inquiry could not be held, because proceedings were taking place in court and that such a committee, or rather, the Resolution of the Assembly, would be sub judice; and that the Commission which the right hon. Gentleman has set up is the only sort of judicial tribunal which can, in fact, withdraw proceedings from the court in the meantime? If the right hon. Gentleman made that statement, it would be clear to people in Nigeria.
Fourthly, would the right hon. Gentleman also recognise, with some degree of humility on behalf of himself and his hon. Friends, that the association of politicians with banks is quite notorious in Great Britain as well as Nigeria?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydSave for the ending thrust of the right hon. Gentleman, I am grateful for the helpful questions he has asked. I do realise that this is a serious matter, but I could not reconcile it with my responsibility to take any action other than that which I have taken. I very much hope that the restrained way in which he and other hon. Members have taken the statement will also be echoed in the Eastern Region and in Nigeria as a whole.
About the postponement which this will almost certainly mean for the September Conference, I should not like to bind myself to any particular period, save to say that I hope it will be a short postponement. I very much hope that the facts will justify this expectation.
I have taken action in this matter as soon as it was possible for me to do so and I shall do all I can to see that the necessary preparatory work is carried out as quickly as possible. I agree with the right hon. Gentleman that the Speaker in the Eastern Region Assembly did say that, in a sense, the matter was sub judice, because of the forthcoming libel action, and that was the reason why this was not ventilated in the Eastern Region Assembly, where, indeed, the Premier had asked that it should be so ventilated. I share with him the view that the action I have taken is the best possible way in which this matter can be brought to a speedy decision.
§ Sir R. RobinsonCan my right hon. Friend say why he was not content with the suggestion that Dr. Azikiwe's libel action might well settle this matter?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThis is a public matter, requiring public inquiry, and cannot, I think, be left to private litigation. Apart from that, private litigation might well prove very protracted, and even longer delay the convening of the Conference. The issues in the libel action might not cover the full field which should be investigated by the Commission.
§ Mr. Fenner BrockwayIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that all of us are concerned that Nigeria and the rest of West Africa shall progress in an orderly way towards self-government, and that it is in that spirit that we are asking our questions?
Is it not the case that Dr. Azikiwe and the other Ministers of Eastern Nigeria have to go even beyond the point of Ministers in this country? Have they not only to resign their directorships in any limited liability companies but actually to reveal to the Governor all their financial interests? Was that not done by Dr. Azikiwe? Is it not the case that Dr. Azikiwe was appointed as permanent chairman of this bank without his own knowledge and that he repudiated that appointment and resigned it when he became Prime Minister?
Did not the Governor himself recommend that the Eastern Nigerian Government should invest these large sums in this bank? Will the terms of reference to the Commission not only refer to Dr. Azikiwe and his colleagues, but to those who are responsible for British administration in Eastern Nigeria?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe. first three questions which the hon. Gentleman asked are matters to which, clearly, the Commission will pay attention. It would be wrong for me to make any comment on them in advance of the sitting of the Commission. As for the action that the Governor took, undoubtedly he is anxious—as I am—to encourage indigenous banks in Nigeria and elsewhere, and the advice the Governor gave and the action taken as part of his advice will also be a matter which the Commission will inquire into.
§ Mr. TilneyWould my right hon. Friend consider the appointment as members of the Commission of those from other Commonwealth Territories?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI certainly would not rule that out.
§ Mr. J. JohnsonIs it not a fact that alleged corruption like this has been talked about as long ago as 1953, when there was a crisis in the Legislative Council in Enugu associated with the Natal Council of Nigeria and Cameroons Party?
