Babatunji Olowofoyeku
Encyclopedia
Babatunji Olowofoyeku was a Nigerian politician, educationist, lawyer and leader, a Yoruba
and native of Ilesha in Osun State
of Nigeria
, whose political career started in the mid 1950s. He had a distinguished education and career, hence his full accolades as follows: Chief Babatunji Olowofoyeku, BA (Hons), LLB (Hons) London, OFR, SAN
.
System with all its artificial barriers. It was not an easy task, but with a good education obtained through determination and hard work combined with honesty and integrity, he discovered that there are no actual barriers created by men that could not be overcome.
Chief Olowofoyeku’s early life was an unusual journey of high academic achievements even without a father figure. His remarkable successes were attributed to the presence of a nurturing mother who raised him well, alone by herself from infancy with his three year older sister. His mother, though uneducated was quick to realize the value of a good education, therefore she encouraged her only son to excel in school. She enrolled him at the early age of 5 at Otapete Methodist School (1922) and it was there that he got baptized in the Methodist Church in 1924 and assumed the Christian
name "Daniel
".
It was in school at Otapete Methodist that Olowofoyeku first met a new classmate, Tai Solarin
, then known as Augustus Solarin. That was the beginning of a lifelong friendship that later brought them together again as colleagues at St. Andrew’s College, Oyo (1936–1942). Solarin admitted that he was radically changed by Olowofoyeku’s final essay in which he made the observation that some of the colonialists were ignorant, and not well-prepared for the duties they were assigned, and therefore had no business running the lives of Nigerians. For this essay, he was punished for his audacity in challenging the status quo
, and was suspended from college in his final academic year. He however sat for and passed the final teacher’s examination as an external student a year later.
He would later drop the middle name "Daniel" as protest against his perceived oppression
by the colonial authorities.
because of the general belief that teaching was a most rewarding career among the educated elitists of the time. In 1932, he accepted a starting position as a pupil teacher at Otapete Methodist School, his alma mater
, and subsequently had a brilliant four year career.
To further his education and become a professional teacher, he in 1935 applied for admission and was accepted at St. Andrew’s College, Oyo, for the freshman
class of 1936, to train and earn a teaching certificate. With a burning desire for an education and zeal to succeed and not disappoint his family, he attended St. Andrew’s College from 1936 until October 1942.
Olowofoyeku then taught at Oduduwa College from October 1942 until 1943, a considerably short stint. The students he trained included Chief Richard Akinjide
(SAN) who later became the Attorney General
of Nigeria during the second republic.
Methodist Boys High School, Lagos, was Olowofoyeku’s next career opportunity. From 1943 until January 1947, he was the Latin
teacher, and notable
among his students were the likes of Professor Olu Odumosu and Chief Adeola Odeku, who later became a very prominent Nigerian lawyer.
His first appointment as Principal was at Western Boys High School, Benin, from January 1947 until December 1948. It was during this tenure in 1948 that he took and passed the External Intermediate BA degree of the University of London
by studying through a correspondence course.
He then moved to Ijebu-Ode to take up an appointment as the 3rd Principal of Olu-Iwa College (which changed its name to Adeola Odutola
College in 1964) serving from January 1949 until December 1949.
of a lawsuit
initiated against him in 1948, he found himself actually researching and providing detailed instructions to his defense attorney
(lawyer
) to fight the case in court. When the case was finally decided in his favor, he was so excited about the outcome that he decided to change career and enter the legal profession. He therefore applied and gained admission into the famous London School of Economics
(LSE) to study law
. He departed from the shores of Nigeria in December 1949 on board an ocean liner sailing along the westbound coast of Africa to the UK. He took and passed the LLB (Bachelor of Laws
) in June 1952. He passed the English Bar exams, and almost immediately was invited to the Bar association
(Inner Temple
). He was in fact the first Ijesha
man called to the English Bar.
Returning to Nigeria just before Christmas
in 1952, he established his first law practice in Ekotedo Road, an old historic business entertainment district in Ibadan
, the then largest city in West Africa
.
His legal practice was most distinguished by the high caliber lawyers who were associated with and started with his law firm. The long list included Chief Olu Ayoola, Chief ‘Tunji Ogunbiyi, Chief Bamidele Aiku (SAN
), Mr. Justice Kayode Eso, a most notable judge of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, as well as his own nephew, Justice Abayomi Olowofoyeku.
