Awolowo was greater than Mandela, writer/poet Odia Ofeimun says | Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog

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Thursday 2 January 2014

Awolowo was greater than Mandela, writer/poet Odia Ofeimun says

In an interview with Sahara TV, the writer, poet & social critique said late premier of the old Western region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, was a greater man than South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, Dr. Nelson Mandela.
I am too much of an Awolowo man not to see that the process of moving into independence in South Africa and in Nigeria followed exactly the same pattern. It was based on a negotiated settlement. The liberation struggle did not create the end of apartheid. It was a negotiation and Nigerians negotiated exactly the way Mandela negotiated.
“You can hype it if you like, but the pattern was exactly the same. You move from one meeting to the other, discussing politics and economics, and they successfully convinced Mandela to buy the pig in a poke of an economy and they also successfully succeeded in convincing Nigerians to buy the pig in a poke of an economy.
“The only man in Nigeria, who stood up against it, was (Obafemi) Awolowo. He was quickly jailed and all his men scattered across the prisons in Nigeria. Some driven abroad and the educational system that he had put in place was smashed.” Ofeimun said

"People talk about Mandela’s capacity to put various classes (of people) together as theory, but Awolowo ironed it out very clearly, why you don’t need a class struggle, in order to create a society in which all children can go to school; in which everybody can get a job, and in which old age pensions will be paid to people.

“It is not just love and I want to emphasise that. Those who criticise Awolowo’s socialism for wanting in love are obviously basing their argument on his claim that a government should be like a sun that shines on all equally. If it is about a theory of how to bring the people together on the African continent, none is as good as the Awolowo’s and I’m not trying to pretend.

“Bring all their writings, fine phrases, alright, but reduce them to economic terms, and I can tell you that there is only one man who rivals Awolowo in this respect and that is Nkrumah. Unfortunately unlike Awolowo, Nkrumah did not believe in either a democratic or a federal theory. If you want to save Africa, you need those two.”

Ofeimun said he chose Awolowo over Mandela because..
"The simple reason is that what needed to be done in South Africa, after apartheid was precisely what Awolowo wanted for Western Region and Nigeria after independence. Which is to say put every child at school, ensure that productivity takes the creativity of the individual citizen into proper focus and build the relationship between people and not on whether they did not love each other? But whether there is justice and equality.”

Interview transcribed by Punch. What do you guys think of the comparison ?

181 comments:

Anonymous said...

Rubbish talk











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jane doe said...

Really, like seriously! Mandela and Awolowo..smh

Anonymous said...

Its all good! All I know is that Mandela is celebrated by the world, dunno if the world know Awolowo n his struggles for Nigerians as he has said. Tho he gave a point. Neo

Kingston said...

There's just no basis for comparison no matter the grammar the bias poet is spitting.Mandela is a world legend and no doubt greater than Awolowo in his struggle and never-say-never spirit.

Nwa Aba said...

He is Biased

Apple said...

There is no basis for comparison. Awolowo was Awolowo and Mandela was Mandela.

Anonymous said...

You jus feel like writting right?

Anonymous said...

A shallow minded yoruba man speaking

Unknown said...

i gt his point, d only diff is mandela's struggles beared fruit,we cant say dat bout awolowo's...

Anonymous said...

There is no need for comparism. Mandela loved the very people who imprisoned him for 27years, was humble and relinquished power after 1 tenure. Hw was a peoples man. I just hate the comparisms. They are both great men who fought different battles

Unknown said...

let d argument begins

Atobatele said...

His opinion. Had it been Awo lives much longer am sure he would have been more recognized truly.

dollyjossycakes said...

I fink he has a point,a very gud one at dat,Awolowo wsn't celebrated as he shuld b,Mandela was very lucky cos he had pple dat appreciated his struggles

Ochuko Tonukari said...

Odia Ofeimun is wrong on this. Awolowo is a great man though, but methinks to compare him with Mandela is a misnomer.

O.N.E said...

While I am unsure of the purpose of his write up (is he saying Awolowo hasn't been honoured enough?) the issue both men had to contend with were totally different and his comments are like comparing a mountain to a molehill (without trying to diminish Awolowo's accomplishments). South Africa had to deal with a problem that I think we are blessed in Nigeria not to have had. Apartheid isn't something we had to deal with in Nigeria and Awolowo did not give up 27years of his life fighting the injustice in Nigeria. Each person has his own race to run and I think it is unwise to compare. Was Martin Luther King greater than Nelson Mandela? I guess each man can only respond as it directly affects them. objectively, I do not think there is even a basis for comparison.

Anonymous said...

The two were great men #bright bravo#

Anonymous said...

Madiba was great. But if greatness is measured in terms of impact and achievement, then Awo stand sholder and head taller than madiba. Madiba's most notable achievement is lesson in forgivness. Awo's achievement was unprecetended and unequaled in Africa.

Unknown said...

Assignment to read up on Awolowo, will get back to you my fair opinion...zooooom

Unknown said...

whatever.

Unknown said...

Assignment to read up on Awolowo, will get back to you my fair opinion...zooooom

Anonymous said...

Chief Awolowo’s greatest achievements resulted from the foresight, clear sense of direction and sheer competence that he brought into government.