Is it not a fact that there is nothing new in all this? Why is it that the Governor, Sir Clement Pleass, is so insistent on pressing this matter with the support of the Colonial Secretary, on the eve of the September Conference? Is it not the case that a similar charge of alleged corruption was made on the Gold Coast? Why cannot we have the whole thing settled by an inquiry inside Nigeria, by their own people on the spot, as the Governor, Sir Charles Arden Clarke, did in regard to Kwame on the Gold Coast? Is that not much better than having a Commission sent out from the United Kingdom to look into their affairs?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydAs the hon. Member knows well, the Gold Coast is not a Federation. It is precisely because banking is outside the sphere of the Regional Government that a regional inquiry would not be appropriate. As to the length of time certain stories have been floating around, I had a prolonged discussion with the Premier last December, and it was only in April of this year that certain charges, going far beyond anything that had been suggested, were made. In the name of good faith in Nigeria, those charges should be ventilated.
§ Mr. BevanSo that there may be no confusion left about this matter, may I ask whether it is not only that these are Federal matters in Nigeria and that, therefore, a Federal inquiry must be held, but, as I understand the constitutional position, that it would not be proper for a committee of inquiry, which alone the East Nigerian Parliament could create, to remove the matter from the court at the moment? Only the action and the authority of this House could establish a commission of inquiry of sufficient status.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe right hon. Gentleman is quite right in saying that and, to put it beyond doubt, he has said it again.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsDo we understand that the setting up of the Commission will prevent the libel case going on? Otherwise, we shall have two inquiries going on at the same time?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThat is not a matter for me, but I understand that it would not prevent it continuing.
§ Mr. BrockwayIn view of the unsatisfactory statement made by the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and the unsatisfactory position in which the matter has been left by the curtailing of Question Time—I am not referring to you, Mr. Speaker—I wish to give notice that I will raise this matter at the earliest opportunity
Sent: Monday, December 30, 2019 2:14 AM
To: OLAYINKA AGBETUYI <yagbetuyi@hotmail.com>; usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>; toyin.adepoju@gmail.com <toyin.adepoju@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Awo's reply decliningmembershipofthe 1986 Political Bureau
Sent: Monday, December 30, 2019 2:03 AM
To: Rex Marinus <rexmarinus@hotmail.com>; usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>; toyin.adepoju@gmail.com <toyin.adepoju@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Awo's reply decliningmembershipofthe 1986 Political Bureau
Sent: Sunday, December 29, 2019 8:40 PM
To: Rex Marinus <rexmarinus@hotmail.com>; usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>; toyin.adepoju@gmail.com <toyin.adepoju@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Awo's reply decliningmembershipofthe 1986 Political Bureau
Sent: Sunday, December 29, 2019 5:30 PM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>; toyin.adepoju@gmail.com <toyin.adepoju@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Awo's reply decliningmembershipofthe 1986 Political Bureau
This message is eligible for Automatic Cleanup! (rexmarinus@hotmail.com) Add cleanup rule | More info Sent: Sunday, December 29, 2019 9:11 AM
To: usaafricadialogue <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Awo's reply declining membershipofthe 1986 Political Bureau
"Of the three Boards, the Western Regional Marketing Board channeled the largest absolute amounts into private enterprise, exclusive of those grants to the Development and Finance Corporations(Federation of Nigeria, Report of Coker Commission of Inguiry into the Affairs of Certain Statutory Corporation in Western Nigeria, Vol. 1 ,1962, P. 65.)
