Tinubu praises Awo

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR
Erstwhile governor of Lagos State and national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has praised the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo among other African statesmen for his wisdom in projecting the interests of the African continent.

Tinubu spoke at his investiture as a winner in the maiden African Servant Leadership Awards (ASLA) of the Graduate School of Leadership and Governance, Accra, Ghana.

While noting his devotion to the cause to the downtrodden, Tinubu admitted that he may not be perfect but committed himself to the duty of improving the lot of other Africans.

Acknowledging Awolowo among other African freedom fighters, Tinubu said for their sacrifices, he said:
“Kwame Nkrumah pioneered the way when times were more unjust than these. He devoted his entire being to Mama Africa.  He was an excellent son. We follow him.

Sekou Toure refused to be anyone’s servant. Patrice Lumumba gave his life as did Samora Machel.   Obafemi Awolowo gave his wisdom. Nelson Mandela has given his years.  They were and are excellent sons.”

“If these sons of Africa can make such sacrifices, we must make our own. We must build a strong edifice based on the foundation which they made out of their bravery, hope and love for the people, and of the land.”

“I may not be perfect. I don’t know of any human who is; but I can tell that I am a dutiful and hardworking son.  And when your mother is put to stress and constant pressure, there is no limit to the effort a loving son will undertake to end her troubled, sweaty toil; so that she may become happy and prosperous. Thus, anything I have done to deserve this award is nothing but the exertion a son makes for his mother; and the rest of her children who are my brothers and sisters. I have done nothing but my familial duty.”

Stressing the need for greater collaboration among African nations, he said:

“Why can’t we pool our resources together to fund research for better treatment and prevention measures?  We should no longer rely on the outside world to fund efforts to eradicate our major medical problem. This problem is not theirs. It is ours which means it is not only a medical problem, it is a test of our political will and love for the poor and weak among us. If we wait for others to solve it, we will be waiting for the longest time.”

Expressing hope in better prospects for the continent, he said:

“I see our children no longer suffering the deprivations wrought by war and armed conflict. I see peace establishing itself in this continent.

Ultimately, I see a new breed of young men and women taking over public leadership and implementing laws and policies based on equity, transparency and liberty. I see them shunning the divisions of the past and working together to promote the welfare of every African regardless of race, ethnicity or creed.

I see a blossoming of democracy and good government; such that we shall no longer take lessons from the rest of the world but the world shall receive her better lessons from Africa. I see a day when Africa will be looked to for advances in the arts and sciences, as well as in politics and economics.”