At the beginning of his career in government, Chief Awolowo quickly reformed the Local Government system of the Western Region and took revolutionary steps to Nigerianise and improve the Western Nigeria Civil Service. An extremely good judge of men’s qualities, he had also put together a very efficient team of ministers. Having taken those steps, he was set to achieve within 5 years a string of "Firsts" in the history of Africa. Between 1954 and 1959, his government­
evolved, and was served by,the most efficient Civil Service in Black Africa;
introduced and successfully implemented the first Free Primary Education programme in Africa;
introduced and successfully managed the first Free Medical Service programme in Nigeria - for children up to the age of 18;
established the first Television Station in Africa;
built the Liberty Stadium, the first such modem sports facility in Nigeria;
introduced and successfully implemented the first minimum wage policy in Nigeria and actually paid to Western Nigerians from October 1954 a minimum wage that wasdoublethe amount paid to workers of the same level in some other parts of Nigeria;
set up Nigeria’s first industrial complex at Ikeja;
set up Nigeria's first commercial Housing Estates at Ikeja and Bodija, Ibadan.


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Unknown said...

He wants to b noticed

Michael said...

Every man his own opinion but he has a point

Anonymous said...

Nigerians like to have a different view about something to feel important . They can never be compared to each other, Mandela is more iconic than awo would ever be. Awo came out of prison and was soo vindictive to the ibos in his capacity as minister of finance,Mandela came out of prison as a president and brought the whole of SA together and bear in mind Mandela spent far more time in prison than awo. Please it here is no logic comparing the two together. It lacks common sense.

Anonymous said...

No be only... Even Obasanjo and Bola Tinubu are better than Mandela. Lol. Fools

FARMBOY7 HECTARES said...

looking at it , they are both great politician who have done many good job in africa.they are both hero

Anonymous said...

I know it is those those useless people that will be comparing Mandela to Awolowo who was a betrayal.

Anonymous said...

People can be funny,

Don said...

People can be funny,
Very very funny

Anonymous said...

Taaa! After readin "there was a country" by chinua achebe I will say awolowo wasn't a great man...he is one of d pionniers of corruption in dis country...

Unknown said...

awolowo was in no way greater dan madiba. Dere's no past leader 4rm 9ja whu is as great as madiba

Unknown said...

Hmmnnnn.... I think he's a right....

Anonymous said...

'purleessssseee' dude park well. Was it a competition? Stay there and argue which dead man is greater than the other. Don't make a difference o.

Anonymous said...

I think I agree with him, Awolowo was a great man for Nigeria just like Mandela was great for South Africa but comparing them I would say Awolowo was greater cuz he's our own.

Kelvin said...

Mr Odia were u drunk wen u granted dis interview; how dare u compare and even pick egoistic Awolowo over world legend and humble man Mandela. I tink he is only seeking attention and he has succeeded in getin it.

Unknown said...

@Oghalemena: People should stop whipping unnecessary sentiments, why even compare Awolowo to Mandela? Mandela is world apart & a model in administration

Anonymous said...

I think I agree with him, Awolowo was a great man for Nigeria just like Mandela was great for South Africa but comparing them I would say Awolowo was greater cuz he's our own.

Unknown said...

Mandela was just overhyped.. Don't have an idea why..was it because he went to prison nd came out alive? Make him go kirikiri prison come out alive make I see..

Unknown said...

People should stop whipping unnecessary sentiments, why even compare Awolowo to Mandela? Mandela is world apart & a model in administration

Anonymous said...

He has said his mind as one who is "too much of an Awolowo man". Clearly he has a blind bias. Awolowo could not compare Mandela for one reason, Awolowo was a die hard tribalism; Mandela loved even his enemies. Part of the problems with Nigeria today were caused by triabilists.

Anonymous said...

Very unnecessary, I just see two great dead men being discussed, if this argument would bring them back to life or change situations in nigeria or other African nations then.......

Unknown said...

Oooo really I see

Anonymous said...

His myopic thinking reached its zenith for him to ever compare a man who gave all including his own freedom to the entire South Africans and to blacks all over the world to one tribalist who betrayed those in the same struggle with him to give only his tribesmen shallow free half education which is why they have continued to pronounce house as "ouse" and help as "elp".

danii evan said...

Like he said..."I am too much of an Awolowo man..." So what do you expect from him? Bias!
It is boring reading a biased slant to any news. There is no basis for comparing 2 or more great men. Great men are great men and we should leave it at that. We should just celebrate their contributions to humanity and be inspired play our part.

Peter said...

senseless comparison! Mandela spent his active youth yrs in prison(27 yrs) what has Awo done?

Igor said...

Agreed that Awolowo was an achiever. Infact,he was way ahead of his time.Dr Michael Okpara was able to achieve succes in the Eastern Region due to the fact,that he adopted Chief Awolowo's blueprint on development in the Western Region.However,Awolowo's image is tainted by the fact he failed to see beyond Western Nigeria.His dream of a Yoruba domination made him participate strategically in the genocide that was carried out on the Igbos,a tribe he has always seen as a hinderance to the Yoruba domination of Nigeria.On the other hand,Mandela fought for a united South Africa,one that is devoid of white or black domination.The world would have been a better place if the world had a hundred Mandela's.

Anonymous said...

Its true. But there was really no need for comparing them. They are both great men in their own right and have left their marks on the sands of time. However its unfortunate we don't celebrate our heroes or know much about our history in Nigeria and even in Africa in general. An 18 year old today doesn't know who Jaja of Opobo is or Mary Slessor or Herbert Macaulay. They will say I have heard the name but I don't know anything about that person. Nigerian history should be a subject introduced into all Nigerian Primary and Secondary schools. Our future generations can't grow up ignorant.