The bulk of these funds went to a bank and a real estate concern, the affairs of which were closely bound up with those of the political party then in power in the Western Region and its leading members. "
--Thank you, Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju, for your attempt to resuscitate the 1962 Coker Commission of enquiry into the financial dealings of the Western Region in 1962. A Yoruba adage says that he who sights an elephant and draws a machete is only making a futile attempt because elephant is not an animal to be hunted with a machete. What are being presented as the Coker Commission Report cannot be logically true. Citing p. 82, 2nd edition, 2018, Historical Dictionary of Nigeria, By Toyin Falola and Ann Genova, readers are informed thus, "Set up …. in 1962, the commission's purpose was to investigate the financial dealings of the Western Region to expose corruption. The Coker Report found Chief Obafemi Awolowo guilty of using the Western Region's money to finance the promotion and activities of the Action Group political party through an investment corporation. The Coker Commission created an opportunity for Samuel Akintola to be installed as the region's premier." Awolowo handed over the premiership of Western Region to Samuel Ladoke Akintola in 1959 to become the leader of opposition in the Federal Parliament instead of the Prime Minister he had hoped for. Although Abubakar Tafawa Balewa invited Awolowo to join him in a national government, Awolowo declined to be part of a government led by a feudalist. In 1961, the federal coalition government of the NPC/NCNC decided to conduct enquiry into the National Bank of Nigeria in which the Western Region Marketing Board had substantial investment. The Bank had provided loans to business men who supported Action Group and to the Party itself. Western Region's government led by S. L. Akintola challenged the legitimacy of the federal government's action in Court and it was declared unconstitutional by Justice Charles Daddy Onyeama in 1961.
National Bank was the main target of the Coker Commission of Inquiry appointed by the Federal government in 1962 and which sat between July and November 1962. Coker reported that National Bank had granted unsecured loans to the Action Group. The National Investment and Properties Limited (NIPC), owned entirely by four Action Group members and who were also its Directors, was created in 1958 to develop the properties then owned by the National Bank. The Commission found out that in the company's articles of association one of its assignments was to subscribe or guarantee money for charitable political objects. Therefore money donated by the NIPC to the Action Group was termed by Coker Commission as questionable legality. The Coker Commission's Report said that the Deputy leader of the Action Group since 1954 and Premier of Western Region from 1959 to May 29, 1962, S.L. Akintola, knew nothing about the National Bank, NIPC, Western Nigeria Marketing Board in the internal questionable legality between them vis- à-vis the Action Group and the Western Region Government. Certainly, the transactions were legal but not corrupt and that was why the Commission could not recommend anyone to be prosecuted for corruption. However, those afflicted with Nigeria's type of AIDS, Acquired Intelligence Deficient Syndrome, would say Awolowo chopped Cocoa money well, well, even though nothing like that was reported in Coker report.
The Coker Commission's report had nothing to do with the re-instatement of Samuel Akintola as Premier of Western Region at the end of a six-month emergency rule by the Federal government, 31 December 1962. The Action Group had, on May 21, 1962, recommended his removal as Premier to the Governor of Western Region through a paper signed by 66 members of the Region's House of Assembly, and on which the Governor, Sir Adesoji Aderemi, acted. However, the Supreme Court of Nigeria declared the Governor's action unconstitutional, causing the Action Group claimant to the premiership, Dauda Adegbenro, to appeal to the Privy Council in Britain. By the time the Privy Council decision arrived, Nigeria had become a Republic and the Federal government declared that the Privy Council decision had been overtaken by events. So it was the decision of the Supreme Court of Nigeria that declared the removal of Akintola as premier without formal vote of no confidence in the Regional House of Assembly that paved way for the re-instatement of Akintola as Premier after he had formed a new political party, UPP, which formed a coalition government with the NCNC members of the House. According to the Privy Council, the clause that empowered the Governor to remove the Premier from office in the constitution only said, "if the governor was satisfied that the Premier no longer commanded the majority in the House," and the sixty-six signatures received by the governor fulfilled that condition. Thus, the interpretation of the word 'if' by the Supreme Court of Nigeria was a stranger to the intention of the framers of the constitution.