, he became acquainted with Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe
, leader of the NCNC, through Chief Odeleye Fadahunsi, another Ijesha elder visiting London.
Chief Babatunji Olowofoyeku started his active political career after he returned to Nigeria in 1952. He joined the NCNC and became an executive member of NCNC under Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe
in 1954. He was elected as Chairman of Ilesha Urban District Council (IUDC) in 1956, and in the same year won his election to the Western House of Assembly by a landslide majority even without mounting a serious campaign.
During this tenure, he sought to modernize Ilesha to the standards he had witnessed in London City Council (now London County Council
) during his studies abroad. And his notable accomplishments in Ilesha included installation of pipe-borne water, electricity
, market development
, town planning, road constructions, sanitation
and council staff welfare.
He was a member of the NCNC delegates’ team to the Nigerian Constitutional Conferences in London of 1957 and 1958, the objectives of which were to seek Nigeria’s Independence
from Britain
. He was also elected into the Western House of Assembly in 1956 on the platform of the NCNC representing Ilesha Central Constituency. Olowofoyeku was a member of the NCNC Committee on Africa and Foreign Affairs. He also headed the NCNC Legal Defence Committee comprising Chief Richard Akinjide
, Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya, Kehinde Sofola, Tunji Ogunbiyi and others.
Olowofoyeku was a distinguished opposition House member even though not a member of Action Group (Nigeria)
(AG), the ruling party
of Chief Obafemi Awolowo
. Chief Awolowo’s favorable assessment of the political abilities of Olowofoyeku was that: "He [Olowofoyeku] had a good sense of justice and belief in democracy
".
During a subsequent debate in the Western House of Assembly on May 25, 1962, a free-for-all fight broke out among the legislators. The entire NCNC legislators present were active participants, backing Akintola’s breakaway faction
. This was of major national importance and consequently, the Prime Minister
, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
intervened declaring a "State of Emergency
" in the Western Region
for 6 months. He appointed Chief Majekodunmi as Administrator.
At the expiration of the 6-month "State of Emergency", Akintola’s faction with tacit support from the Sardauna of Sokoto and the NPC in the North now united under the assumed name, the United Peoples Party (UPP) and forged an alliance with the NCNC legislators to form a new Government for Western Nigeria.
Chief Akintola returned on January 1, 1963 as the new Premier of the West and Fani-Kayode as his deputy. Chief Olowofoyeku was first appointed Minister of Education replacing Dr Sanya Onabamiro. Tom Egbe, a Mid- Westerner was appointed Attorney General largely due to the strong support from the Federal Finance Minister, Chief Festus Okotie-Ebo. However, after the creation of the Mid-Western State in July 1963, Egbe became Attorney General for the new Mid-West state and Chief Olowofoyeku was installed the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Western Region from September 26, 1963. Chief Olowofoyeku was also at the same time appointed a Queen’s Counsel (QC) by the British Government, as recognition of his official legal duties to the Commonwealth
.
Because of constant internal political strife within the NCNC and because of great under-representation of the West in the character and composition of the federal cabinet
, Olowofoyeku and other Western Nigeria NCNC members in the legislature
decided to align themselves with Akintola into the newly formed Nigerian National Democratic Party
(NNDP) in 1964. Olowofoyeku’s constituents in Ilesha were angry and viewed this move suspiciously and most unfavorably. Consequently, his previously staunch support among them quickly vanished. The NCNC and AG now formed a new national alliance, UPGA (United Progressive Grand Alliance) against the ruling NPC/NNDP alliance. When election time came around December 1965, it was payback time. It was chaos and pandemonium all over the country, particularly in the West and most especially in Ilesha. Olowofoyeku escaped an assassin’s bullet by a few inches during a campaign rally near Ilesha.
At the end, the ruling parties were declared winners of an election that most observers saw as rigged in favor of the incumbent
. This election was indeed the beginning of violent electioneering in the annals
of Nigerian history. There were wanton killings and arson was rampant. It became hazardous to walk the streets in broad daylight. This was a perfect setting for the January 15, 1966 coup that imposed martial law
and thereby restored public order.
of Sir Tafawa Balewa also ended the political careers of most of the politicians of the first republic. The Prime Minister was assassinated with his Finance Minister, Chief Okotie-Ebo. Also assassinated were the Premier of the North, the Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello
, and the Premier of the West, Chief S.L. Akintola.