OLA LUKAZ said...

PROF, YOU DON KOLO. HOW HIGH WERE YOU WHEN SAID THAT? YOU CANNOT COMPARE SLEEP AND DEATH. ITS AN IMPOSSICANT!!!

switchloe said...

I tink he's right, we dnt jst value wat is ours

Unknown said...

Mr ofeimun am sorry to say this , awolowo never wanted equally for the nation ,he was never a great leader. Mandela fought for SA,awolowo fought for his selfish interest for the western region and not nigeria, awolowo should never be compared to Mandela the Great. the father of SA.Am not sure if awolowo is the father of the Yoruba's. abiola has a name in Nigeria than awolowo not western region. Mr ofeimun I think you are high or sth

Ochuko said...

Tribal politics at play...

Anonymous said...

I totally agree with the writer, one of our problems in Nigeria is that we neither know nor celebrate the struggles of our heroes past, which leaves us with a bleak future because it is impossible to have a future without a past or foundation to build on.

Anonymous said...

Why didn't he do d interview Wen nelson mandela was alive...sucker..suddenly he did and interview 2 get noticed...sorry dis stupid critic ur opinion doesn't count...let wole soyinka do the interview den we will understand..nt u

BitchNigga said...

B**ch Plsssss, there's no way Awolowo is near Mandela, Awolowo made the biafrans suffer during the war. He wanted to end the igbos by all means under the guise of patriotism, Awolowo is not in anyway great to me. No one can be compared to Mandela pls.. He's in a class of his own

Anonymous said...

I think Ofeimun was very discrete with his analysis,i couldn't think of a better way or person in comparison with Mandela.Nigerians only have the nasty habit of not valuing our own heros...

love said...

We are talking about what they did,we all saw what madela did but i didn't see what Awolowo did how are we sure if Awolowo had come to power he would had done what madela did...because frm ur statement u said what Awolowo wanted for nigerian are what u mentioned but it didn't come to pass,that's because he didn't struggle enough to make it happen but for medela he did all he could to make it happen and that's why his name is everywhere and that's why his our Hero even at his death.

Anonymous said...

I think the guy make a sence

Anonymous said...

Some people's mouths are like dustbins...everytime they open it, rubbish comes out.

Unknown said...

Well, it's a tough one, really, but 'greater' is a big word to use!

Anonymous said...

I don't think there should be any basis for comparison...#apples and oranges

Gozie said...

People /Linda i have no idea who this Odiah man is, but after reading what he said on yoruba media platform sahara reporter.

i sat here in my little condo in west london and begin to question integrity of anything call man from the geographical expression called Nigeria.

What is greatness? why is this man considered great rather than Criminal murderer and Fraud his. Generation killer.

Is this article out for fame? or for people to revisit the anger? of a man proven to be a key player in the genocide against Biafran people.

Awolowo in few words maybe other scholars out there would have a great definition other than this few words. Genocidist fraudster and beneficial liar.


Genocidist: Why call a man like awolowo such awful name? my answer why compare a murderer to a great man.

Facts and figures: How is awolowo a murderer? in his own word chief awolowo and i quote '' Starvation is war i see no reason we should feed our enemies for them to get stronger and harder to fight us'' so he starved to death 3.5 million Biafra men,woman,children and infants.

Betrayal: Awolowo betrayed humanity and committed this crime against human fate.

While he was in prison a group young able men lead by chukwuma kaduna nzogwu carried out coup to save the nation from what has befallen her, to free awolowo from prison and make him the leader of the people cos they considered the moll a man of intellect.

Awolowo after the Genocide war of aggression which is considered the second largest pogrom in history of man kind after hitler jewish mass murder. Awolowo Gowon harrod wilson has made the list of infants killers, Threedays ago Interntional Guardian by sri lankan. There was a Genocide.

Why considered a criminal Great ? why Considered a fraudster hero. Awolowo stole form dead children men woman and gave very biafra twenty pounds after the genocide war.


Awolowo Murdered every single male child in Asaba Anioma and made men and woman starving eat lizard. a man considered hero by odiah.

Awolowo used the money he stole from loving and defenceless biafrans to buy coca cola /First bank share. when you drink bottle of coca cola you paid awolowo a percentage.


How in the history of man kind should a criminal and generation killer like awolowo be considered a great man? if awolowo is considered great man then the jews and God most apologise to hitler and for killing hitlers.

Every day the contraption called nigeria give more reason Biafra should separate her self from this evil colony.

As it stand today Nigeria is not a legal country.

How is Awolowo Murderer compared to greatness in human form Nelson Madiba Mandela .

Odiah i believe your notion of this interview or article is no different from the same pogrom committed by this evil man.

He stole from the East and took to his people to educate and train army of looters like him. who's mission is to take over territory not belonging to them.

Awolowo borns should be fed to vultures just like he fed infants to vultures in Biafra.

Anonymous said...

LWKMD....this people must b high on sumtin...aw many year awolowo take go prison? awolowo great ooo but u no fit dey use am compare mandela....jst go ask google

Anonymous said...

Odia,awolowo wsnt recognised d way mandela was worldwide,afterall both are blackmen,make e no b asif say dem play politics put,awo no go prison for 27years n dnt fight d mandela fight,he tried bt cnt b compared to mandela,pls read dia histories verywell,no de hype naija,let d world outside hype us,mandela ws in SA n d whole world saw his struggle! How mani ppl outside naija knw Awo? Even kids in naija knw mandela pass am..