When Coker Commission of Enquiry took place in 1962, Nigerian Currency was pound sterling. Naira currency came after the civil war. Therefore, Lit Calf Encyclopedia assertion that ''the Coker Commission found Awolowo guilty of gross financial misappropriation and of diverting funds totalling N4.4 million in cash and N1.3 million overdraft from government-owned corporations to finance political activities,'' must be false. Coker could not have been quoting misappropriated and diverted funds in naira value when pound sterling was the national currency.S. Kadiri
Från: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com> för Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju <toyin.adepoju@gmail.com>
Skickat: den 27 december 2019 18:46
Till: usaafricadialogue <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Ämne: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Awo's reply declining membershipofthe 1986 Political Bureau
i decided to investigate this subject out of curiosity.
whatever awo's strengths and weakness, a valuable perspective by him on the national qs should not be vitiated by any views on these strengths and limitations he might have demonstrated.
i get the impression there are two views here opposed to abdullah's position
1. Aluko- Coker commission was a farce
2. Kadiri-demonstrate where the Coker commission indicts Awo of misusing funds for personal use
3. Abdullah- Awo misappropriated monies and was primarily an ethnic champion
vols 2 and 3 of what Tignor below describes as the 4 vol report of the Report of Coker Commission of Inquiry into the Affairs of Certain Statutory Corporations in Western Nigeria, 1962 are provided by the university of florida digital collection.
i hope the nigerian govt and nigerian institutions shall have a freely available complete copy of such a historically strategic document.
the search shows the scholarly consensus as being that awo was indicted by the report for diverting monies meant for regional development to empowerment of his political party. his achievements in regional development are also acknowledged by scholars.
there is controversy as to the motives and justice of the coker report.
An Amazon book page search of Toyin Falola and Ann Genova's Historical Dictionary of Nigeria, 2018, 2nd ed, using the search term 'Coker' brings up the following-
On page 82 of the book, under 'Coker Commission' it states, 'Set up...in 1962, the commission's purpose was to investigate the financial dealings of the Western region to expose corruption.
The Coker Report found Chief Obafemi Awolowo guilty of using the Western Region's money to finance the promotion and activities of the Action Group political party through an investment corporation. The Coker Commission created an opportunity for Samuel Akintola to be reinstalled as the region's premier.'
"The Coker Commission found Awolowo guilty of gross financial misappropriation and of diverting funds totaling N4.4 million in cash and N1.3 million in overdraft from government-owned corporations to finance political activities. This report, published on 31 December 1962, also absolved Akintola, the premier of the region and former lieutenant of Awolowo who had now become an ideological opponent. The Coker Commission is widely believed to be motivated by an enduring desire to discredit the Action Group administration in the West, which stood opposed to the federal government."
a google scholar search for the report brings up the following papers, among others, making the same conclusions.
3. CORRUPTION AND BRIBERY IN THE NIGERIAN ECONOMY: AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION by DR. GODWIN CHUKWUDUM NWAOBI
'In 1962 Chief Obafemi Awolowo was dragged to the court of accountability. This led to a call or an investigation of the relationship between the erstwhile Awolowo government and the National investment and property Company, a private enterprise said to be indebted to the western regional government to the tune of £7,200.00.
On June 20 1962, the Federal government appointed a commission headed by Justice G.B.
Coker to investigate the allegations and later the commission indicted Awolowo in its report. Consequently, the western regional government acquired all the property owned by the National Investment and property company..'
4. 'Corruption and National Development : The NigerianExperience' by Samson Nzeribe
'In the year 1962, Premier of the defunct Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo was investigated and found guilty of corruption by the Coker Commission of Inquiry.
In 1954, the Western Region Marketing Board could boast of 6.2 million pounds sterling, however by May, 1962, the corporation had to exist on overdrafts amounting to over 2.5 million pounds sterling.
The Commission found Chief Awolowo culpable to the ills of the regional marketing board for failure to adhere to standards of conduct required of persons holding public office, (Coker Commission, 1962).'
5. AN ANALYSIS OF THE MARKETING BOARDS OF NIGERIA 1939-1966 by Celestine Osuala
'A major innovation in the post-1954 period was the increasing use of Marketing Board funds for the purposes of loans to and purchases of equities in Nigerian private companies. It is this area in which the greatest possibilities for misuse of funds was located.