After this coup that assassinated the Premier of the Western Region, Chief S. L. Akintola, the Military Government then went after all the surviving political leaders including Chief Olowofoyeku and Chief Fani-Kayode. Other politicians were arrested and detained. Chief Olowofoyeku was arrested and taken into custody by the Military Government on January 30, 1966 and detained for six months. He was first detained at Agodi in Ibadan and later transferred to KiriKiri
in Lagos. He was allowed very limited family visitation rights throughout his political incarceration at KiriKiri.
Chief Olowofoyeku was released after the second counter coup on July 29, 1966 that was carried out by soldiers of Northern Nigerian extraction who replaced the old military regime of Major-General Aguiyi-Ironsi. This Coup D’etat was led by a northerner, Col. Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma who plotted the counter coup on behalf of Northern Nigerian soldiers that installed Lt Col. Yakubu Gowon, (a young, intelligent 32 year old officer) as the second Military Head of State
to power in 1966. This second coup finally led to the Nigeria-Biafran Civil War of 1966-1970. Over 1 million civilians, mostly of Ibo extraction died in the fratricidal duel motivated more by greed, reprisals and revenge against Igbo soldiers. After being set freed to go home, and having learnt a hard lesson from his experience, Chief Olowofoyeku vowed never to get involved in partisan politics again.
By the time the Nigerian Civil War
broke out on July 6, 1967 over the secession
of the South-eastern Region of Nigeria desiring to become Biafra
, as a separate nation, Olowofoyeku was no longer involved in politics, and was in fact temporarily out of the country. Within weeks of his release in July 1966, he had left Nigeria and departed for Paris
, France
, to seek rest and refuge.
and re-opened his law practice in Western House on the highly commercial Broad Street
near the Lagos High Court. He continued to practice law for many years, during which time he was appointed as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria
(the equivalent of the Queen’s Counsel in the UK). He was one of the first 20 to be so appointed in the country.
With the passage of time and as the years drew on, his strength began to wane and so he relocated his legal practice to his home in Victoria Island
, Lagos. In the twilight of his life, although disabled by a stroke that robbed him of speech and his physical strength in his right extremities, his keen mind was always active as ever.
Children
His life story, educational, legal and political career are detailed in his autobiography
:
Lynn Olisa, A Great Advocate and Gentleman: Chief Babatunji Olowofoyeku, Lagos, Nigeria, Nelson Publishers Ltd, 1997
Yoruba people
The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...
and native of Ilesha in Osun State
Osun State
Ọṣun State is an inland state in south-western Nigeria. Its capital is Osogbo. It is bounded in the north by Kwara State, in the east partly by Ekiti State and partly by Ondo State, in the south by Ogun State and in the west by Oyo State. The state's current governor is Rauf Aregbesola, who was...
of Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, whose political career started in the mid 1950s. He had a distinguished education and career, hence his full accolades as follows: Chief Babatunji Olowofoyeku, BA (Hons), LLB (Hons) London, OFR, SAN
Senior Advocate of Nigeria
Senior Advocate of Nigeria is a title that may be conferred on legal practitioners in Nigeria of not less than ten years' standing and who have distinguished themselves in the legal profession...
.
Early years, 1917-1932
Olowofoyeku grew up as the last born of a traditional extended family in Ilesha. His father had died a few months just before he was born. He had a powerful drive to succeed in spite of daunting challenges of growing up under the old British ColonialColonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
System with all its artificial barriers. It was not an easy task, but with a good education obtained through determination and hard work combined with honesty and integrity, he discovered that there are no actual barriers created by men that could not be overcome.
Chief Olowofoyeku’s early life was an unusual journey of high academic achievements even without a father figure. His remarkable successes were attributed to the presence of a nurturing mother who raised him well, alone by herself from infancy with his three year older sister. His mother, though uneducated was quick to realize the value of a good education, therefore she encouraged her only son to excel in school. She enrolled him at the early age of 5 at Otapete Methodist School (1922) and it was there that he got baptized in the Methodist Church in 1924 and assumed the Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
name "Daniel
Daniel
Daniel is the protagonist in the Book of Daniel of the Hebrew Bible. In the narrative, when Daniel was a young man, he was taken into Babylonian captivity where he was educated in Chaldean thought. However, he never converted to Neo-Babylonian ways...