Anonymous said...

Lindodo if u lik use my comment take blow cattarh from ur nose

Anonymous said...

When Odia Ofeimun wrote a lengthy drivel on Achebe in the aftermath of the publication of There was a Country, I thought his madness had just begun. Now, with this sickening rant on Mandela, I am finally convinced that The Poet is Raving Mad. How can anyone in his right mind compare the only man who introduced TRIBALISM into Nigeria with the man who had so much grace and unmatchable humanity that he forgave the people who jailed him for 27 years and laid a fairy tale foundation for a new, inclusive, Rainbow nation? Seriously, there is something the matter with Mr. Ofeimun. Even his poetry has lost bite... a real pity, really.

Anonymous said...

Mandela to me sacrificed more because he refused to bargain with d colonial rulers,he was ready to sacrifice himself for the freedom of all in S/A.He was selfless.mandela was even celebrated more cos he forgave his oppresors.mandela didn't even want to become president,the nation wanted him to rule which he accepted and left voluntarilly,awolowo wanted to become president,he craved power.awolowo was more of a nationalist. Mandela na d ish abeg #they shldnt even be compared#

Anonymous said...

He forgot 2 add dat he awolowo was a tribalistic bigot, awolowo cared for only d yoruba race, nd he taught his followers 2 do same. Even his own daughter, dosunmu said in apunch interview dat her father puts d yoruba race b4 d country, nd dats wat tribalism means. The only nigerian dat can be compared 2 mandela is hebert macaulay.

Anonymous said...

Dis person is a fool, Awolowo is a bastard may his soul never rest in peace , this man made thousands of igbos starve to death during the war. Yet this fool is comparing him with Mandela, Mandela that Emancipated his People, Awolowo is just a Tribalist. May Awolowo's soul burn in hell.


Dr Chiejine.

Anonymous said...

Why d comparison now. Both are dead. Do you just want to create hatred among the two nations? Be careful with what you write.

segunOwest said...

Awolowo is a hero Nigerian failed to appreciate. His work in the West is been enjoyed by all nigerian. Lagos is what it is today by what Awolowo did. By his work I who don't have parent to educate me become a chartered accountant. Awo is a great man we should celebrate

Linda's husband said...

For ur mind abi.....Awolowo s not as great as Mandela....Is just like comparing Wayne Rooney to Lionel Messi

Anonymous said...

Awolowo was never in anyway a hero in Nigeria, he is a hero to probably some Yoruba people. Does not equal him to Azikiwe (who is considered a national hero for his role in Nigeria's independence) let alone Mandela of all people.

Anonymous said...

This writer is sick, he should be checked out properly. Mandela is a world Legend. 27 yrs in prison??? My dear truth be told. Theres no one lik madiba

Unknown said...

I think he has a point there...and I also think its because of d sympathy we have towards Mandela regarding his lengthen stay at prison that clouds our judgement at times..buh nevertheless Awo was a great man as well as Madiba

Anonymous said...

It is rude nd highly disrespectful to compare Awolowo to Mandela their strugglesbwere different and awalowo never soent decades of his lige in prison. Mandela was a different kind of man and no one in nigeria can be compared to him so don't even try. Plus dat essay is highly biased.

ChyChy said...

Are u kidding me? For pete sake! there is no basis for comparison btw d late two leaders, Mandela was a great n selfless man to say but d least.
Pls Ofeimum n anon @10:11am should not even go there abeg.

Unknown said...

Tru "yarns"

Anonymous said...

Ofeimun, reporting from planet Mercury. Come to earth mannn.

Anonymous said...

Dis writer is just a fool...I'm not even gonna read dis crap....probably seek relevance wit dis crap he wrote....4 me Awolowo was a traitor....they wld hav left him in prison 2 rot!!!!

Unknown said...

Talking about the educational aspect,I tink he is right.We Nigerians don't admire,value and praise our own. Awolowa,Azikiwe and Tafawa Balewa A̶̲̥̅̊я̲̣̥ε̲̣̣̣̥ our heroes.

Anonymous said...

Hahaha! Laughable! Funny how Yorubas try to make this man appear as a National hero. Obafemi was a hopeless tribalist. His one pound policy upon the Igbos after the Biafra war is a clear prove. He only cared about the Yorubas, not Nigeria at large. Greater than Mandela my foot.

Anonymous said...

Yeah I tink he's rite 9ja don't celebrate n appreciate it's own so I agree wit is brief dissertational suss.abi na

Anonymous said...

Let both men be great.

Anonymous said...

It is absurd to compare awo with the great Mandela I don't like writing for the sake of writing to wipe sentiment, of wat pedegree and wat he did in contemporary Nigeria dat benefitted all if not a drive towards sectionalism and tribal consideration. An ambition to suppress other regions as we saw during the civil war, why did he commit suicide when it became obvious that he was involved obvertly in coup against babagida and couldn't stand the humiliation he is to suffer or is it his use of mystical powers to control his people

Jeremiah said...

AWO never fought for d whole country...he only fought for a region.
Nigerian heros were kinda selfish in dere dealings and Nigeria's independence was more a "business" deal btw GB and NG...and not a revolution!

Anonymous said...