Of the three Boards, the Western Regional Marketing Board channeled the largest absolute amounts into private enterprise, exclusive of those grants to the Development and Finance Corporations(Federation of Nigeria, Report of Coker Commission of Inguiry into the Affairs of Certain Statutory Corporation in Western Nigeria, Vol. 1 ,1962, P. 65.)
The bulk of these funds went to a bank and a real estate concern, the affairs of which were closely bound up with those of the political party then in power in the Western Region and its leading members. '
6. 'Political Corruption in Nigeria before Independence' by Robert L. Tignor
'Like the report by Foster-Sutton, that by Nicholson left deep N.C.N.C. resentment against the Action Group. But the N.C.N.C. had to wait for retaliatory action until after independence - when it was finally in a position of power in the Federation- to sanction an inquiry into the A.G. administration in the West.
...
...the investigation into corruption in the Western Region during 1962 by the Coker Commission, whose comprehensive, four-volume expose of administrative excesses proved to be one of the most frequently cited documents on African maladministration.
It highlighted the misuse of public funds for private and political gain, and asserted that investments made in the Region were 'important and but for political considerations which were certainly uppermost constituted a most flagrant breach of trust... by which the peoples of the Western Region have been robbed of the financial benefits to which they are entitled from the Western Regional Marketing Board'. ( Referencing 'Nigeria, Report of the Coker Commission of Inquiry into the Affairs of Certain Statutory Corporations in Western Nigeria, Lagos, 1962, p.36.)
Like previous inquiries, the report of the Coker Commission was deeply rooted in Nigerian political infighting, and the conclusions bore a striking and eerie similarity to those in the Foster-Sutton report.
The Commissioners took the view that the National Investment and Properties Company 'was formed for the main purpose of providing funds for the Action Group', and held Obafemi Awolowo responsible for much of what had been illicitly distributed. They claimed that 'his scheme was to build around him with money an empire financially formidable both in Nigeria and abroad - an empire in dominance would be maintained by him by the power of the money which he had given out' ( Ibid. pp. 27 and 39).
8. 'PRODUCE BUYING AND MARKETING BOARDS IN NIGERIA: INTERROGATING THE FISCAL ROLE OFWESTERN NIGERIA MARKETING BOARD 1942-1962' by Adeyinka Theresa Ajayi, ,Ajibade Idowu Samuel and Oladiti Abiodun Akeem
'In the Western Region, the Western Nigeria Marketing Board (WNMB) became the fiscal arm of the regional governments. It became the major financier of development projects in the region through the region's development corporations. The paper concludes that the process of development was circumscribed due to misappropriation and diversion of funds derived from the Western Region Marketing Board....WRMB ( Western Region Marketing Board ) soon became insolvent due to excesses from the leadership. Most of the funds were diverted to finance the regional party, Action Group and personal use. In 1954, the Western Region Marketing Board could boast of £6.2 million. However, by May 1962, the Development Corporation had to exist on overdrafts amounting to over £2.5 million. A loan of £6.7 million was made to the Western Region government-owned National Investment and Properties Co., Ltd. for building projects out of which only £500,000 was repaid. The Western Region Finance Corporation and the Western Nigeria Development Corporation also received loans of millions of pounds. None of these loans were ever repaid. The Western Nigeria Development Corporation was too weakened financially to repay the millions it owed the Board. The Coker Commission of Inquiry found Chief Awolowo, the regional and party leader culpable for the ills of the Western Region Marketing Board, due to his failure to adhere to the standards of conduct, which were required of persons holding public office.'
--On Fri, 27 Dec 2019 at 13:44, OLAYINKA AGBETUYI <yagbetuyi@hotmail.com> wrote:
--Well, there is no longer any basis for prolonging the debate then.
Lets just agree to let sleeping dogs lie.
Shiikena.
OAASent from Samsung tablet.
