Revelation: Akintola’s motion led to Nigerian Independence, says Nwolise

THE Professor of political Science at University of Ibadan, Prof. Osisioma Nwolise has disclosed that the former Premier of Western Region, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola was the successful mover of historic independent motion that led to Nigeria’s independence in 1960. 

Nwolise who made this disclosure on Thursday at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, Oyo State Secretariat, Ibadan, during the 2018 edition of Ladoke Akintola Memorial anniversary Lecture described Akintola’s motion in 1957 as a successful one against the one that was earlier moved by Chief Anthony Enahoro on March 1953, proposing Independence in 1956 but did not work out.

The Scholar who also unearthed that Akintola’s radical prowess made his motion led to the country’s Independence in 1960 said: “an analysis of Chief Akintola’s speeches reveals that he was a radical whose motion for self government moved on March 26, 1957 was titled: “the time has come to end imperialism”.

“He was a committed, outstanding and touch bearing nationalist. It was the burning desire to throw off imperial and colonial yoke and free Nigerians that led to his moving the motion for self government for Nigeria in the Federal House of Representatives on March 26, 1957. This motion is the subject of the next sections of this discourse.

“The 1957 motion was the second and final of such motion. The first motion for the self government was by Chief Anthony Enahoro on March 31, 1953, proposing Independence in 1956. But that did not work out”, Nwolise added.