".
It was in school at Otapete Methodist that Olowofoyeku first met a new classmate, Tai Solarin
Tai Solarin
Augustus Taiwo "Tai" Solarin was a Nigerian educator and author. He established the famous Mayflower School, Ikenne, Ogun State in 1956....
, then known as Augustus Solarin. That was the beginning of a lifelong friendship that later brought them together again as colleagues at St. Andrew’s College, Oyo (1936–1942). Solarin admitted that he was radically changed by Olowofoyeku’s final essay in which he made the observation that some of the colonialists were ignorant, and not well-prepared for the duties they were assigned, and therefore had no business running the lives of Nigerians. For this essay, he was punished for his audacity in challenging the status quo
Status quo
Statu quo, a commonly used form of the original Latin "statu quo" – literally "the state in which" – is a Latin term meaning the current or existing state of affairs. To maintain the status quo is to keep the things the way they presently are...
, and was suspended from college in his final academic year. He however sat for and passed the final teacher’s examination as an external student a year later.
He would later drop the middle name "Daniel" as protest against his perceived oppression
Oppression
Oppression is the exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner. It can also be defined as an act or instance of oppressing, the state of being oppressed, and the feeling of being heavily burdened, mentally or physically, by troubles, adverse conditions, and...
by the colonial authorities.
Educational career, 1932-1949
Olowofoyeku chose to become a teacherTeacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
because of the general belief that teaching was a most rewarding career among the educated elitists of the time. In 1932, he accepted a starting position as a pupil teacher at Otapete Methodist School, his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
, and subsequently had a brilliant four year career.
To further his education and become a professional teacher, he in 1935 applied for admission and was accepted at St. Andrew’s College, Oyo, for the freshman
Freshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
class of 1936, to train and earn a teaching certificate. With a burning desire for an education and zeal to succeed and not disappoint his family, he attended St. Andrew’s College from 1936 until October 1942.
Olowofoyeku then taught at Oduduwa College from October 1942 until 1943, a considerably short stint. The students he trained included Chief Richard Akinjide
Richard Akinjide
Osuolale Abimbola Richard Akinjide is a Nigerian lawyer, politician and tribal nobleman. Born in the ancient city of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State in the southwest of the country in the early 1930s to an influential family of warriors, he exhibited extraordinary brilliance while in school and...
(SAN) who later became the Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
of Nigeria during the second republic.
Methodist Boys High School, Lagos, was Olowofoyeku’s next career opportunity. From 1943 until January 1947, he was the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
teacher, and notable
Notable
Notable can refer to:* the property of a thing having notability* A Notable is a member of the Assembly of Notables, an assembly called by the king of high-ranking notables.* A Wikipedia guideline Wikipedia:Notable...
among his students were the likes of Professor Olu Odumosu and Chief Adeola Odeku, who later became a very prominent Nigerian lawyer.
His first appointment as Principal was at Western Boys High School, Benin, from January 1947 until December 1948. It was during this tenure in 1948 that he took and passed the External Intermediate BA degree of the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
by studying through a correspondence course.
He then moved to Ijebu-Ode to take up an appointment as the 3rd Principal of Olu-Iwa College (which changed its name to Adeola Odutola
Adeola Odutola
Timothy Adeola Odutola , OBE, CFR, CON, was a prominent Nigerian businessman from Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. He was one of the pioneers of modern Nigerian indigenous entrepreneurship and the first president of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria...
College in 1964) serving from January 1949 until December 1949.
Early legal career, 1948-1963
In the defenseDefense (legal)
In civil proceedings and criminal prosecutions under the common law, a defendant may raise a defense in an attempt to avoid criminal or civil liability...
of a lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
initiated against him in 1948, he found himself actually researching and providing detailed instructions to his defense attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
(lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
) to fight the case in court. When the case was finally decided in his favor, he was so excited about the outcome that he decided to change career and enter the legal profession. He therefore applied and gained admission into the famous London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
(LSE) to study law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
. He departed from the shores of Nigeria in December 1949 on board an ocean liner sailing along the westbound coast of Africa to the UK. He took and passed the LLB (Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
) in June 1952. He passed the English Bar exams, and almost immediately was invited to the Bar association
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
(Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
). He was in fact the first Ijesha
Ijesha
The Ijesha , are a sub-ethnic of the Yoruba. This group is predominantly from the city and environs of Ilesha and the historic state of Ilesha in the same area....
man called to the English Bar.