-------- Original message --------From: Ibrahim Abdullah <ibdullah@gmail.com>Date: 27/12/2019 12:18 (GMT+00:00)Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Awo's reply declining membershipofthe 1986 Political Bureau
Really? I last read it thirty-some years ago at UI. You want me to paraphrase that? E kin se o omode---so gbo? I last discussed it with Comrade Osoba when I visited him last year at Ijebu Ode. Learn to check sources---don't wait for those making claims to substantiate their claims---they may not have the tools or the wherewithal.I hold nothing against Papa---I read him in context with his peers/contemporaries.--
Sent from my iPhone
On 27 Dec 2019, at 11:39 AM, OLAYINKA AGBETUYI <yagbetuyi@hotmail.com> wrote:
Oga Ibrahim.
Unless you havent seen my earlier post to that effect my own pedigree is not specifically Awoist but we must give honour to whom honour is due ( and not indiscriminately malign their memory when they are no longer alive to defend themselves.)
The reply that I should go and find the document is not good enough for a forum of this nature. I did not make the allegation. Even if you cannot find the document handy, you could paraphrase the sections and I am sure those who have read the document will produce the sections you refer to make your claims and the forum will be enlightened.
OAA
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
-------- Original message --------From: Ibrahim Abdullah <ibdullah@gmail.com>Date: 27/12/2019 10:57 (GMT+00:00)Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Awo's reply declining membershipofthe 1986 Political Bureau
Get the report and help yourself. I read it when I was in UI---80/81. My xerox copy is somewhere in my Nigerian documents. If what you find contradicts my claim---Awo's alleged misappropriation--we can talk.--
Yes, Awo, the "sage", appears to stand tall among his peers; the invention of the infallible "sage" have got a section of Yoruba intellectual in a series of conferences to cement that infallibility by deifying Papa.
But alas, Papa is no deity: he was the original Action Grouper: an ethnic conclave confraternity that invented Yorubadom as a political indentity.--
Sent from my iPhone
On 26 Dec 2019, at 12:35 PM, OLAYINKA AGBETUYI <yagbetuyi@hotmail.com> wrote:
Ibrahim Abdullah:
Can you share the appropriate pages with the forum?
OAA
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
-------- Original message --------From: Ibrahim Abdullah <ibdullah@gmail.com>Date: 26/12/2019 10:56 (GMT+00:00)Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Awo's reply declining membership ofthe 1986 Political Bureau
Bolaji:--Ibrahim Abdullah---don't do as usual: Abdullahi is not Abdullah. I do have a xerox copy of Coker---dated 1970. Am no rumor monger nor a fanatic like you. Awo did what the Commission alleged: misappropriation!--
Sent from my iPhone
On 26 Dec 2019, at 5:29 AM, Mobolaji Aluko <alukome@gmail.com> wrote:
Salimonu Kadiri:
This is why I have stayed on Ibrahim Abdullahi, to see whether he is a pepper-soup rumor-monger, or a serious commentator on this Coker Commission caper.
Awo - in his book "Adventures in Power Book Ii: The Travails of Democracy and the Rule of Law" spent a whole Chapter on this Coker Commission Report, and excerpted detailed analysis of the report by three intellectuals of that day: Prof.. S.A. Aluko (my father), Prof.. Hezekiah Oluwasanmi and Prof.. Akin Mabogunje.
