Samuel Akinsanya
Encyclopedia
Samuel Akinsanya, also rendered incorrectly as Akisanya, (1 August 1898 - 1984) was a Nigerian trade unionist and nationalist based in Lagos
, Nigeria
during the colonial era, one of the founders of the Nigerian Youth Movement
.
. He attended the Anglican School in Ishara, then obtained work as a shorthand typist and writer from 1916 to 1931.
Around 1923 the Study Circle was founded in Lagos, with a number of prominent young members including Akinsanya, H.A. Subair, R.A. Coker, Olatunji Caxton-Martins and Adetokunbo Ademola
. The group sponsored essay-writing, lectures, debates and book reviews, and later became a forum for discussing political issues.
He was one of the founders of the Lagos Youth Movement in 1934, renamed the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) in 1936. Other founding members were Dr. J.C. Vaughan, Ernest Ikoli
and H.O. Davies.
Akinsanya was appointed General Secretary and later became Vice President.
The initial stimulus for founding the movement was controversy over the standard of education to be offered by the newly founded Yaba College
, but the NYM was to grow into Nigeria's first genuinely nationalist organization.
In 1938, Akinsanya was one of the seven subscribers to the Service Press Limited, which acquired the assets and liabilities of the Daily Service newspaper.
In 1937 some expatriate firms led by Cadbury Brothers formed a buying agreement, a cartel to control the price paid to producers of cocoa and to cut out the middlemen. The N.P.T.U., which represented these middlemen and was led by Akinsanya, launched an effective public attack on the agreement. The union organized protest meetings and threatened to hold up transport of the crop, or in extreme to destroy the crop. The government attempted to defuse the crisis by supporting opponents of Akinsanya. Eventually it blew over when cocoa prices rose the next year.
resigned from the Legislative Council of the colony to pursue studies abroad. Akinsanya sought to be the NYM candidate for the vacant seat, competing against the distinguished journalist Ernest Ikoli, an Ijo.
Akinsanya was Vice-President of the party while Ikoli had recently been elected president to replace Abayomi.
At a general meeting of the NYM, Akinsanya received 108 votes, Ikoli received 60 and Dr. Akinola Maja received 37. However, the executive chose not to endorse the vote but instead declared that Ikoli was selected.
Akinsanya, supported by Nnamdi Azikiwe
, claimed that he had been rejected only because the dominant Lagos Yorubas would not accept nomination of an Ijebu
Yorubu. Akinsanya resigned from the NYM and ran as an independent, but lost to Ikoli.
A press war followed between the Pilot and the Daily Service.
Akinsanya became a Yoruba
chief
ly ruler
when he was enthroned as the Odemo of Ishara.
He held this position from 1941 until his death in 1984.
He was a member of the Western House of Chiefs from 1952 until 1961.
Akinsanya was a founding member of the Action Group
party in 1951.
He was appointed a minister without portfolio in the government of the Western Region
from 1952 to 1955.
During the First Republic
, Akinsanya called Ladoke Akintola, premier of the Western region and his deputy, Remi Fani-Kayode
"misguided small boys" when they decided to punish some of the Yoruba chiefs.
In November 1968, peasants attacked Akinsaya for allegedly supporting the government's aggressive tax collection policy.
Lagos
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...
, 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...
during the colonial era, one of the founders of the Nigerian Youth Movement
Nigerian Youth Movement
The Nigerian Youth Movement was Nigeria's first genuine nationalist organization, founded in Lagos in 1933 with the name of Lagos Youth Movement and renamed the Nigerian Youth Movement in 1936.-Early years:Founding members included Dr...
.
Early years
Akinsanya was born on 1 August 1898 in IsharaIsara-Remo
Isara-Remo is an ancient town in present day Remo North Local government in Ogun State in Nigeria. It is the head quarters of the local government area. It has an area of 199 km² and a population of 59,911 at the 2006 census...
. He attended the Anglican School in Ishara, then obtained work as a shorthand typist and writer from 1916 to 1931.
Around 1923 the Study Circle was founded in Lagos, with a number of prominent young members including Akinsanya, H.A. Subair, R.A. Coker, Olatunji Caxton-Martins and Adetokunbo Ademola
Adetokunbo Ademola
Adetokunbo Adegboyega Ademola, KBE, GCON was a Nigerian jurist, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, and son of King Ladapo Ademola II, paramount leader as the Alake of the Egba clan of Nigeria....
. The group sponsored essay-writing, lectures, debates and book reviews, and later became a forum for discussing political issues.
