NIGERIA’S independence was not won on a platter of gold. Some nationalists paid the prize before the country got independence from Britain on October 1, 1960. While some of the players have been honoured, with monuments named after them, others are hardly mentioned. Though their contribution to liberate the country remains indelible, the heroes ought to be duly recognized, because of their passion.
At the posthumous centenary birthday of one of the heroes, Adelabu Adegoke, last month, there were renewed calls for the immortalization of the unsung heroes. Except for the present government, the country had been under military and conservative administrations. But, with the progressives now on the saddle, under the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigerians expect a change and fair deal for the departed heroes.
At the event, speaker after speaker said the immortalisation of the heroes would address the social inequalities and prejudices in the society. For instance, the Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Adelabu Adegoke Centenary Posthumous Birthday, Oloye Lekan Alabi, said President Muhammadu Buhari must review the records of the heroes who fought to ensure that Nigeria got independence.
He said heroes like Adelabu and others who struggled to lay the foundation of Nigeria deserve something better. He said it help to cement the unity of the country. He added: “Naming road after the late nationalist would go a long way in immortalising him.’’
The unsung heroes include:
Adelabu
Adelabu was a strong and vocal politician from Ibadan; he was fierce and outspoken in his days. He made remarkable impact in the struggle for independence. He won a seat in the Western Regional House of Assembly and served as Minister of Social Services and Mineral Resources as a member of the House of Representatives. He coined the word penkelemesi, meaning “peculiar mess.”
He was a member of the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) led by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. He contributed to the socio-political development of Nigeria. He struggled for the independence, but he never lived to witness the attainment of that status. In the parliament and in the Council of Ministers, his ideas gave birth to productive agricultural policies, especially the River Basin Development, Mass Literacy Scheme and the indigenization policy, which he put forward in 1957.
He died in 1958, at the age of 43. He was the first opposition figure to die in office. Although, he passed on at a time the country needed his parliamentary service most, the country has done very little to appreciate his contribution as the opposition leader in the Western House of Representatives.
The uncompromising politician had a turbulent career and was arraigned 17 times for murder, but he triumphed in all the charges proffered against him.
Dikko
He was among the nationalists who canvassed for self rule for the country. Born in Wusasa, Zaria, Kaduna State, he joined the colonial service in 1940 after his training in the medical field. He rose through the ranks of the civil service, becoming a senior medical officer in 1953.
He was a founding member of the Jamiyar Mutanen Arewa, a Northern Nigeria cultural organisation that later formed the nucleus of the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) to fight colonial rule.
Dikko later served as Federal Commissioner of Mines and Power in 1967 and later Commissioner for Transportation in 1971 under General Yakubu Gowon administration. There is nothing to suggest that his efforts for self rule have been rewarded. The Kaduna State-born politician deserves to be honoured.
Davies
Hezekiah Oladipo Davies, popularly known as H.O. Davies, was a nationalist and lawyer, whose contribution to the Nigerian nation was momentous. He was prominent in the emerging trade union in the country and he fought the then colonial administration through legal protests. His grandfather was from Efon-Alaaye, Ekiti State. He was the Secretary-General of the Lagos Youth Movement, which later transformed in the Nigeria Youth Movement (NYM). The NYM was a political association that became a thorn in the flesh of colonial government. He left the association in 1951 and formed his own political party, the Nigerian Peoples’ Congress (NPC).
He later joined the NCNC, where he and his co-travellers impacted in the polity of the country. A successful lawyer, he was honoured by the Queen of England for his distinction. He was a delegate to the Economic Council of the United Nations in 1964.
Alakija
Sir Adeyemo Alakija was a lawyer, businessman and politician. He was the President of the Nigerian Youth Movement. He was a co-founder of the Daily Time of Nigeria, an independent newspaper that shaped the post independence era. He was largely behind the success recorded the NYM in Lagos politics.