Returning to Nigeria just before Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
in 1952, he established his first law practice in Ekotedo Road, an old historic business entertainment district in Ibadan
Ibadan
Ibadan is the capital city of Oyo State and the third largest metropolitan area in Nigeria, after Lagos and Kano, with a population of 1,338,659 according to the 2006 census. Ibadan is also the largest metropolitan geographical area...
, the then largest city in West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
.
His legal practice was most distinguished by the high caliber lawyers who were associated with and started with his law firm. The long list included Chief Olu Ayoola, Chief ‘Tunji Ogunbiyi, Chief Bamidele Aiku (SAN
Senior Advocate of Nigeria
Senior Advocate of Nigeria is a title that may be conferred on legal practitioners in Nigeria of not less than ten years' standing and who have distinguished themselves in the legal profession...
), Mr. Justice Kayode Eso, a most notable judge of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, as well as his own nephew, Justice Abayomi Olowofoyeku.
Political career, 1952-1966
Chief Babatunji Olowofoyeku had arrived on the scene of nationalistic political activism by Nigerians in London during his student days. Having had a first hand experience with the social injustices and powerlessness associated with his prejudicial treatment as a student at St. Andrew’s College, he was determined to find the right political platform to fight against the system that created it. Urged by the nationalistic teachings of Herbert MacaulayHerbert Macaulay
Herbert Samuel Heelas Macaulay was a Nigerian nationalist, politician, engineer, journalist, and musician and considered by many Nigerians as the founder of Nigerian nationalism.- Early life :...
, he became acquainted with Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe
Nnamdi Azikiwe
Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe , usually referred to as Nnamdi Azikiwe and popularly known as "Zik", was one of the leading figures of modern Nigerian nationalism who became the first President of Nigeria after Nigeria secured its independence from the United Kingdom on 1 October 1960; holding the...
, leader of the NCNC, through Chief Odeleye Fadahunsi, another Ijesha elder visiting London.
Chief Babatunji Olowofoyeku started his active political career after he returned to Nigeria in 1952. He joined the NCNC and became an executive member of NCNC under Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe
Nnamdi Azikiwe
Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe , usually referred to as Nnamdi Azikiwe and popularly known as "Zik", was one of the leading figures of modern Nigerian nationalism who became the first President of Nigeria after Nigeria secured its independence from the United Kingdom on 1 October 1960; holding the...
in 1954. He was elected as Chairman of Ilesha Urban District Council (IUDC) in 1956, and in the same year won his election to the Western House of Assembly by a landslide majority even without mounting a serious campaign.
During this tenure, he sought to modernize Ilesha to the standards he had witnessed in London City Council (now London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
) during his studies abroad. And his notable accomplishments in Ilesha included installation of pipe-borne water, electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
, market development
Market development
A market development strategy targets non-buying customers in currently targeted segments. It also targets new customers in new segments. A marketing manager has to think about the following questions before implementing a market development strategy: Is it profitable? Will it require the...
, town planning, road constructions, sanitation
Sanitation
Sanitation is the hygienic means of promoting health through prevention of human contact with the hazards of wastes. Hazards can be either physical, microbiological, biological or chemical agents of disease. Wastes that can cause health problems are human and animal feces, solid wastes, domestic...
and council staff welfare.
He was a member of the NCNC delegates’ team to the Nigerian Constitutional Conferences in London of 1957 and 1958, the objectives of which were to seek Nigeria’s Independence
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
from Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He was also elected into the Western House of Assembly in 1956 on the platform of the NCNC representing Ilesha Central Constituency. Olowofoyeku was a member of the NCNC Committee on Africa and Foreign Affairs. He also headed the NCNC Legal Defence Committee comprising Chief Richard Akinjide
Richard Akinjide
Osuolale Abimbola Richard Akinjide is a Nigerian lawyer, politician and tribal nobleman. Born in the ancient city of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State in the southwest of the country in the early 1930s to an influential family of warriors, he exhibited extraordinary brilliance while in school and...
, Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya, Kehinde Sofola, Tunji Ogunbiyi and others.
Olowofoyeku was a distinguished opposition House member even though not a member of Action Group (Nigeria)
Action Group (Nigeria)
Action Group was a Nigerian political party established in Ibadan on March 21, 1951, by the Ègbe Ọmọ Odùduwà led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo. The party was founded to serve as the platform for realizing his primary objective of mobilising the Yorùbá into one political umbrella...
(AG), the ruling party
Ruling party
The ruling party or governing party in a parliamentary system is the political party or coalition of the majority in parliament. Within a parliamentary system, the majority in the legislature also controls the executive branch of government, thus leaving no possibility of dueling parties...
of Chief Obafemi Awolowo
Obafemi Awolowo
Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo was a Nigerian politician, trade unionist, author and statesman. A Yoruba and native of Ikenne in Ogun State of Nigeria, he started his career as a regional political leader like most of his pre-independence contemporaries and was responsible for much of the progressive...
. Chief Awolowo’s favorable assessment of the political abilities of Olowofoyeku was that: "He [Olowofoyeku] had a good sense of justice and belief in democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
".
Crisis in Western Nigeria, 1959-1966
Before the 1959 General Elections into Federal Parliament that preceded the declaration of Nigeria’s independence from Britain in 1960, Chief Obafemi Awolowo the national leader of the Action Group (AG) had vacated his post as Premier of the West to seek the elective office of Prime Minister at the Federal House of Assembly. Unfortunately, he did not win a majority of the votes needed and so he became the leader of Opposition at the Federal level. Because of a feud which had developed between him and his Party Deputy, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, now Premier of the Western Region, Chief Awolowo attempted to expel Akintola from the party and remove him from office as Premier of the West, intending to replace him with Alhaji Soroye Adegbenro.During a subsequent debate in the Western House of Assembly on May 25, 1962, a free-for-all fight broke out among the legislators. The entire NCNC legislators present were active participants, backing Akintola’s breakaway faction
Political faction
A political faction is a grouping of individuals, such as a political party, a trade union, or other group with a political purpose. A faction or political party may include fragmented sub-factions, “parties within a party," which may be referred to as power blocs, or voting blocs. The individuals...
. This was of major national importance and consequently, the Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, KBE was a Nigerian politician, and the only prime minister of an independent Nigeria. Originally a trained teacher, he became a vocal leader for Northern interest as one of the few educated Nigerians of his time...
intervened declaring a "State of Emergency
State of emergency
A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend some normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviours, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale...
" in the Western Region
Western Region
The Western Region or West Region may refer to:*Western Region, Bahrain*Western Region, Eastern Cape, South Africa*Western Region, Ghana*Western Region, Nepal*Western Region, Serbia*Western Region, Uganda*Western Region, Nigeria...
for 6 months. He appointed Chief Majekodunmi as Administrator.
At the expiration of the 6-month "State of Emergency", Akintola’s faction with tacit support from the Sardauna of Sokoto and the NPC in the North now united under the assumed name, the United Peoples Party (UPP) and forged an alliance with the NCNC legislators to form a new Government for Western Nigeria.
Chief Akintola returned on January 1, 1963 as the new Premier of the West and Fani-Kayode as his deputy. Chief Olowofoyeku was first appointed Minister of Education replacing Dr Sanya Onabamiro. Tom Egbe, a Mid- Westerner was appointed Attorney General largely due to the strong support from the Federal Finance Minister, Chief Festus Okotie-Ebo. However, after the creation of the Mid-Western State in July 1963, Egbe became Attorney General for the new Mid-West state and Chief Olowofoyeku was installed the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Western Region from September 26, 1963. Chief Olowofoyeku was also at the same time appointed a Queen’s Counsel (QC) by the British Government, as recognition of his official legal duties to the Commonwealth
Commonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
.
Because of constant internal political strife within the NCNC and because of great under-representation of the West in the character and composition of the federal cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
, Olowofoyeku and other Western Nigeria NCNC members in the legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
decided to align themselves with Akintola into the newly formed Nigerian National Democratic Party
Nigerian National Democratic Party
The Nigerian National Democratic Party , was Nigeria's first political party.Formed in 1923 by Herbert Macaulay to take advantage of the new Clifford Constitution, the NNDP successfully organized various Yoruba interest groups into a single group that was able to compete politically...