Political activist
Akinsanya became the organizing Secretary of the Nigerian Produce Traders Union (N.P.T.U.) and President of the Nigerian Motor Transport Union between 1932 and 1940.He was one of the founders of the Lagos Youth Movement in 1934, renamed the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) in 1936. Other founding members were Dr. J.C. Vaughan, Ernest Ikoli
Ernest Ikoli
Ernest Sissei Ikoli was a Nigerian politician, nationalist and pioneering journalist. He was the president of the Nigerian Youth Movement and in 1942, represented Lagos in the legislative council.-Early life and career:...
and H.O. Davies.
Akinsanya was appointed General Secretary and later became Vice President.
The initial stimulus for founding the movement was controversy over the standard of education to be offered by the newly founded Yaba College
Yaba College
Yaba Higher College was founded in 1932 in Yaba, now a suburb of Lagos in Nigeria to provide tertiary education to Africans, mostly in vocational subjects and teaching. The college staff were transferred to start the University of Ibadan in 1948 and the college premises were used for the new Yaba...
, but the NYM was to grow into Nigeria's first genuinely nationalist organization.
In 1938, Akinsanya was one of the seven subscribers to the Service Press Limited, which acquired the assets and liabilities of the Daily Service newspaper.
In 1937 some expatriate firms led by Cadbury Brothers formed a buying agreement, a cartel to control the price paid to producers of cocoa and to cut out the middlemen. The N.P.T.U., which represented these middlemen and was led by Akinsanya, launched an effective public attack on the agreement. The union organized protest meetings and threatened to hold up transport of the crop, or in extreme to destroy the crop. The government attempted to defuse the crisis by supporting opponents of Akinsanya. Eventually it blew over when cocoa prices rose the next year.
Later career
In 1941, the NYM President Dr. Kofo AbayomiKofo Abayomi
Kofoworola Adekunle "Kofo" Abayomi, Kt was a Nigerian ophthalmologist who was one of the founders of the nationalist Lagos Youth Movement in 1934 and who went on to have a distinguished public service career.-Early years:...
resigned from the Legislative Council of the colony to pursue studies abroad. Akinsanya sought to be the NYM candidate for the vacant seat, competing against the distinguished journalist Ernest Ikoli, an Ijo.
Akinsanya was Vice-President of the party while Ikoli had recently been elected president to replace Abayomi.
At a general meeting of the NYM, Akinsanya received 108 votes, Ikoli received 60 and Dr. Akinola Maja received 37. However, the executive chose not to endorse the vote but instead declared that Ikoli was selected.
Akinsanya, supported by 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...
, claimed that he had been rejected only because the dominant Lagos Yorubas would not accept nomination of an Ijebu
Ijebu
Ijebu was a Yoruba kingdom in pre-colonial Nigeria. It formed around the fifteenth century. According to legend, its ruling dynasty was founded by Obanta of Ile-Ife...
Yorubu. Akinsanya resigned from the NYM and ran as an independent, but lost to Ikoli.
A press war followed between the Pilot and the Daily Service.
Akinsanya became a Yoruba
Yoruba people
The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...
chief
Chief
- Title or rank :* Chiefs of the Name, the head of a family or clan* Chief executive officer, the highest-ranking corporate officer of an organization* Chief Master Sergeant, in the United States Air Force* Chief of police, the head of a police department...
ly ruler
Nigerian traditional rulers
Nigerian traditional rulers often derive their titles from the rulers of independent states or communities that existed before the formation of modern Nigeria...
when he was enthroned as the Odemo of Ishara.
He held this position from 1941 until his death in 1984.
He was a member of the Western House of Chiefs from 1952 until 1961.
Akinsanya was a founding member of the Action Group
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...
party in 1951.
He was appointed a minister without portfolio in the government of the Western Region
Western Region, Nigeria
The Western Region was a subdivision of the federation of Nigeria until 1967. Its capital was at Ibadan.It was established in the 1930s under British rule as a subdivision of the Southern Nigeria colony...
from 1952 to 1955.
During the First Republic
Nigerian First Republic
The First Republic was the republican government of Nigeria between 1963 and 1966 governed by the first republican constitution.-Founding :...
, Akinsanya called Ladoke Akintola, premier of the Western region and his deputy, Remi Fani-Kayode
Remi Fani-Kayode
Victor Babaremilekun Adetokunboh Fani-Kayode , Q.C., S.A.N, C.O.N was a leading Nigerian politician, aristocrat, nationalist, statesman and lawyer. He was elected Deputy Premier of the Western Region of Nigeria in 1963 and he played a major role in Nigeria's legal history and politics from the...
"misguided small boys" when they decided to punish some of the Yoruba chiefs.
In November 1968, peasants attacked Akinsaya for allegedly supporting the government's aggressive tax collection policy.