I totally disagree. We Nigerians have resorted to mediocracy. Why do we always have to compare ourselves with people who have created a niche for themselves? We have to be original. I believe that the end justifies the means. Mandela left a legacy that affects all South Africans (the entire world, to say the least). Whereas Awolowo promoted policies that benefited only the Yoruba people. Mind you, Mandela came from a Xhosa tribe--one of South Africa's numerous tribes. Mandela did not die a super rich man. Awolowo died a rich man--and he was in public service all his life (so, how did he make all his money?). I can go on and on.

Unknown said...

It's his opinion. Smh.

Unknown said...

It's his opinion. Smh.

Unknown said...

It's his opinion. Smh

Anonymous said...

While I respect the man Awolowo, I do not in anyway accept that he is greater than Mandela.I believe the writer has a biased opinion. During the Nigerian Civil war Awolowo advised Gowon to starve the Easterners/Biafrans..should an elder statesman such as he not advise that the path of peace be towed? considering the several mass killings of easterners living in Northern Nigeria which preceeded the Civil War..
However Mandela was a different man. He was released from prison and clearly told all and sundry to forgive the Apartheid regime.I can boldly declare that Awolowo could and would never have done this. Abeg writer Odia pls relax...Awolowo was known in Nigeria or maybe some parts of Africa and probably some parts of the world. Did you see and hear of all those that came to honor Mandela when he died? That will clearly tell you Awolowo was no match for Mandela. Simples!!

Unknown said...

It's his opinion. Smh.

Anonymous said...

I totally agree. The thing about Nigerians is ignorance/naivety we choose to see what we want.

Mrs E said...

Awo was a tribalized leader of the south west region. That's to say he was a regional 'mandela'. Maybe 'Yes' if the assertion was on the Yoruba nation and a big 'No' on Nigeria as an entity

Galore said...

keep dreaming

@Galore

dhobiz said...

Nmtchew didn't even bother reading

Anonymous said...

What Awolowo did with cocoa money in the western region can never be compared with any current projects with oil boomed money. The man got vision and most of his people benefited from it. Awolowo was jailed bcos he was an opposition with a great vision. When Hausa and Igbo were bridging margin among themselves, the man was simply empowered his people which made Yoruba people a strong household where every Nigerians wanted to live.

Awolowo records speaks volume not like the Tinubu and some of the Yorubas that are using Awolowo slogan to exploit Nigerians.

1) University Teaching Hospital (Ibadan): Hospital is second to non
2) NTA Ibadan ( First TV Station in Africa)
3) Free Education
4)Liberty Stadium
5) University of Ibadan (UI)
6)Cocoa House Building
7) Odua group Investment Company to empower his people.
8) Wema Bank PLC
and so on.

Mandela was a great man that fought for his people and pardoned the apartheid perpetrators. He was also completed one single term unlike those greedy Nigerian Politicians. Aside from that, every infrastructure in RZA was built by Boers and most South Africans today are still a slave under the system they are using to operate up to this moment. Don't let the media deceive you, the system in RZA do not favour average citizens.

Oyinkan said...

I am a Yoruba girl but the truth is Awolowo was one of those who created the Yoruba/Igbo rivalry and he was just for us the Yorubas o. Live Odia, he is an irrelevant and fading writer;marijuana don block him brain.

Anonymous said...

Oga i can't shout shey you go come go prison for nigerians for years fighting for people who don't even care about your well being then you go mandela pain,you dey blow english,you sleep ordinary cell for 3 days weda u no go sick and die

Anonymous said...

I read comments but don't comment,but i'm forced 2 now,som peeps don't settle down to read b4 puttin down their senseless comments,learn to read nd assimilate b4 addin ur comments,u were'nt asked to comment @ gun point!!!...**smshweshhhhh**

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 9:17 PM. Odia Ofeimun is from Edo State.

zuuzuu said...

Yea, Awolowo is greater than Mandela in Western Nigeria but Mandela is a master to Awolowo in d whole world.

KARIS said...

FAKE POST

KARIS said...

rubbish talk

KARIS said...

FAKE POST

Anonymous said...

They were both great men who operated under different circumstance. Awolowo had great vision, while Mandela who was tagged a terrorist by some Western nations, was a freedom fighter, the reason why the world adore him especially the West was because he forgave his persecutors.
Economically, the whites are still in control of South Africa, they own the best part of the country, live in good houses. 20 years after the end of Apartheid, many blacks still live in poverty. Many still live in shacks.

Anonymous said...

Are u for real?. Why don't u ask ur uncles and auntes or even ur parents if they were not products of Awo's free educational system. D only difference btw Awo and Mandela is dat Mandella's struggle took longer time and suffering to bear fruits.

Unknown said...

mandela is great no doubt,but to say he`s the greatest african is foolhardy cos we had people who also fought against apertheid some even spent more years in prison,i guess he was only oppotuned to be president.

Princess Chinasa Ukaegbu said...

What else do you expect from mr Odia Ofemmanu?

SIMPLYCOCK said...

FOR HIM TWISTED YORUBA APOLOGIST MIND!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

first of all, Odia has delusion of grandeur.secondly, wat does he mean when he said we dont appreciate our own? Awolowo already has many streets named after him, a school, his face on a naira note and his late wife still gets somethings from FG till date.

Awolowo had touts to violently cause wetie crisis in the Western Region when Ladoke Akintola was Premier just to unseat the guy.

As a senator, Awolowo said he would destroy electronic voting system if the FG go ahead to import it for election.

Awolowo was power drunk, he did not even keep yorubas together not to talk of the nation.

