In his award lecture at the event in Lagos, he noted that “Awo is a role model for a progressive change in Africa. The progressive change we need requires a change-agent. We need Awolowo of our time.”
Describing Awolowo as a leading light in the continent’s liberation struggles, the awardee stressed the need for Africans to again nurture the kind of leadership that would inspire billions of Africans to act in unity and engage in the fundamental process of enhancing their dignity.
According to him, Chief Awolowo and other nationalists served as role models for generations, because they remained principled fighters for genuine independence of Africa.
He, however, noted that one of the ways the sage’s legacy could be sustained would be to compile profiles of African leaders and make them available in the universities to enable future African leaders learn from the attributes of those leaders.
‘History will determine whether we truly honour the legacy of Awo by assessing those programmes he made to nurture new generations of Awo,” he said.
President Goodluck Jonathan, at the event, said Awo remained an eternal leadership icon, just as he praised Mbeki as a worthy awardee.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Brigadier-General Jones Arogbofa (rtd), the special guest of honour asked politicians to emulate the iconic Awo.
“Awo was many things, a lawyer, teacher, author and philosopher. But it was as an astute politician that he made his name. Politics was where his recognition came from. On Awo’s foresight in infrastructure development, today’s practitioners must ask questions on how Awo developed uncanny ability to build so much with so little,” he noted.
He said Awo displayed distinguished abilities, discipline and selflessness in all he did, adding: “He was always a man of the people. He remains an example for politicians of today. As election comes, Awo’s life gives direction. We cannot talk of political violence, double-speak on insurgency and hope for Awo’s legacy. We must be ready to do everything to uphold the down-trodden. That is the essence of Awo.
“The 2014 awardee (Mbeki) is not only an eminent son of Africa but a son of Africa who has impacted on our continent and the world around us,” the president said.
He congratulated the awardee and asked him to leverage on the award and consolidate it by propagating the ideals of service, especially in this trying period.
“Our politicians must cooperate with electoral authorities, the security, so as to build our democracy and this will be our best support for the legacy of our great elder statesmen like Awo,” he enjoined.
Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, also described Chief Awolowo as a man of great ideas and landmark achievements, saying that the first Premier of the old Western Region possessed capabilities to implement his visions and ideas, which quality leadership was all about.
Abubakar was the chairman of the second Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership Award 2014.
According to the former Head of State, it was of a great delight that the award instituted in honour by the sage by the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation was won by the former South African president, Mr Mbeki, whom he described as no less a man of recognition.
“As we are aware, the award is won by a man of recognition. Mbeki ably stepped into the shoes of the former South African president, Nelson Mandela, the African iconic leader,” he said.
Abubakar, who noted that Mbeki was not a stranger to Nigeria, having worked in the country during the apartheid struggle, expressed the belief that the leadership award given to the former president would serve as an impetus to strengthen the existing bond between Nigeria and South Africa.
He acknowledged the untiring efforts of the Yeye Oodua, Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo and Dr Tokunbo Awolowo Dosumu in sustaining the legacy left behind by the sage for the present and future generations to benefit from.
The Executive Director of Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Dr Awolowo Dosumu, at the event, noted that the recipient truly earned the Foundation’s Prize for Leadership Award 2014 which was bestowed on him.
Awolowo Dosumu said Mbeki earned the award for several reasons as laid down by the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, in whose honour the award was instituted and also according to guidelines set by the organisers.
“He was born into a family that not only believed in great ideals but was also willing to make huge personal sacrifices in defence of those ideals. Not content with merely being an heir of such a ‘goodly’ heritage, he displayed rare commitment by becoming actively involved in anti- apartheid struggle from the age of 14. He subsequently played the role of catalyst in globalising the message until victory was won.”
The daughter of the late sage said that it was not surprising that Mbeki used his presidency to actualise the core purpose of the struggle “to make significant impact on the socio- political and economic well- being of black South Africans.
According to her, the former South-African president “today remains a respected and credible voice globally.”
Speaking further, she said the Foundation could safely say that it was on its way to success and sustainability of the annual prize, “given the calibre of our second awardee, His Excellency Mr Thabo Mbeki, former President of the republic of South Africa,” declaring that “for us at the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, the custodian of Chief Awolowo’s intellectual legacy, and for me, personally, there is a special sense of fulfilment today.
“Chief Awolowo’s total dedication to Nigeria and the well- being of all Nigerians is legendary. I can tell you authoritatively that it was his life. He was committed to making sacrifices for the emancipation of future generations whose voice of thanks he would never hear. He was an unselfish soul who forgot himself into immortality. That is true leadership.
“There is surely, a lesson here for all of us, leaders and followers alike,” she added.
She congratulated the awardee on being a shining example of the virtues espoused, while also expressing her gratitude to the Selection and Technical Committee of the award headed by Chief Emeka Anyaoku for what she described as their display of devotion to the project.
Also speaking at the event, the former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Anyaoku said that the selection committee was unanimous on the choice of the awardee, Mr Mbeki.
According to him, the awardee had demonstrated quality leadership that equally attracted both local and international attention while also deploying such to the benefit of his people like the sage, Chief Awolowo did.
He said that such leadership quality included consistency, personal discipline, respect for the rule of law as well as respect for the people and their cultural differences, among others.
Anyaoku, who said leadership was about proficient management, visions and ideas, declared that, “we identified Mbeki as a worthy beneficiary and recipient of the award.”
Those in attendance include: former Anambra State governor, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife; NADECO chieftain, Lt. Gen Alani Akinrinade Rtd; former Minister of Information and foremost Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark and his wife, Bishola; Chief Ayo Adebanjo; Prof. A.B.O. O. Oyediran; Barrister Dipo Jimilehin; Sir Olaniwun Ajayi; Mr. Tayo Soyode; Mr. Ladi Soyode; former Ogun State governor, Chief Segun Osoba; former APC National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande; Barrister Segun Awolowo; Mr. Olumide Oyediran; Pastor Tunde Bakare; former Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, former Defence Minister, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro; Ambassador Tunji Olagunju, former Nigeria’s ambassador to South Africa; Chief J.K. Randle, Chairman, South South traditional rulers, the Amanyanabo of Nembe, HRM Dr Edmund M.Daukoru; Prince Bola Ajibola and his wife, Olaitan. Yewande Onilere, Alhaji Sakariyau Babalola, Chief (Mrs) Abba Folawiyo. Oba Aderemi Adedapo, the Alayemore of Ido Osun representing the Ooni of Ife , the Obi of Onitsha, His Royal Highness Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe; Chief(Mrs) Funke Arthur-Worrey, Alhaja Abimbola Jakande, Prof Wale Are Olaitan, Mrs.Yemisi Subar, Mrs Ayotola Ayodeji, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, Ms Funke Awolowo , Mrs Kemi Aderemi, Sekemi Aderemi, Mrs Dewumi Quadri, IDA President,Mrs Olaolu Adubifa, Mrs Olubunmi Busari. Deputy Editor-in-Chief TELL Magazine, Mr Ademola Oyinlola; former Managing Director, Nigerian Tribune, Rev. sam Adesua; Afenifere spokesperson, Mr. Yinka Odumakin and the management of the ANN Plc led by its Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Mr Edward Dickson and Director/consultant, Dr. Segun Olatunji, among several other dignitaries
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