(NNDP) in 1964. Olowofoyeku’s constituents in Ilesha were angry and viewed this move suspiciously and most unfavorably. Consequently, his previously staunch support among them quickly vanished. The NCNC and AG now formed a new national alliance, UPGA (United Progressive Grand Alliance) against the ruling NPC/NNDP alliance. When election time came around December 1965, it was payback time. It was chaos and pandemonium all over the country, particularly in the West and most especially in Ilesha. Olowofoyeku escaped an assassin’s bullet by a few inches during a campaign rally near Ilesha.
At the end, the ruling parties were declared winners of an election that most observers saw as rigged in favor of the incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
. This election was indeed the beginning of violent electioneering in the annals
Annals
Annals are a concise form of historical representation which record events chronologically, year by year. The Oxford English Dictionary defines annals as "a narrative of events written year by year"...
of Nigerian history. There were wanton killings and arson was rampant. It became hazardous to walk the streets in broad daylight. This was a perfect setting for the January 15, 1966 coup that imposed martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
and thereby restored public order.
1966 military coup
In the aftermath of the December 1965 elections, there was a bloody military coup on January 15, 1966, establishing a National Military Government. This coup that toppled the first democratically elected Federal GovernmentFederal government
The federal government is the common government of a federation. The structure of federal governments varies from institution to institution. Based on a broad definition of a basic federal political system, there are two or more levels of government that exist within an established territory and...
of Sir Tafawa Balewa also ended the political careers of most of the politicians of the first republic. The Prime Minister was assassinated with his Finance Minister, Chief Okotie-Ebo. Also assassinated were the Premier of the North, the Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello
Ahmadu Bello
Sir Ahmadu Bello was a Nigerian politician, and was the first premier of the Northern Nigeria region from 1954-1966. He was one of the prominent leaders in Northern Nigeria alongside Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, both of whom were prominent in negotiations about the region's place in an independent...
, and the Premier of the West, Chief S.L. Akintola.
After this coup that assassinated the Premier of the Western Region, Chief S. L. Akintola, the Military Government then went after all the surviving political leaders including Chief Olowofoyeku and Chief Fani-Kayode. Other politicians were arrested and detained. Chief Olowofoyeku was arrested and taken into custody by the Military Government on January 30, 1966 and detained for six months. He was first detained at Agodi in Ibadan and later transferred to KiriKiri
KiriKiri
is a scripting engine by Japanese developer "W.Dee". It is almost exclusively used with the KAG framework to produce visual novels. Usually, the package of the two components is regarded as the whole engine, and referenced with major version numbers. Thus, the current version is called...
in Lagos. He was allowed very limited family visitation rights throughout his political incarceration at KiriKiri.
Chief Olowofoyeku was released after the second counter coup on July 29, 1966 that was carried out by soldiers of Northern Nigerian extraction who replaced the old military regime of Major-General Aguiyi-Ironsi. This Coup D’etat was led by a northerner, Col. Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma who plotted the counter coup on behalf of Northern Nigerian soldiers that installed Lt Col. Yakubu Gowon, (a young, intelligent 32 year old officer) as the second Military Head of State
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
to power in 1966. This second coup finally led to the Nigeria-Biafran Civil War of 1966-1970. Over 1 million civilians, mostly of Ibo extraction died in the fratricidal duel motivated more by greed, reprisals and revenge against Igbo soldiers. After being set freed to go home, and having learnt a hard lesson from his experience, Chief Olowofoyeku vowed never to get involved in partisan politics again.
By the time the Nigerian Civil War
Nigerian Civil War
The Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Nigerian-Biafran War, 6 July 1967–15 January 1970, was a political conflict caused by the attempted secession of the southeastern provinces of Nigeria as the self-proclaimed Republic of Biafra...
broke out on July 6, 1967 over the secession
Secession
Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:...
of the South-eastern Region of Nigeria desiring to become Biafra
Biafra
Biafra, officially the Republic of Biafra, was a secessionist state in south-eastern Nigeria that existed from 30 May 1967 to 15 January 1970, taking its name from the Bight of Biafra . The inhabitants were mostly the Igbo people who led the secession due to economic, ethnic, cultural and religious...
, as a separate nation, Olowofoyeku was no longer involved in politics, and was in fact temporarily out of the country. Within weeks of his release in July 1966, he had left Nigeria and departed for Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, to seek rest and refuge.
Later legal career, 1967-2003
On his return to Nigeria late in 1967, Olowofoyeku moved to LagosLagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
and re-opened his law practice in Western House on the highly commercial Broad Street
Broad Street
Broad Street may refer to:In the United Kingdom:*Broad Street , in London*Broad Street, Birmingham*Broad Street, Bristol*Broad Street, Oxford*Broad Street, Reading*Broad Street, Suffolk, hamlet near Groton...
near the Lagos High Court. He continued to practice law for many years, during which time he was appointed as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria
Senior Advocate of Nigeria
Senior Advocate of Nigeria is a title that may be conferred on legal practitioners in Nigeria of not less than ten years' standing and who have distinguished themselves in the legal profession...
(the equivalent of the Queen’s Counsel in the UK). He was one of the first 20 to be so appointed in the country.
With the passage of time and as the years drew on, his strength began to wane and so he relocated his legal practice to his home in Victoria Island
Victoria Island (Nigeria)
Victoria Island is an affluent town that encompasses a former island of the same name that sits between Lagos Island and the Lekki Peninsula in the Lagos Lagoon. It is the main business and financial centre of Lagos, Nigeria. Victoria Island is one of the most exclusive and expensive areas to...
, Lagos. In the twilight of his life, although disabled by a stroke that robbed him of speech and his physical strength in his right extremities, his keen mind was always active as ever.
Family
Chief Olowofoyeku was married, and had 17 children (13 sons and 4 daughters) most of whom are all self-made professionals in their own right. He has many grandchildren and several great grandchildren.Children
- Segun Olowofoyeku. Medical Doctor, USA
- Akin Olowofoyeku. Professor, USA
- Moji Olowofoyeku (d.) RIP
- Folu Olowofoyeku. Civil/ Structural Engineer, USA
- Toby Olowofoyeku. Music Producer, Musician, USA
- Dapo Olowofoyeku. Actor, Nigeria
- Jumoke Olowofoyeku (d.) RIP
- Chief Supo Olowofoyeku. IT Consultant, Businessman, UK
- Olumide Olowofoyeku (d.) Lawyer. RIP
- Kole Olowofoyeku. Banker, IT Developer, Pastor, Nigeria
- Ayo Olowofoyeku. Politician, Architect, Businessman, Nigeria
- Bimbo Olowofoyeku. Professor of Law, Software Developer, Pastor, UK
- Funmi Olowofoyeku. French Teacher, Nigeria
- Femi Olowofoyeku. College Principal, Pastor, UK
- Folarin Olowofoyeku. Architect, Nigeria
- Bolaji Olowofoyeku. Lawyer, Nigeria
- Folake Olowofoyeku. Musician, Actress, Model, USA
Final days, 2003
On March 26, 2003 at the age of 85, Chief Babatunji Olowofoyeku died. His funeral which lasted several days was held partly in the High Court in Lagos (a special honour for his legal career), at his main residence in Victoria Island and at his two homes in Ilesha.His life story, educational, legal and political career are detailed in his autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
:
Lynn Olisa, A Great Advocate and Gentleman: Chief Babatunji Olowofoyeku, Lagos, Nigeria, Nelson Publishers Ltd, 1997
External links
- The Biography of T Adeola Odutola
- Olowofoyeku, Principal of Adeola Odutola College 1948-1949
- Nigeria, Ibadan Politics
- Ijesas Network
- Strategies for Curbing Electoral Malpractices and Violence in Nigeria
- Attempted Murder of Chief Olowofoyeku
- Outstanding politicians outside Action Group, ‘The Egbe Afenifere’
- Outstanding politicians outside Action Group, ‘The Egbe Afenifere’ (different source)
- Nigerian Political Parties, by Richard L. Sklar
- Senior Advocates of Nigeria
- Lynn Olisa, A Great Advocate and Gentleman: Chief Babatunji Olowofoyeku, Lagos, Nigeria, Nelson Publishers Ltd, 1997
- Dr Lynn Olisa, Best Book Written: Chief Babatunji Olowofoyeku