For Odia, those are the things great men does and its his opinion.

Anonymous said...

Mandela was a "MAN OF THE PEOPLE".

Unknown said...

He needs to visit a therapist, or is he inebriated?? Those personalities are incomparable.

Unknown said...

He needs to visit a therapist, or is he inebriated?? Those personalities are incomparable.

Walata said...

This writer or Odia or whatever u call urself pls dnt compare AWOLOWO a tribalistic Yoruba leader with the world iconic figure like Nelson Mandela omfg is dis man dreaming or sumfin smh attention seeker Ctfu n stfu pls go n sit chorass down

nwogbe said...

The summary could be that one negotiation didnt end in violence like the other, which makes for the fact that the Yorubas are the most educated in Africa.
nigerians dont celebrate theirs, bcos what makes desmond tutu so popular is the same vein that should have sold our Kukahs, okogie and father Gabriel Osu as legends to the world.

Is odia from yoruba!

Anonymous said...

Mandela was a great man in the contemporary history of Africa but Awolowo remains a greater icon. The best gift you can give to any human being is education. Education encompasses everything in life and Awolowo did this without inhibitions. Another great man of the present history of Nigeria/Africa is Fela, who is more of a prophet.

Eric Uroh said...

Awolowo struggled 4 d yorubas n not 4 Nigerians

Chikaka said...

No comparison.

Awolowo was great for his region and even his region may argue that he wasn't. For those who enjoyed his free education they idolise him.

Mandela was a Pan-Africanist and freedom fighter. Lauded by all, black, white, asian...

You can't even start to compare.

Ofeimun isn't Yoruba and he's entitled to his views.

Anonymous said...

Of course, Awolowo was greater than Mandela. Mandela though a great man in his youth , he led the armed struggle against the apathied regime in SA. Awolowo did the same in Nigeria, fought for independence from the British and succeeded in the 50s. Mandela after a while became a creation of the white people. He signed the riches of SA to the whiite folks and it will be like that for centuries. The British understood how intelligent Awolowo was, and therefore put in place obstacles like Obasanjo in his way .

Your father said...

All these sick fucks.. Awolowo is great in Ibadan people's mind. Sahara reporters (Ibadan newscaster) reported it. Awolowo is partly the source of Nigeria's problem because he enthroned tribalism. Mr Odia is a full blown retard for comparing one of the greatest of this generation to a tribalistic egolomaniac.

Ann Marie said...

everyone is entitled to their own opinion

Anonymous said...

The Ibo haters. I'm happy the guy isn't Yoruba or they'd have leaped on that. LoL. I get what he's getting at. Next time let Zik step up na. Awon ratirati

Anonymous said...

Omo Ibo. Sharrraapppp there

Anonymous said...

Nigeria don't value their heros@mercy

Anonymous said...

Those who thought Awolowo's sojourn in public service favoured the west and hence the tribal name calling should be reminded that he only headed the then western region as premier, not president of Nigeria. While he was premier, he was able to formulate and implement policies that had direct bearing in the life of the people of western region. There is no way he could have forced his policies on premiers of other regions. Even while he was finance commissioner under Gowon, we should all be reminded that he was merely a commissioner; the head of state (Gowon) still had the final say. I think Nigerian would have been able to judge accurately if Awo was actually a tribalized leader or not if he had got the presidency he contested for. My own thinking is that he would have repeated those laudable policies he carried out in the old western region if he had got the presidency then and Nigeria would have been even better than South Africa by now and that would have made him greater than Mandela.

Mereze said...

Hate me all you can but Awo was a massive tribalist, the writer must be really drunk with NeW yEAR wine, I dont blame him. His opinion is very irrelevant.

Truth be told said...

If you guys can open your brain, you'll realize he's actually saying the truth. #haterz

Anonymous said...

Such comments can only come from a yoruba man. please don't let world laugh at we nigerians. Am pretty quiet sure awolowo didnt spend 27 years in prison to come out & 4give his jailers.

Anonymous said...

Odia you are a fool

ary said...

Tribalism in motion.

Unknown said...

I agree with u....100% "if only" he was given the opportunity

Anonymous said...

Awolowo was no doubt a great man but he is the cause of the problem between the Urhobo/Ijaw and Itsekiri. In 1952, the government of Western Nigeria with Awolowo as Premier, changed the title of the Itsekiri ruler from Olu of Itsekiri to Olu of Warri, at the request of the Itsekiri. The Ijaw, Urhobo and other people of the community objected to the change since they felt the new title implied that the Olu was the ruler of Warri not just Itsekiri.

Note: The Itsekiri were supporters of Awolowo's party-Action Group and his right man was the late Chief Alfred Rewane, a prominent Itsekiri man.

Anonymous said...

Same Awolowo as Finance minister during Nigeria/Biafra civil advocated use of starvation against Biafrians and also freeze their accounts. Mandela will do no such

OSINANL said...

Biased person!

@Blukive said...

They struggled in different times, and the fruits of a liberation struggle can't be seen for a hunid years. Nigerians are edudated today bcos of ppl like Awo. South Africans gained freedom bcos of ppl like Madiba.. The african stuggle is still present and risks the future of our children bcos we men hv died in the struggle. To Be real Awolowo's contribution in theory superceeds most of our leaders. Read..

Anonymous said...