The contribution made by the erudite lawyer to the attainment of independence through the NYM’s persistent struggle for self governance was remarkable. Alakija’s role in the brotherhood community of Free Masons was also legendary. The Egba chief was prominent in the formation of the Egbe Omo Oduduwa and he became its first President.
Mowoe
Mukoro Mowoe was the President-General of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), which was founded in 1931. He rose to prominence in the 1920s through political activism. As a shrewd businessman and politician of the first generation, he deployed his wealth to negotiate a better position for the Niger Delta. He became a thorn in the flesh of the colonialists in the march to independence.
He was elected from the Warri Province to the first Western Regional Assembly in 1946. His role could be compared to those of foremost nationalists like Jaja of Opobo, Nana Olomu of Ebrohimi and William Pepple of Bonny.
The UPU, which he co-founded, established the Urhobo College, Effunrun, the institution that became the citadel of learning in the country. He never succumbed to imperialist intimidation.
Soyinka
Eniola Soyinka co-founded the Egba Women Union with Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti. Soyinka is the mother of renowned playwright, Prof. Wole Soyinka. The women activist played a prominent role in decongesting Nigeria of colonial manipulation. She was fully involved in organising workshops for illiterate Egba women to make them understand their rights as citizens.
The contribution of this rights activist remained indelible in Nigeria, yet nothing significant has been done by succeeding administration to appreciate her efforts.
Dipcharima
Dipcharima forayed into politics was to fight colonial exploitative economic policy. He did this through the NCNC the major existing political party in 1946 after the enactment of the Richards Constitution which allowed more indigenous political participation.
In 1947, he was among the delegation on London and to object certain acts in the Richards Constitution. To demand the repeal of certain sections in the Public Lands Acquisition Ordinance and Amendment, Crown Land Ordinance and Amendment, Mineral Ordinance and Appointment and Deposition of Chiefs Ordinance and Amendment.
He was elected as a Native Authority councilor in charge of Prisons and the Police and later as a member of the Federal House of Representatives.
Ikoli
Ernest Ikoli hailed from Bayelsa State. He was a journalist by profession. He was one of the nationalists who fought for independence of the country. He could be described as a forgotten hero of the modern Nigeria. Ikoli, H.O. Davies and Samuel Akinsanya founded the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) in 1934. He rose to become the President of the organisation. In 1942, he represented Lagos at the legislative council.
He was not only advocating the end of colonial rule in Nigeria, but led an attack by over 1000 warrior against the Royal Niger Company trading posts. The attack on the British company led to reprisals, which eventually resulted in the British-Nembe war.
Eyo Ita
Ita was one of the founding fathers Nigeria. Upon his return from the United States, he formed the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) in 1934 and galvanized the Nigerian youths for nationalism.
He campaigned vigorously for education as a tool of freeing the African mind and soul and liberating it from forces of political repression. He later became the proprietor of the West African People’s Institute in Calabar.
He joined the NCNC in the 1940s and was elected Vice President after the death of Herbert Macaulay. He left the NCNC to form the National Independence Party (NIP), one of the five Nigerian parties that represented the country at London Constitutional Conference.
Joseph Tarka
Senator Joseph Tarka was one of the founding fathers of United Middle Belt Congress (UMBC). The union was dedicated to protecting the Middle Belt cause. By extension, advocating for self rule in Nigeria. He was elected to the Federal House of Representatives on a non party basis.
He later became the President of UMBC in 1957 and ensured that the Nigeria got independence through legislative pronouncement at the House of Representatives.
David Obadiah Lot
David Obadiah Lot was a religious leader from Benue State. He joined the political scene in 1940 to secure better political bargain for Nigeria. In 1946, he was part of the Nigerian delegation to London for a constitutional conference.
He used the Middle Belt Zone League (MLL) to pursue his dream of a better Nigeria. He was elected into the House of Representatives. Being a teacher, he groomed ardent followers who were sympathetic to the Middle Belt cause. He was equally vocal in the creation of separate state for the region in the Nigerian composition.
