Son of the late Premier of the Western Region, Samuel Akintola, Abayomi, has said that despite the perceived public notion that Akintola and Awolowo families still nurse grouse against themselves because of political differences, the families are actually best of friends.
The late Akintola and the late leader of the Action Group in the First Republic, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, differed on the roles to play in the national coalition government headed by the late Prime Minister, Tafawa Balewa. Akintola was opposed to the AG’s decision to adopt democratic socialism as its ideology, preferring a more conservative stance and an alliance with the national government.
Abayomi, who spoke in Ogbomoso during an event to kick-start the 50th anniversary of his father’s death, said he did not stay away from HID Awolowo’s burial intentionally, explaining that he actually missed the ceremony because he was hospitalised in the United Kingdom.
He said, “I will say that the Akintola family had nothing against Awolowo family. And anybody that has that impression should look back into history. Akintola was the leader of Youth Movement, and the movement was the one that gave birth to politics in Nigeria. And when people were calling Akintola to lead the party, he conceded it to Awolowo, to show his loyalty to him.
“I pray that the soul of Mama Awolowo will rest in peace. I had a medical problem during Mama Awolowo’s burial. As a result, I went for a medical check-up in England, hoping to spend a week or 10 days, but unfortunately, I started having memory problem which made me stay longer in the hospital. I sent a letter to the Awolowo’s family, telling them why I wasn’t around though I last visited Mama when Oluwole died.”
The former finance minister and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Hungary said he maintained a close relationship with the late Olusegun Awolowo and his sister, Mrs. Tola Oyediran. He regretted that Nigeria did not appreciate the importance of his father and Awolowo to Nigeria nationhood until after they were dead.
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