Both men fought differently and on different field. While Madiba fought with civilized men, Awo fought with crude and uncivilized society. Society that has never tasted good things of life. Look at the story of MKO, ..... if it were Madiba to have gone to Nigerian Prison will he have survived? Awo was a great man, ....his name still pervades our landscape even 20 years after his death. Some few months, it was celebrated by the Late Chinua Achebe through his book 'there was a Country''
Read what IBB said about him during his 78th birthday and this argument will stop abrupt!!

Madiba was equally great. He was made by Nigerian Heroes - the likes of Awo, Zik, Balewa, Okotiebo, Sunny Okosun, Wole Soyinka and many other Nigerians who stood by him to bring apartheid to the end.
...... to write more

Anonymous said...

@Gozie. You are just a tribal head and you are very bitter. Your comment is COMPLETE RUBBISH! I feel sorry for you. Liberate your mind.

Anonymous said...

''Awolowo: The best President Nigeria never had''
-Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. 1987.

Unknown said...

You must be typical yoruba man. Watch your mouth. Who knows awolowo. In the whole world wide but mandela, an african that world powers raise flag for, A man which premier ship recognized and and give a minute silent. A man who bring how many country's together that are not ready to see them selves in thousand's of years together but mandela. A man obama and Afghanistan president had a hand shake with. Did you really know what it means? Many to count on. Guy let your truth lead you. Mandela was a really great man, a hero, an icon etc.

Anonymous said...

Awolowo was a good man, Mandela is a great man

Anonymous said...

Awolowo and Mandela? Seriously? this dude must be on crack. if only for the nu,mber of years mandela was in prison he use am beat awolowo. awolowo wey dey give state pardon wey come still join the politics back come be finance minister, not to talk of the snitching on the igbos. abegi mr writter go and park well. and less i forget, mandela became d president. awolowo was never a president in his lifetime. awolowo tif money wioth all our greedy leaders, mandela did one term and left the seat quietly. this writter must be mad or better still jobless. rubbish .

Anonymous said...

I beg Ofeinum is Edo not Yoruba. All you haters.

Anonymous said...

You're a foolish person. Don't base arguments on tribe. Mind you, Ofeinum is Edo not Yoruba.

Anonymous said...

MUMU, when dem born you? Ode oshi. Idiot.

Anonymous said...

Na so.

Anonymous said...

You're right, my brother.

Anonymous said...

You wey come dey complain..who you come great pass??

Anonymous said...

You're totally foolish for saying that. He is a known man already.

Anonymous said...

Cute Babe, we both see jare.

Unknown said...

Obviously, the gentleman is deluded at best, or else how could anyone utter such errant nonsense.
He should not let me talk o.

Unknown said...

The guy is crapping from his mouth. At best, he is deluded. Awolowo was a great man. But Mandela was the greatest man Africa has ever produced; both dead or alive. No controversy.

Anonymous said...

@ anon January 2, 2014 at 12:02 PM he centered all that in Yorubaland. How selfish. Awo that could never have fought a war or stay in prison for 27 years. He was also very wicked. Let the Shonibares and Akintolas tell you about him.

Unknown said...

Obviously, the gentleman is deluded at best, or else how could anyone utter such errant nonsense.
He should not let me talk o.

Steffan said...

The only reason this man would say this is because he is Yoruba. Mandela fought for the black race and I don't even want to read this article but if Obafemi Awolowo fought for the people(not just the Yoruba) then he is among the greats like Mandela, Luther King and the rest. Timid and shallow minded people will look for any reason to compare. Greatness is a unit, there's no level to it.

Steffan said...

The only reason this man would say this is because he is Yoruba. Mandela fought for the black race and I don't even want to read this article but if Obafemi Awolowo fought for the people(not just the Yoruba) then he is among the greats like Mandela, Luther King and the rest. Timid and shallow minded people will look for any reason to compare. Greatness is a unit, there's no level to it.

Anonymous said...

I beg enter house. Mandela was given conditions for his release at a point in time and he refused. A good part of his active life was spent in prison for a wonderful cause. Don't trivialize his achievements in the end, please. Is this a joke? Abeg spare us the joke. Wetin????????

Anonymous said...

Mikel is better than Messi...

Anonymous said...

We all say Mandela is great and his act for forgiveness can't be compared to none. Every single life lost in the struggle is great school children to adults, Mandela just didn't make it happen single handedly, he had the luxury of the prison to live long and reaped the fruit of the struggle been fought for outside the walls of the prison. At his age and due to the confinement in prison, he as no choice but to forgive so the nation can move forward.
As for Awo, he fought a different fight and he succeeded.

Anonymous said...

One thing I have come to notice is that anybody who gives his life for the cause of liberating fellow humans, and in the process achieves his aim gets to be one of the greatest in history. Jesus Christ died to save man, Martin Luther King Jr, died to free fellow blacks from strangling racism ;Mandela, 27 years in prison when he could easily have negotiated himself out of prison in exchange for peace and no anti apartheid talks...

Anonymous said...

Greater than Mandela indeed , ass lickers even to the dead . am sure its a yoruba man talking

Anonymous said...

A fool talking.

Anonymous said...

U said it all. Only a tribalist like awo would agree wif ds man. Awo fought 4 western region nt nigeria. He shud hv made a good Odua nation president. The passion dat fuelled his drive 4 yoruba dominance blinded his conscience wen he pioneered genocide on women and children of indigbo. Buh mandela never did such. He was never ethnocentric.

Unknown said...

No level 4 d devil ... Is a big time liar.