1. What Disgusts Me Most in the Coker Report - by Aluko2. A Most Infamous Rationalization - by Oluwasanmi3. It is a Travesty of Justice - by Mabogunje
Bolaji Aluko
--On Wed, Dec 25, 2019 at 8:36 PM Salimonu Kadiri <ogunlakaiye@hotmail.com> wrote:
--Mallam Ibrahim Abdullah,ÈGÀN KÒ PÉ K'OYIN MÁ DÙN, derision cannot cause honey not to be sweet. Every sane Nigerian knows that the Coker Commission of enquiry was inaugurated by the Federal coalition government of NPC and NCNC after overthrowing the Action Group controlled Western Government. The sole purpose of the Coker Commission of enquiry in June 1962, was to rubbish the image of Awolowo who had left the Premiership of Western Region to contest the 1959 Federal Election. If Coker had discovered stealing and misappropriation of Western Region by Awolowo, there would not have been treasonable felony trial against Awolowo who would have been prosecuted, instead, for embezzlement, fraud, corruption etc. Coker Commission discovered that Awolowo spent cocoa money on free primary education for all. Initially, it was intended to be compulsory but when his any campaigned that he wanted to deprive parents helping hands of their children in the farm, he changed it to voluntary. The first Television Station in Africa, WNTV, was established by Awolowo's government, the flood-light Liberty Stadium was built with Cocoa money, major towns in Western Region had access to pipe-borne water, farm settlements producing dairy products were established throughout Western Region, Cocoa House (a Skyscraper) was built in Ibadan and a large area of Land was turned into industrial estate in Ikeja which belonged to Western Region then. I challenge you to quote directly from the report of Coker Commission of enquiry into the finances of Western Region Government up to 1959 where it was stated that Awolowo corruptly enriched himself by stealing public funds and what amount of money was it.
As all human beings, Awolowo had his shortcomings but among his political peers he was the best. Saying that has nothing to do with my ethnic origin, since in some aspects I also admire the political ideologies of Samuel Gomsu Ikoku, Anthony Enahoro, Aminu Kano, Mokwugo Okoye, to mention few.S. Kadiri
Från: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com> för Ibrahim Abdullah <ibdullah@gmail.com>
Skickat: den 25 december 2019 00:06
Till: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Ämne: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Awo's reply declining membership of the 1986 Political BureauO ko owo je like all the others and used Sonibare to play the game. Awo chopped cocoa profit well well. You cannot cover your beloved Papa. Only blind AGroupers will want to whitewash Coker Commission and deify the proclaimed Sage!
So funny---covering up for Awo.--
Sent from my iPhone
On 24 Dec 2019, at 10:19 PM, Mobolaji Aluko <alukome@gmail.com> wrote:
--
Ibrahim Abdullah:
What do you know about the Coker Commission report? If that was what makes you declare Awo a non-saint, then he was indeed a saint. The Coker Commision was a cooked-up concordance..no pun intended.
No - Awo was not a saint simply because he was human. But he stands almost paradigmatically alone in the pantheon of Nigeria's original leaders.
Season's greetings!
Bolaji Aluko
On Tue, Dec 24, 2019, 14:46 Ibrahim Abdullah <ibdullah@gmail.com> wrote:
Awo was no saint. Coker Commission report is there for all to see.
Sent from my iPad
> On Dec 24, 2019, at 10:35 AM, Tunji Olaopa <tolaopa2003@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Reading Papa Awo's letter declining to serve on IBB's Political Bureau in 1986 again, and with the clear declining fortune of the Nigeria Project, I woke up this morning wondering, did the sage saw something about the future that we are in that we were perhaps too blinded to see?
>
> RESTORING GOVERNMENTAL AND SOCIAL ORDER - CHIEF OBAFEMI AWOLOWO
>
> In 1986, former President Ibrahim Babangida had asked Pa Awolowo to provide input into charting a New Social Order for Nigeria via a National Debate. A couple of my bosom friends have over the last few days reminded me of the force and depth of Pa Awolowo reply:
>
> "Dear Sir, I received your letter of February 28, 1986, and sincerely thank you for doing me the honour of inviting me to contribute to the National Political Debate. The purpose of the debate is to clarify our thoughts in our search for a new social order. It is, therefore, meet and proper that all those who have something to contribute should do so. I do fervently and will continue fervently to pray that I may be proved wrong. For something within me tells me, loud and clear, that we have embarked on a fruitless search. At the end of the day, when we imagine that the new order is here, we would be terribly disappointed. In other words, at the threshold of our New Social Order, we would see for ourselves that, as long as Nigerians remain what they are, nothing clean, principled, ethical, and idealistic can work with them. And Nigerians will remain what they are, unless the evils which now dominate their hearts, at all levels and in all sectors of our political, business and governmental activities are exorcised. But I venture to assert that they will not be exorcised, and indeed they will be firmly entrenched, unless God Himself imbues a vast majority of us with a revolutionary change of attitude to life and politics or, unless the dialectic processes which have been at work for some twenty years now, perforce, make us perceive the abominable filth that abounds in our society, to the end that an inexorable abhorrence of it will be quickened in our hearts and impel us to make drastic changes for the better. There is, of course, an alternative option open to us. To succumb to permanent social instability and chaos. On the premises, I beg to decline your invitation. I am yours truly, Obafemi Awolowo."