Dr. Akinwande Savage
The political activist was a member of the National Congress of British West Africa (NCBWA). He was resident in Ghana when the issue of independence for African states took the front burner. He returned to Nigeria in 1915 and entrenched the NCBWA in the country.
Though, the congress did not perform up to expectation in Lagos. The domineering position of the Gold Coast group within NCBWA whittled its influence in Nigeria. The group supported local and tribal institutions to fight for self economic determination and governance.
Mojola Agbebi
Mojola Agbebi was a Baptist minister. He was formerly known as David Brown Vincent. But, he later renounced the name during the wave of African nationalism. He was a strong supporter of self-rule. He used both religious and political platform to canvass for African rebirth and independence.
He played a prominent role in the establishment of the native Baptist Church now (First African Church) in Lagos. He supported his wife’s effort in establishing the Baptist Women’s League. He presented a paper at the first Universal Races Congress in London in 1911, canvassing for the return of African churches and territory to their original owners.
Chief Arthur Edward Prest
Chief Arthur Edward Prest was a prominent Itsekiri politician from the defunct Warri Division. He was police officer before he was elected as member of the Western Regional House of Assembly. He declared his support for the Action Congress in 1952, but left in 1957.
Bode Thomas
He was one of the founding members of the Action Group (AG). The politician called for strong regional based politics. This, according to him, would lead to competition among the regions for development and progress. The lawyer championed the adoption of true federalism for Nigeria.
Gambo Sawaba
The uncompromising and radical female politician dominated the northern politics, calling the authorities to recognise the role of women. Her bold initiatives came with useful results, as the Northern Peoples’ Congress (NPC) took into cognizance programmes that elevated the women folk.
Inuwa Wada
Inuwa Wada was a parliamentarian and Minister of Works and Survey under the administration of Tafawa Balewa. He was a veteran parliamentarian towards the end of the Nigerian First Republic and was given the Defense portfolio in 1965 after the death of Muhammadu Ribadu.
He was first elected in 1951 as a member of the Northern House of Assembly; he was subsequently nominated to the Federal House of Representatives and was a member and later minister from 1951 to 1966.
The Kano-born politician trained as a teacher and was known by many as a quiet figure in contrast to the hectic demands of his ministerial portfolio in the Works department.
Janet Mokelu
She was a frontline female politician in the pre independence period. She was a role model and inspirer to many women in the colonial day, ensuring that women participated in the fight against oppression.
The Enugu State-born lawmaker was appoint into the Eastern House of Chiefs in 1959 and later elected into the Eastern House of Assembly as the first women be elected.
Mary Okezie
Mary Okezie was the one of the prominent women that led the Aba Women’s Riot in 1929. She was a teacher at the Anglican Mission School, Umuocham, in the present day Abia State when the riot broke out. She was very sympathetic to the cause of the rioters. Nevertheless, being a civil servant, she could not directly participate in the protest against the census, which was widely regarded as a prelude for the imposition of more taxes by the colonial government.
Okezie submitted a memo to the commission of inquiry on the reason why the riot broke out. She founded the Ngwa Women’s Association in 1948 to promote the education and welfare of women.
Ladipo Solanke
Ladipo Solanke was a political activist with unparalleled record. He joined the Union of the Students of African Descent and championed the cause of the emergent students of African descent. He led the West Africa Students Union (WASU) and was responsible for securing hostel accommodation for students in London.
He taught Yoruba among Nigerian students in London, who did not show much interest in African tradition and culture. He later became a broadcaster. His voice was popular on the radio, where he utilised the Yoruba Language to dish out propaganda against colonial rule. His leaflets, written in English and Yoruba, also caused panic in the rank of the colonialists. He devoted a significant portion of his time towards the betterment of the life of the people. He travelled around the sub-continent to get relief materials for the West African students and achieved a considerable success. The student body he left fought relentlessly for emancipation from imperialist domination.
Solanke however did not live to witness the independence of Nigeria; he died in 1958 from lung cancer.
NATION
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