Anonymous said...

Just go and ask for forgiveness of this rubbish you Wrote to the World

maulie said...

whoever said that awolowo is greater than mandela is sick in his brain....

maulie said...

whoever said that awolowo is greater than mandela is sick in his brain....

Anonymous said...

Mandela was not even as great as Gani Fawehinmi talkless of Obafemi Awolowo. Mandela's claim to greatness is that he was imprisoned for 27 years and he came out without bitterness. Full stop. There is no remarkable monument to his presidency. Gani did more. He was jailed, harassed, hounded, tortured and traumatized for over 27 years and he never gave up his crusade and struggle for the emancipation of the teeming masses of Nigeria from oppression and repression, a struggle that eventually claimed his life. As for Awolowo. His legacies ante and post independence are too numerous to recount; Mandela does not even come close.

Anonymous said...

Mandela was not even as great as Gani Fawehinmi talkless of Obafemi Awolowo. Mandela's claim to greatness is that he was imprisoned for 27 years and he came out without bitterness. Full stop. There is no remarkable monument to his presidency. Gani did more. He was jailed, harassed, hounded, tortured and traumatized for over 27 years and he never gave up his crusade and struggle for the emancipation of the teeming masses of Nigeria from oppression and repression, a struggle that eventually claimed his life. As for Awolowo. His legacies ante and post independence are too numerous to recount; Mandela does not even come close.

Anonymous said...

Mandela was not even as great as Gani Fawehinmi talkless of Obafemi Awolowo. Mandela's claim to greatness is that he was imprisoned for 27 years and he came out without bitterness. Full stop. There is no remarkable monument to his presidency. Gani did more. He was jailed, harassed, hounded, tortured and traumatized for over 27 years and he never gave up his crusade and struggle for the emancipation of the teeming masses of Nigeria from oppression and repression, a struggle that eventually claimed his life. As for Awolowo. His legacies ante and post independence are too numerous to recount; Mandela does not even come close.

Delta Truth said...

Awolowo was a great man. Very great. A man of VISION. He wanted to do for Nigeria what he did for for the Western region but the Northern cabal with the help of the Igbos made sure he never succeeded. And Nigeria was the loser.
His achievement as Premier of Western is unparalleled.
Even Ojukwu marveled at the architectural master piece of that great university in Ife named after him. The most beautiful university in Nigeria.

Anonymous said...

Awo!
Awo!!
Awo!!!

He was indeed a great man!

Anonymous said...

what the fck is Awolowo...never heard it b4...Mandela is world's icon for God sake

I.K said...

Awolowo only added more trouble to Nigeria via his fetish and weak politics... Does he know that awolowo imprisonment in 1952 has more to do than the liberation struggle? does he know that awolowo stole power from Azikiwe in Broad day light?does he know that awolowo threatened to secede the oduduwa people congress in 1967 before being crowned the minister of finance? There a lot to say about Awolowo. Mandiba is no comparison with such a selfish man.

I.K said...

Awolowo only added more trouble to Nigeria via his fetish and weak politics... Does he know that awolowo imprisonment in 1952 has more to do than the liberation struggle? does he know that awolowo stole power from Azikiwe in Broad day light?does he know that awolowo threatened to secede the oduduwa people congress in 1967 before being crowned the minister of finance? There a lot to say about Awolowo. Mandiba is no comparison with such a selfish man.

Anonymous said...

Anon 12:52 AM. This not a post for kids.

Unknown said...

They're both legends and heroes in their own capacities with fair shares of mistakes and errors. However, Madiba had to fight in the face of stiffer conditions and meaner opposition, he was more selfless and people oriented unlike our leader who is a bit more pocket-oriented! No wonder he left office voluntarily after one term in office and he made reforms which had a more lasting positive effect on the people. In addition, part of your success as a leader has to do with how successful your successors are and we all know the crop of leaders that we were left with. Lastly, the true pedigree and level of greatness of a world leader is never based on a person's/few persons' opinions rather it is based on the perception of the whole world and I believe the world has spoken like never before during Madiba's final rites - CASE CLOSED!!!

Anonymous said...

Both men were great in their capacity but seriously, he shouldn't have done the comparism cos Mandela surely is greater. Betty

Anonymous said...

Awolowo was a two-faced man, he betrayed tribes in Nigeria and caused a lot during the Biafran era. You might think he is a hero, but please list at least three positive things he did that he did for our great country Nigeria. Apart from triggering tribalism and division in Nigeria.
A child born today in South Africa will know what Mandela did for SA, please can you ask a University Graduate in Nigeria what Awolowo did that influence the growth of Nigeria?
A lot of the problems we have are caused by some of our so-called founding fathers of Nigeria.
Rome was not built in a day, so as Corruption.
If you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem.
Mart

Anonymous said...

I don't want to compare or contrast btw d two gr8 men. But a question that crossed ma mind from his point of view was that both men did d same tin from different angles. While Awolowo won, Mandela lost, d question is "if mandela had been victorious in his fight against apartheid, did not go to prison, would he have bin celebrated?"

Anonymous said...

Totally Agree. Even Ojukwu said Awolowo was the best president Nigeria never had.

Anonymous said...

Mandela is celebrated, cause his people made him a legend, leave it to nigerian to hate on there own, we can never appreciate, oh I 4got, ibo's will disagree cause its a yoruba man, how can we every appreciate when tribalizm won't let us rest. Mtshew.

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