>
> --
> Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
> To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
> To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subscribe@googlegroups.com
> Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
> Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
> ---
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
> To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/usaafricadialogue/117ad88c-1ea1-43c6-a56e-89084ab8cc3e%40googlegroups.com.
--
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/usaafricadialogue/C8BFA907-E515-4B5F-A60A-877E1240EEA5%40gmail.com.
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/usaafricadialogue/CAORq2DA4SbRU8Wpo379LTyKZwwAe24r8zStx5EqBaw3fG724rA%40mail.gmail.com.
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/usaafricadialogue/D8F47586-4400-4AC4-A201-D518C4CF801A%40gmail.com.
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/usaafricadialogue/DM6PR07MB5020045AAB1CD9A1CAE19D3CAE280%40DM6PR07MB5020.namprd07.prod.outlook.com.
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/usaafricadialogue/CAORq2DB0sWHOv_oQT34AkOJZysndVat%2BMj6-Xe%3DV%2BUzK%3DTBxxQ%40mail.gmail.com.
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/usaafricadialogue/FE05B279-7039-4EB4-8229-F7182969C728%40gmail.com.
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/usaafricadialogue/VI1PR04MB4493E9A4824A510A2B9186D6A62B0%40VI1PR04MB4493.eurprd04.prod.outlook.com.
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/usaafricadialogue/2DC09E3E-C5AF-46A2-AA95-E39BD92784A9%40gmail.com.
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/usaafricadialogue/VI1PR04MB4493D7BDE458D06B994A6D70A62A0%40VI1PR04MB4493.eurprd04.prod.outlook.com.
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/usaafricadialogue/9E5E4B30-3A8A-46A8-A47B-0C84E6FF0E3C%40gmail.com.
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/usaafricadialogue/VI1PR04MB44939F86C74181584E242F2AA62A0%40VI1PR04MB4493.eurprd04.prod.outlook.com.
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/usaafricadialogue/CALUsqTQYCfAAqzS8iJ%2Bq%2B0OGtMp6CPZZzAvZaXhhHgr7f3RPeg%40mail.gmail.com.
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/usaafricadialogue/DM6PR07MB50203CF1F04E2941D9E26594AE250%40DM6PR07MB5020.namprd07.prod.outlook.com.
This message is eligible for Automatic Cleanup! (
This message is eligible for Automatic Cleanup! (Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/usaafricadialogue/CALUsqTTQbjjVdQO-SHWe08vEL7Q0cNNKMjN%3Dj12z_Le8%2BKhHKw%40mail.gmail.com.
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/usaafricadialogue/MN2PR07MB68306015C7FDE3C96E0F71F0DF240%40MN2PR07MB6830.namprd07.prod.outlook.com.
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/usaafricadialogue/VI1PR04MB4493094FF7C2E436FBEC52A4A6240%40VI1PR04MB4493.eurprd04.prod.outlook.com.
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/usaafricadialogue/MN2PR07MB683087ED84238546BB780EF1DF270%40MN2PR07MB6830.namprd07.prod.outlook.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment