Biodun Olamosu & Ranti Olumoroti (2013) Life and Struggles of Comrade Ola Oni

8/18/2019 Biodun Olamosu & Ranti Olumoroti (2013) Life and Struggles of Comrade Ola Oni

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LIFE AND STRUGGLES OFCOMRADE OLA ONI

Biodun Olamosu and Ranti Olumoroti

2013

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Preface and Acknowledgement

This biographical book titled: The Life and the Struggles of omrade Ola Oni is of immense

importance in discussing the popular struggles of the !igerian "orking class and the student#

$ouths through the prism of omrade Ola Oni "ho pla$ed a pi%otal role in this sphere since the

earl$ 1&'0s until his demise in 1&&&( )uch has been "ritten and kno"n about the politicalhistor$ "ith an emphasis on the elite* "hile the role of the labour mo%ement and class fighters

like omrade Ola Oni and others ha%e been marginali+ed(

, stor$ of a leading comrade like Ola Oni* that e%en b$ the ruling class could not contest that he

"as a true fighter for the cause of the "orking class* should go a long "a$ to promote an

understanding of the %aluable histor$ of the class as a "hole(

Since omrade Ola Oni ga%e a nod for the "riting and publishing of this book before his death

man$ people ha%e pla$ed an in%aluable role in the course making this a realit$( )ost important

is -ehinde Ola Oni* omrade Ola Oni.s "ife* "ho cooperated in no small measure in making

a%ailable materials at her disposal for us to carr$ on the "ork( This has ser%ed a useful purposeand has been %er$ helpful( Ola Oni.s children / ale and apo Ola Oni ha%e also been helpful*

especiall$ in sorting out materials and cooperating in other "a$s(

,fter the first draft* some friends* political associates and students of Ola Oni* despite their tight

schedule* still found time to re%ie" this "ork( e are %er$ grateful to omrade emi ,borisade

in going through some chapters of the "ork and his "ords of encouragement( e appreciate

the encouragement from omrades Lao$e Sanda* ,"osode* Toba Olorunfemi* -emi ,fola$an

and rofessor ,kin O4o( e "ill also like to e5press our profound appreciation to the follo"ing

friends # Ba$o O"olabi* !i$i asanmi* and re" o%e$ for their in%aluable ad%ise* correction

and criticism of some parts of the "ork "hich has had a serious impact ( But for them it is

doubtful that this "ork "ould ha%e been so "ell scrutini+ed( !e%ertheless* "e accept allresponsibilities for an$ shortcomings and errors that ma$ still remain in this "ork(

,lso important "as the case of rofessor Omafume Onoge "ho from the beginning of the

pro4ect %olunteered to help in its editorial "ork but did not li%e to "itness the completion of the

first draft in 200&( So "e are %er$ much grateful for his "ords of encouragement and support(

e also learnt of the interest of hief 6ani a"ehinmi in this "ork before his death and in

appreciating the "onderful role Ola Oni pla$ed in the "orld of class struggle in our climes* ma$

his soul rest in peace( e cannot but mention )rs 7etunde Olamosu* )rs Olumoroti* astor

8oshua Olamosu 9late for their in%aluable role in making this a success( Taofeek Bamidele

Onolapo and ; Olumide are %er$ much appreciated for their roles( ,t different times the "ork

"as t$ped b$ competent secretaries such as olfin Olofin* Sade; and ,de;< kindl$ accept our appreciation( The "riters ha%e also learnt a lot from the "ritings of rofessor 6(6( arah and

=be+er Babatope on this sub4ect matter(

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Introd!ct"on

>n the course of "riting this biograph$* the authors had discussions "ith a leading comrade "hoe5pressed his disappointment for not ha%ing a reference book that one could rel$ on to guideacti%ists in the course of practical class struggle( ?e lamented that all $ou get to read are bookson such areas as political econom$* politics* histor$* economic histor$* philosoph$* sociolog$ etcthat are more theoretical than espousing practical issues on e5isting struggles( >mmediatel$ hesaid this* it struck me that such a gap could onl$ be filled b$ biographical books( >t is in abiograph$ of a re%olutionar$ like Ola Oni that one can be able to read about the challenges thatconfronted the sub4ect matter and ho" he "as able to face such challenges(

This "ork on omrade Ola Oni is 4ust a humble contribution of the authors as this could notcapture the "hole essence of the man as there is a lot more to be kno"n on the man( )ore"ould ha%e been kno"n on the man if he li%ed longer and been able to "rite his memoirs as hehad intended to do(

Biograph$ belongs to a generic of general studies that do not stand on their o"n* but are muchrelated to other sub4ects such as histor$* art* literature* sociolog$* philosoph$* pedagog$ and

other areas of kno"ledge like politics* economics* science* depending on the background of theman or "oman being considered( Though* biographies are often associated "ith the "est the$are no" also becoming embraced in our o"n climes(

e need to emphasi+e here that unlike other biographies in the market place that are meant toglorif$ their sub4ects "ithout @uestioning* here "e out to pro%ide and discuss the facts as muchas possible( So it is not for the purpose of eulogi+ing Ola Oni "ho indisputabl$ had madeen%iable contributions to kno"ledge and popular struggles in the countr$< but to empo"er futuregenerations "ith kno"ledge to enable them to better face future challenges( ,s man$ accountsha%e been gi%en in tribute to Ola Oni as a man of courage* this book also seeks to look at thisaspect of his life as a man coming from a background of a rich famil$ that decided to surrenderhis life totall$ to struggle and share all that he had "ith the poor(

!ot a fe" people ha%e been critical of his role in the self#determination rights group that "aspercei%ed as antithetical to his earlier pioneering role in )ar5ist scholarship and the socialistcause that spanned o%er four decades( This book makes kno"n that he ne%er abandoned hissocialist callings despite promoting self#determination politics< but ho" these seemingl$contradictor$ tendencies could be blended is $et to be confirmed in realit$( The issue thereforeis that if it "ill re@uire re%olution or "ar to be able to achie%e the tall ambition of the self#determination rights mo%ement* "h$ is this energ$ not channelled to"ards pursuing the socialistre%olution that could co%er the entire countr$* and the "ider region and continent* in order toterminate po%ert$ and its root cause( Ola Oni "as morall$ positioned to lead such cause as hecommands the respects of the poor across the countr$(

The book is di%ided into fourteen chapters:

Chapter One – In the Beginning:

This co%ers his famil$ background* education at the primar$ and post primar$ stages inOshogbo and Lagos respecti%el$( The stor$ of =kiti "here he hailed from and the politicalsituation in his da$s in Lagos as a student of -ing.s ollege are also discussed(

Chapter Two – Life in London:

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This co%ers his life at both =5eter Ani%ersit$ and London School of =conomics "here he studiedin the 1&0.s before he came back to the countr$ in 1&'3( ?is political acti%ities in Britain* thecentre of the anti#colonial struggle outside the continent of ,frica are also discussed(

Chapter Three - Ibadan:

,s Ola Oni settled at >badan for the rest of his life as a lecturer in the Ani%ersit$ of >badan* thechapter co%ers the political situation of >badan that "as the capital of the estern Region in the1&'0s and the role of Ola Oni in the peasant re%olt of the late 1&'0.s b$ the ,gbeko$a farmers(

Chapter Four – Lecturer as an Activist:

This gi%es an account of his pioneering role as a )ar5ist lecturer and a reliable political acti%istin >badan(

Chapter Five – Wor a!ong "tudents:

This is on his relationship "ith the students. mo%ement both at >badan and across the countr$(

Chapter "i# – $e!ocratic %&atfor!s:

This co%ers the %arious organi+ations established and initiated b$ Ola Oni.s group to espousethe political and economic space for the poor(

Chapter "even – Oni as Trade 'nionist:

This is about his "ork among "orkers: the union he belonged to "here he occupied a leadingposition and other unions "here he "orked on a part time basis and others he related "ith forad%ancing the "ider struggles(

Chapter (ight – %hi&osopher and )evo&utionar*:

>n this chapter the role of Ola Oni as a philosopher in politics is compared "ith that of thehitherto philosophers and re%olutionaries in partisan politics(

Chapter +ine – Oni,s invo&ve!ent in partisan %o&itics:

This is about his in%ol%ement in partisan politics during the first* second* third and fourthrepublics(

Chapter Ten – O&a Oni as fa!i&* an:

This chapter discusses the man Ola Oni* the humanist in both his public and pri%ate life(

Chapter (&even – )evo&utionar* %ress:

,s press "as %er$ %ital to his re%olutionar$ "ork* this co%ers ho" he made use of the press indifferent forms to propagate the idea of socialism and can%ass democratic demands(

Chapter Twe&ve – .is "ocia&ist /ision:

This chapter co%ers the economic programme of his socialist %ision(

Chapter Thirteen – The +ationa& 0uestion:

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This is on the perspecti%e of Ola Oni on the national @uestion* but the chapter also looks at ho"in practice he complied or de%iated from this(

Chapter Fourteen – (pi&ogue

This chapter compiles tributes b$ political acti%ists* the press* associates* former

students* go%ernment officials* opinion leaders* student leaders* trade unionists* communit$leaders and uni%ersit$ dons across the countr$(

The co#authors of this book* Biodun Olamosu and Ranti Olumoroti* students and politicalassociates of omrade Ola Oni* "ere at Ranti.s office at ,badina Librar$ Ani%ersit$ of >badanone da$ and "hile discussing the situation of the countr$ in general* the$ fortuitousl$ came tothe idea of ho" omrade Ola Oni had pro%ided more help to face the challenges of the crisisthan an$bod$ else of his time( This "as ho" the$ reached the decision to document hise5perience in political social engineering in recent histor$(

>mmediatel$ a consensus "as reached on this idea* Ranti suggested that "e should goto omrade Ola Oni and immediatel$ inform him of this position and that "ork shouldcommence on this straight a"a$( This "as ho" the preliminar$ "ork started in 1&&C e%en

though there "ere dela$s because of our personal routine "ork(

hen omrade Ola Oni "as informed of this plan* he had nothing against it as he ga%eit his nod* but he "anted it to "ait a bit till the current struggle for self#determination of ethnicnationalities could ha%e been finall$ resol%ed( This position of asking us to put on hold the"riting of the book "as because he did not "ant to be distracted from his focus on the struggleat hand( ,t the time* unlike other participants in the struggle* he did not belie%e the struggle hadbeen concluded despite the politicking that "as going on in preparation for partisan politics(

Before this duo 9Biodun and Ranti intimated omrade Ola Oni about this pro4ect*another associate of his* Rauf ,regbesele* a commissioner of "orks in the Lagos Statego%ernment* approached him "ith the intension of sponsoring a birthda$ programme for him(

This "as to be in recognition of his uni@ue contributions( This he turned do"n on the basis thathe did not belie%e in such things as birthda$s* but ultimatel$ he agreed to put do"n in "riting hisreminiscences "hich the comrade planned to finance( ?e accepted this task on one condition*that he "ould not start the "ork until the struggle for self#determination of nationalities "asconcluded(

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C#APTER ONE$ IN T#E %EGINNING$

Fam"l& %ackgro!nd

Ola Oni "as born on 8une ' 1&33 in Otun#=kiti in the South est* !igeria( Oni( Ola Oni.s father O"olabi Oni "as a pol$gamist* "ith se%en "i%es and man$ children( O"olabi Oni* popularl$

referred to as Oniororo "hich literall$ translated to mean that Dtoda$ is not tasteless.< that is* thesituation toda$ is not bad( One of his children* !i$i adopted this appellation and "as called !i$iOniororo for the rest of his life( omrade Ola Oni on his o"n part "as originall$ namedOladipupo b$ his father( This literall$ means that m$ riches ha%e multiplied( This later in life "asshortened and simplified to Ola Oni for ease of pronunciation and political e5igencies(

Ola Oni.s mother )rs ,4ibola Oni* "as %er$ supporti%e of his husband as the first "ife of thefamil$( hief O"olabi Oni "as the head of the famil$ and a prosperous man in the to"n( ?issuccess cannot be dissociated from the cooperation and the support he recei%ed from his"i%es( Ola Oni.s mother* ,4ibola Oni had four children including ,ri"ola* Tunde and ,tanda(The$ "ere to become a pett$ trader* 4ournalist and an arm$ officer respecti%el$( Ola Oni "as thefirst born of the entire famil$( Ola Oni.s half brothers and sisters include ,kin* Oladokun 9a

custodian of their father.s chieftainc$ title* Tunde and !i$i 94ournalist* author and publisher( OlaOni "as %er$ cordial "ith the rest of his siblings( ?e often did e%er$thing "ithin his po"er to helpthem "hene%er the$ "ere in need(

O"olabi Oni "as a strong man in his famil$( ?e belie%ed in discipline and "ould not tolerate an$nonsense either from his children or "i%es( Their o"n pol$gamous famil$* of course* "as a"orld of difference( =%er$one "as brought up to relate* collaborate and "ork together as truesiblings / brothers and sisters( The cordial relationship that e5isted among them continued e%enafter their father "as committed to earth in 1&'3

The chieftainc$ title conferred on hief O"olabi "as kno"n as Obashikin of Otun( ,s Obashikinof the to"n* he "as in%ol%ed along "ith the other traditional high chiefs in the dail$

administration of the to"n( Specificall$ he "as e5pected to perform certain traditional rites in thecourse of the coronation of an$ ne"l$ installed Oba 9king of the to"n( O"olabi Oni* theObashikin of Otun#=kiti "as a famous first class hief and a "ell respected leader among other hiefs and people of the to"n( ?e be@ueathed a large e5pansi%e famil$ house to his children*"i%es and e5tended famil$( hief O"olabi Oniororo* as he "as popularl$ called in his da$s "asalso a successful businessman and accomplished farmer( ,s a trader* he sold hoes* cutlassesand building materials( ?e also sold co"s* not onl$ in Otun but also to people from neighbouringto"ns( ?e had personal houses in ,kure* >lesha and Oshogbo "hich "ere products of his hardlabour(

O"olabi Oni "as a %er$ close friend of one agbo$esa* a nati%e of >le#>fe "ho settled inOshogbo for the rest of his life( The$ started their friendship %er$ earl$ in life( agbo$esa "ho

"as also conferred "ith a chieftainc$ title like his friend "as a "ell established trader in thecentral district of Oshogbo "here he sold building materials* cement and nails( The t"o friendsboth had their houses at Station road in Oshogbo( agbo$esa "as the one in charge of themanagement of his friend.s house in Oshogbo "hen his friend left the to"n to his home to"n(Their friendship "as so cordial to the e5tent that Ola Oni li%ed "ith agbo$esa.s famil$ from a%er$ tender age during "hich time he attended Euranic and primar$ schools at ,ll Saint primar$School in 1&3&< until he proceeded to Lagos for his secondar$ education in 1&FG( agbo$esadied in the 1&C0.s( ?e "as sur%i%ed b$ his onl$ "ife and children including ,remu agbo$esa"ho "as %er$ close to the Ola Oni.s famil$ at >badan(

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!i$i Oniororo adopted his elder brother.s radical politics and philosophical "orld outlook(omrade Oni encouraged him and later helped him to obtain a scholarship to stud$ 4ournalismin !orth -orea( !i$i Oniororo pursued his career in 4ournalism and gained the limelight in thisfield internationall$( ?e "as specificall$ kno"n for his radical disposition as one of the peoplethat fought against militar$ and ci%ilian dictatorships in the 1&G0.s(

%ackgro!nd of Ek"t"

The =kiti rogressi%e Anion 9=A "as formed in 1&33* the same $ear that Oladipo Oni "asborn( The organisation "as at the initiati%e of the Re%eren 8( ,de ,4a$i* an educationist and anati%e of ,do#=kiti( The mission of the organisation "as to boost post#primar$ education and putpressure on the go%ernment and mission authorities to achie%e the goal and other impro%ements for the area( The pioneers of this organisation included S( - amiloni* aki$e9>faki* 8( B( aramola 9,i$ede* =( ,( Babalola 9O$e* R( O( ,deda$o 9Asi* =( O( ,deba$o 9Asi*Omotade 9>4ero* ( Olagba$e 9>gbara#Oke* Oke$a 9=mure* ,desina 9=fon* uroto$e and 8( ,(

,i$egbusi(

,s this social organisation emerged and de%eloped* other* more political organisation sprang upto take ad%antage of the ne" constitutional de%elopment( Such organisations include the Lagos7outh )o%ement* later renamed the !igerian 7outh )o%ement 9!7) in 1&3F( i%isions "ithinthe !7) caused the formation of a ne" part$ the !ational ouncil of !igeria and ameroon9!! in 1&FF led b$ ?erbert )acaula$ and later r( !namdi ,+ik"e( The remnants of the!7) "ere reorganised to form the ,ction 6roup in 1&1< a political arm of the culturalorganisation of the descendants of Odudu"a called D=gbe Omo Odudu"a. "ith the purpose of gaining political po"er(

The people of =kiti "ere committed to ,ction 6roup( >f there "as one place in the est of !igeria "here the part$ became stronger despite the political crisis that erupted "ithin it* it "as

in =kiti( This commitment can be traced to the political programme of the part$* especiall$ freeand compulsor$ education at primar$ school le%el* adult education for people abo%e school ageand scholarships for students at post#primar$ and tertiar$ le%els( =kiti people belie%ed that sucha laudable programme of ,ction 6roup "as uni@ue among other political parties of the time(Though* the !! "as a conglomeration of acti%ists* labour and progressi%e !igerians "ithbeautiful ideas* the ,ction 6roup "as seen as a more pragmatic part$ better capable of achie%ing de%elopmental goals than the !! and others( =( , Babalola "ho "as %er$ acti%e inthe =kiti rogressi%e Anion "as also a pioneer member of the ,ction 6roup( ?e used hisposition as a member of t"o important committees of the part$ charged "ith the responsibilitiesto formulate part$ policies on education* health and "elfare to reflect the de%elopmentalprogramme of the =kiti rogressi%e Anion(

=arlier on* the people of =kiti came to the realisation that the de%elopment of the area laggedbehind that of other parts of 7oruba#land and that such de%elopment could best be achie%edthrough aggressi%e education of their $ouths( The first primar$ school "as built b$ the peoplethemsel%es and "as established in 1&01 at ,do#=kiti* but educational rebirth and boom startedin earnest the follo"ing $ear( The people "ere implored to "ork hard and to train their childrenfor the betterment of the communities( The =A itself later started putting this idea into practiceb$ a"arding scholarships to students of =kiti origin(

=kiti people "ere noted for a long period of time as farmers* craftsmen* traders* "ea%ers and

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driers< and later as artisans( The pace of these occupations later changed in form andcharacter( or instance* "hile from the beginning* =kiti farmers engaged in food crops farming*things changed "ith the ad%ent of imperialist penetration of "hat toda$ is kno"n as !igeria( Theforeign ad%enturers adopted techni@ues to gain access to natural and human resources of thecolonised countries( hile their mode of e5ploitation might ha%e been drasticall$ different from"hat it "as during the sla%e era* the$ ha%e learnt in the course of time to adopt a more

diplomatic and softer approach( >n =kiti* in particular* the churches "ere the first set of organisations to introduce ta5es for the indigenous people of =kiti* under the guise of contributions to the church for the education of their children(

The fact is: there "as a need to be incorporated into the economic "eb of the capitalistimperialist s$stem( )one$ "as introduced 9in its present form as a means of e5changing%alues( The colonialists introduced cash crops like cocoa* rubber* cotton etc( to farmers( =kiti.sfarmers "ere gi%en cocoa seed in the earl$ 20 th centur$( This resulted in significant commitmentto cocoa farming because it enabled the farmers to earn mone$ "hen the$ sold their produce(The farmers "ere happ$ to earn mone$ that "ould let them afford imported goods (e(g( roofingsheet and other building materials for shelter purposes* bic$cle 9"hich "ere the highest form of transportation at the time and imported clothes( (

The market prices of cocoa "as far belo" its real %alue as the monopol$ bu$ers fi5ed price and"ere* at the same time* able to fi5 the price of the imported manufactured goods( ,s a result*the prices of imported goods "ere astronomicall$ high "hile the prices of cocoa and other ra"materials "ere criminall$ belo" "orld market prices(

This e5ploitation "as formalised b$ the go%ernment through the !igerian ocoa )arketingBoard( This continued until recentl$ as the marketing board "as onl$ disbanded in the late1&C0.s( The farmers are short changed b$ being displaced from the production of food crops inan attempt to ac@uire mone$ to finance their personal needs "hich the socio#economic s$stemhas made a%ailable( ,s a result* food crops "ere neglected( This phenomenon e5plains "h$ the

,frican continent no" depends largel$ on foreigners to meet mush of its food re@uirements

despite the fact that most !igerians are still being engaged in farming(

urthermore* report has it that foreign merchants that came to =kiti met on the ground clothe"ea%ing industr$* producing thick clothes capable of protecting the people from %er$ harshclimatic condition( But the$ "ent back to their countr$ to de%elop on this( ,ll the people in%ol%edin the producti%e acti%ities of locall$ "ea%ed clothes including traders "ere e%entuall$ disposedand thro"n out of business(

7ears before the colonialists came into the scene* =kiti "as entangled in "ars of independence"ith their neighbours 9in the "est* north and the east such as >badan* O$o* >lorin and Benin(Those neighbours "ere in%ol%ed in raiding =kiti lands for sla%er$( The "ar "ith >badan inparticular "as as se%ere as the aftermath of the backlash against the >badan "ar lords( The "ar

"as in retaliation to the "a$ the people of =kiti "ere maltreated b$ the 6eneralissimo of ,lafinof O$o* his commanders and lieutenants that raided =kiti and maltreated them "ith disdain( The=kiti $ouths rose up to the challenge( The$ began to mobilise themsel%es to resist theo%er"helming assault on the integrit$ of =kiti people including that of their leadership that "erebeing maltreated "ith ignomin$( The militar$ mobilisation necessitated consultation "ithimportant "ar lords like Ogedengbe of >4esha#land and abunmi of >mesi#=kiti and others( >t "as"ith their supports that the "ar began( The "ar lasted for about si5teen $ears "ithout a "inner until the colonialists inter%ened to stop and made peace "ith the "arring parties and thus put anend to the "ar( This "as the en%ironment Ola Oni came from* a background of commitment to

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he obser%ed also that the teacher.s action "as deliberate and that he "as 4ust taking chanceo%er the less informed gullible ne" students( 6ogo !+eribe decided to enter the class* ga%e theteacher a slap and commanded the students to mo%e out immediatel$(

The action "as a catal$st to the series of problems that later follo"ed( The principal of theschool "ho "as kno"n to be a strong disciplinarian could not tolerate that kind of Dnonsense.

from an$ teacher* talk less of a student( ?e %o"ed to fight back against the students. leadershipand he made good his threat b$ making sure the 6ogo !+eribe and other student#leaders ne%er came back to the school to compete their studies( !ot onl$ this* in the later $ears "hen !+eribe"on election on the platform of !! to Lagos it$ ouncil along "ith other four labour nationalists in 1&0* the principal of the school re#surfaced again to pla$ the spoiler.s role( or on hearing of !+eribe.s success in the election* he 98( R( Bunting collaborated "ith the colonialgo%ernment of the da$ through a "ell "orded petition he directed to the go%ernor to nullif$!+eribe.s electoral %ictor$ on the prete5t that he had not reached the e5pected maturit$ age tocontest election at the time( This "as ho" !+eribe "as robbed of his first electoral %ictor$ thathe "on for labour in the turbulent political landscape of Lagos(

Ola Oni* later in the school* follo"ed the footstep of 6ogo hu !+eribe and became a

recognised student leader before he left the school( ?e along "ith others initiated a %er$popular student maga+ine kno"n as -ings ollege =5ponent "hich ser%ed as the %oice of student grie%ances( ?e "as also a sportsman "ho de%oted good time for pla$ing football andtennis ball(

The legac$ of -ings ollege in !igerian politics is legendar$( )an$ of the nationalists that foughtthe struggle against colonialist "ere products of -ings ollege( ,mong them "ere =rnest >koli*8( ( Janguah and Samuel ,kinsan$a* "ho "ere the foundation members of !igeria 7outh)o%ement in 1&3F( )an$ of those that can best be described as the shakers of !igerian histor$in man$ di%ergent human endea%ours came from the school( urthermore* there is no "a$ thehistor$ of the countr$ can be discussed "ithout recourse to the contribution of the school( ,good instance in this case "as the issue of emergence of !ational ouncil of !igeria and

ameroon 9!! "hich "as the first trul$ national electoral political part$ that co%ered theentire countr$( The part$ "as formed at the instance of -ings ollege students as an aftermathof -ings ollege strike of 1&FF(

The students. strike of 1&FF erupted as a result of the grie%ances of the students "ho "ereagitating against poor food and unhealth$ accommodation caused b$ mismanagement and "ar conditions 9orld ar >>( hen it appeared to the students that their complaints "ere falling ondeaf ears* the$ decided to embark on hunger strike and bo$cott of classes( >nstead of the schoolauthorities making peace to resol%e the conflict amicabl$* it resorted to dictatorial posturing( Thego%ernment decided to order the ring leaders of the strike to be conscripted into the arm$ andothers to be prosecuted for conducts that "ere likel$ to cause Dbreach of the peace.( Thissituation e5acerbated and compounded the crisis( Hor the first time in contemporar$ e%entsI

recorded ogu ,nanaba* Hleaders of the %arious political parties forget their differences andfound a common ground for the united action( The !igerian Bar 9la"$ers came all out indefence of the bo$s b$ sending its leading members to defend those standing trialI( The resultsof the -ings ollege strike made a group of former students to organise a conference of allorganisations* to found a bod$ "hich "ould unite the people and gi%e leadership to the countr$(The conference "as held at the 6lo%er memorial hall on ,ugust 2'* 1&FF* and resol%ed to formthe !ational ouncil of !igeria and ameroon 9!!(

Ola Oni concluded his education at the -ings ollege in 1&1 and passed the Ani%ersit$ of

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London )atriculation =5amination in the follo"ing sub4ects: )athematics* Latin* =nglish*=uropean ?istor$ and 6eograph$ and British onstitution( Ola Oni proceeded to =ko Bo$s ?ighSchool "here he "orked as a school teacher from 1&3 till 1& before he left for Britain for further studies( Ola Oni taught Latin throughout his sta$ at =ko Bo$s ?igh School( ?e "as "ellkno"n to be a serious teacher "ho belie%ed so much in discipline( This earned him respectamong students and his colleagues at the school(

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C#APTER T'O$ LIFE IN LONDON

Ola Oni attended Ani%ersit$ of =5eter at the centre of London in 1& / 1&G "here he sat for e5aminations that earned him part > B, Social =conomic Studies and part > BSc =conomics( or this @ualification* he "as e5amined in courses such as =conomics* ,pplied =conomics*Sociolog$* =conomics 6eograph$* olitical ?istor$* 6o%ernment* ?istor$ of olitical >deas* Logic

and Scientific )ethods(

,fter this @ualification at the Ani%ersit$ of =5eter* he proceeded to London School of =conomics9LS= to complete his BSc degree programme in =conomics( ?e completed his studies there in1&& "hen he obtained a BSc =conomics "ith Second lass ?onours( ?is area of studies9courses at LS= included: )onetar$ Theor$* international =conomics* omparati%e Banking>nstitutions* )onetar$ and Banking ?istor$* Business inance(

?e later specialised in Banking and inance in his post#graduate programme in )Sc =conomicsat the same Ani%ersit$* LS= in 1&'2( This area of studies co%ered courses such as: >nternational)onetar$ ?istor$ in the 20th entur$* entral Banking Theor$* Banking Theor$* Banking in

,d%anced =conomics of A-* AS* rance* ASSR< entral Banking in e%eloping ountries( ?is

final special paper 9thesis that @ualified him for the )Sc degree in =conomics of London Schoolof =conomics "as titled: H?istor$ and roblems of )one$ and Banking in !igeria* 6hana*Rhodesia* South ,frica and other ,frican countriesI under the super%ision of rofessor (((

London School of =conomics and olitical Science "here Ola Oni studied had a histor$ of radicalism and this must ha%e impacted the culture of radicalism on students that passedthrough the school( ,ll kno"n students of ,frican descent that passed through this school "erepolitical* ideological and "ere often in the fore front of ,frican nationalism( The$ included peoplelike: Sam >koku* ?( O( a%ies* ,lao ,ka Bashorun* 8omo -en$atta 9-en$a etc(

Sidne$ ebb "ho initiated the idea of founding the school "anted an academic establishmentthat "ill concentrate efforts on research* on economics and political matters( ebb at the time

of conceptualising this historical idea "as the hairman of the fi%e#man trustees instituted tomanage the funds pro%ided in the "ill of ?enr$ ?unt ?utchinson* a pro%incial member of theabian Societ$ 9socialist "ho left a significant sum of mone$ in trust for propaganda and other purposes for the said abian Societ$ to"ards ad%ancing its ob4ecti%es in an$ "a$ the$ 9thetrustees deem ad%isable( Sidne$ ebb.s influence on the direction and "hat t$pe of schoolthe$ intended to build "as largel$ determined b$ his political orientation(

?e "orked assiduousl$ for the success of the school 9pro4ect after his proposal to establish it"as accepted b$ other trustees in 1C&( ?e "as the dri%ing force in the establishment andrunning of the school at inception( ?e "orked at different le%els of the school pro4ect( Thisincludes such areas as pro%iding funding through his connection "ith the London ountr$ouncil 9L< hairman of the school trustees and 6o%ernors of the ,dministrati%e ommittee

and the Librar$ ommittee( ?e "as also the Treasurer and the ,cting Librarian( ?e "as todecide "ho "as to be irector of the school( ?e participated as lecturer and later as professor of public administration in the school( ebb.s political orientation largel$ influenced the polic$direction and essence of the institution( ?ardl$ can "e see an$ student of the school that is notpolitical( The dominating political idea of the time "as abianism( Later* ho"e%er* )ar5ismbecame more embraced as a theor$ of changing the societ$(

abianism "hich "as "ith time seen more as an offshoot of utopian socialists $ielded ground toa more ad%anced theor$ / scientific socialism( )ar5ists later dominated the entire faculties and

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departments of the uni%ersit$( Socialist tendenc$ "as e5emplified b$ ?arold Laski* a famous)ember of the arliament on the platform of Labour art$ and professor of olitical Science atLondon School of =conomics(

Ola Oni* compared to his contemporaries* "as luck$ enough to get a stable t$pist "ork at British)inistr$ of ommerce* London( This "ork can best be described as a lu5ur$ "hen compared to

the situation "ith other Black Students "ho "ere engaged in menial and dirt$ 4obs( ?e startedthe "ork in 1&'0 "hich ser%ed as the ma4or source of financing his post#graduate # )Scprogramme at LS=( The t$pist "ork paid off for him later in life( Ola Oni.s closeness to Britishofficials at the time afforded him the opportunit$ to relate "ith man$ British bureaucrats( ?is"ork as a t$pist goes be$ond t$ping of documents( >t in%ol%es e5posure to bureaucratic practiceand totalit$ of e%er$ official tradition that inculcate culture of protocol and procedures( >t "as asort of Dtraining. "hich he could ne%er ha%e e5perienced in class room< an e5perience that hefound useful and indispensable for his organisational and re%olutionar$ "orks later in life(

Ola Oni "as a good sportsman during his $outhful da$s in London( ?e "as acti%el$ in%ol%ed inlong tennis and football( ?e started this practice earl$ in life as a student of -ings ollege*Lagos< the school "as kno"n for encouraging sport acti%ities among its students( Ola Oni "as

not 4ust a football pla$er< he "as the captain of Ani%ersit$ of =5eter team( ?is sport career "asdisplaced onl$ b$ his commitment to political acti%ities "hich dominated the latter part of his life(

Ola Oni "as an acti%e member of ,fro#,sia 9anti#colonial group and !igerian Socialist)o%ement during his student da$s in London( Baba Omo4ola* his close political all$ in thestruggle for decades attested to this( )ost of his spare times "ere de%oted to attendingmeetings of those organisations( This is not strange( Britain has a long histor$ and tradition of accommodating immigrants "ho had different shade of political beliefs( >t could be recalled that-arl )ar5 "ho "as seen b$ the go%ernment of his home countr$ 6erman$* as politicall$dangerous because of his re%olutionar$ ideas and acti%ism* spent the rest of his e5ile $ears inBritain* "here he later died in 1CC3( Bet"een 1& and '3 "hen Ola Oni "as in London* about1G*000 other ,fricans "ere there as students( 10 per cent of them "ere !igerians( >t "as a

period the anti#colonial nationalist struggle "as at its peak in %arious ,frican countries( >t is"orth$ of note that not a fe" of the anti#colonial struggle took place in outside ,frica( or instance* %arious organisations "ere operating in London* the head@uarters of the colonialistpolic$ makers(

Ola Oni "as not ne" to the idea of socialism on coming to London( Before this time* he "asalread$ in%ol%ed in the acti%ities of the socialist and labour mo%ement "hile being a student of apoliticall$ inclined high school* -ings ollege* Lagos( So* on getting to London* he found theplace more conduci%e for political acti%ities and he sa" this as the continuation of his earlier political and re%olutionar$ pursuit at home in !igeria( ?e readil$ 4oined t"o socialist inclinedorganisations / ,fro#,sia and !igeria Socialist )o%ement( One "as a front organisation "hilethe other one "as an organisation of core re%olutionaries( Let us refresh our memories about

these organisations< other"ise "e cannot appreciate the comple5ities of e%ents and mo%ementsthat produced Ola Oni(

There "ere different progressi%e and nationalist organisations a%ailable in Britain for budding$ouths to 4oin( These include: the ommunist art$ of 6reat Britain* the an#,frican )o%ement*and ,fro#,sia )o%ement< man$ that 4oined such organisations did so for reasons other thangenuine and selfless ideological moti%e( ,bo%e all* man$ of these students sa" their membership of such groups as an opportunit$ to protect their indi%idual rights especiall$ in anen%ironment "here racial discrimination "as rampant( , famous 8amaican ,frican nationalist

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and socialist internationalist 6eorge admore once commented on "h$ the So%iet Anion effortto indoctrinate ,frican students that 4oined ommunist art$ had not been entirel$ successful(?e said that the est ,frican Students shed their )ar5ist garments on returning home andre%ert to "hat the$ ha%e al"a$s been at heart / bourgeois nationalist and the British ommunistpart$ "ill be sadl$ disappointed if it "as rel$ing upon those opportunistic intellectuals to lead theproletarian re%olution in ,frica(

, good e5ample of this categor$ of students that admore "as referring to "as ,disa ,kinlo$e"ho "as a student member of ommunist art$ of 6reat Britain "hile in Britain but dide%entuall$ became the leader of the most conser%ati%e part$ in !igeria* !ational art$ of !igeria 9!!( This "as not the case "ith Ola Oni* he belongs to the class of foreign studentsthat retained their socialist con%iction but of course* the colonial administrations made things%er$ difficult for the breeding of communists in most of the colonial ,frican countries( ommunistmaterials "ere banned and adherents of such ideas "ere legall$ restricted from meeting(

,n$ one that flouts these la"s "as to be sanctioned b$ being sent to gaol "ithout option of fine(The situation at the time "as %er$ hostile( There "as an estimate of about 00 communists9none affiliated to ASSR in !igeria as at 1&'1( ue to this stringent condition that !igeria

socialists "ere being sub4ected to* the communist countries of the "orld* especiall$ ASSR andhina* introduced a ne" tactics of influencing mass mo%ement outside core socialistre%olutionar$ organisations( The ,fro#,sian mo%ement in Britain "as one of them(

The tactical approach of the communist "orld in this regard "as to influence student mo%ementin Britain through ,fro#,sian )o%ement and to penetrate the "orking class in !igeria throughtheir trade unions( Some of the unions that "ere led b$ )ichael >moudu* !duka =+e* ahab6oodluck* Basse$* 6ogo hu !+eribe* ,biodun oker at different times affiliated to socialistinfluenced orld ederation of Trade Anions 9TA( This international "orkers organisationdid fund the unions that affiliated to it for the purpose of inter%ening in the nationalist struggle of their %arious countries(

The ,fro#,sia )o%ement "as highl$ %er$ effecti%e as a springboard for recruiting politicalacti%ists for socialist and nationalist causes among students that "ill be going back to their %arious countries in ,frica after the end of their studies in Britain( >t must be remembered that

,fro#,sian mo%ement "as not limited to students and $ouths onl$( ,s a matter of fact* itemanated as an organisation of the ne" emerging independent ,frican countries and that of the

,sian countries at the Anited !ation Organisation for the purpose of supporting themsel%es on%ital issues of mutual political interests( This effort "as found %er$ effecti%e "ith the support of the Dsocialist. countries as "ell(

There "as also !on#,ligned mo%ement of ,frican descent called an#,frican )o%ement( Thismo%ement "as %er$ popular among the student#$ouths as "ell as among the nationalists inman$ ,frican countries( The histor$ of this organisation can be traced to ( =( B ubois and

)arcus 6ar%e$ in est >ndies and AS, respecti%el$( Thereafter the centre stage of theorganisation shifted to Britain "here ubois* 6eorge admore* ( L( R( 8ames and man$ other proponents of this idea resided( These crops of est >ndies and other an#,fricanist 9no"kno"n as ,frican#,merican acti%ists met in Britain( Their student group / est ,frican StudentAnion 9,SA led b$ Ladipo Solanke that "as inaugurated as far back as 1&20 for the purposeof defending member.s. right and fostering the spirit of national consciousness and racial prideamong its members( an#,frican )o%ement contributed a great deal to the de#colonisationprocess in ,frica( The organisation formed a strong campaign institution against colonial policiesand @uestioned the legitimac$ of colonial rule in ,frica( The organisation also ser%ed as a

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training ground for most of the nationalists that later became the political leaders of man$ of the ,frican countries( -"ame !krumah "as one of the products of this organisation( !krumah* "hostudied in AS,* "as acti%el$ in%ol%ed in Black !ationalist consciousness before he later shiftedhis base to Britain "here the head@uarters of an#,fricanism had shifted to( !krumah sta$ed inBritain for a short period of time before returning back to 6hana "here he did put into practicethe idea of an#,fricanism( !krumah did more than an$bod$ else before him and after him to

raise an#,fricanism to practical realit$ as an internationalist ideolog$ that its time had come(The clima5 of the practical demonstration of the idea "as the formal and informal congresses of the organisation held in 6hana in 1&C(

The independence of 6hana in 1&G under the leadership of -"ame !krumah "as responsiblefor the achie%ement of an#,fricanism at the period( The essential element of the mo%ementcan be summarised as enshrined in the resolution of the 1&C ongress( The resolution statedthat HThe ultimate goal of an#,fricanism is the establishment of "hat is %ariousl$ termed aan#,frican ommon"ealth or a Anited States of ,frica( ,s interim targets* the ecember 1&Conference called for the amalgamation of independence to ,frican states into regionalfederation of grouping on the basis of geographical contiguit$* economic interdependence*linguistic and cultural affinit$* "ith the ca%eat ho"e%er that the establishment of such regional

federation should not be pre4udicial to the ultimate ob4ecti%e of a an#,frican ommon"ealth(The basis for the orientation of an organisation "as laid b$ !krumah in his address at themeeting "hen he stated:I; e are not racialist or chau%inists( e "elcome into our midstpeoples of all races* other nations* other communities* "ho desire to li%e among us in peaceand e@ualit$( But the$ must respect us and our rights* our rights as the ma4orit$ to rule( That asour estern friends ha%e taught us to understand it is the essence of democrac$(I ,n ,mericanobser%er at the conference elaborated on this "hen he stated: Hit ga%e birth to a ne" concept of residential an#,fricanismI that is to sa$* contrar$ to racialism* the idea "as that all personsborn or coloured are ,fricans pro%ided the$ belie%e in absolute economic and social e@ualit$and the principle of one#man#one#%ote( The ongress re4ected %iolence as a s$stematic anddeliberate re%olutionar$ "eapon but rather fa%our non#%iolent positi%e action / strikes* bo$cotts*and ci%il disobedience( This particular resolution of non#%iolence "as sub4ected to thorough

debate and @uestioned especiall$ b$ delegates from =g$pt and ,lgeria( The outcome of thisdebate formed the resolution on imperialism and colonialism "hich stated: Hthat the organisationpromised full support to all fighters for freedom in ,frica* to all those "ho are compelled toretaliate against %iolence;I Subse@uent ongress did not talk of non#%iolence again(

The ongress also condemned the aspect of traditionalist outlook that meant to dra" ,fricanback"ard< "hile the resolution stressed the %alues of their traditional culture and glorif$ thegolden ages of the past< it condemned the aspect that fa%oured tribalism and chieftainc$( Themo%ement "as ne%ertheless capitalist in its economic programme( The programme focuses onassistance of pri%ate enterprise and capital but belie%es that a high degree of go%ernmententerprise and o"nership is essential to regenerate ,frican societ$(

The neutralist posturing of the mo%ement that made it to refrain from taking sides in the cold "ar "as responsible for its polic$ of seeking Ha kind of )onroe doctrine for ,frica to enable ,fricansto settle the problems of their o"n continent* a reaction that "as intensified b$ foreigninter%ention in ongo crisisI( espite this assurance of neutralit$* AS, did not trust !krumahand his other leading omrades of an#,fricanism( This is characteristic of ,merica polic$( 7ouare either regarded as an all$ or enem$( ,s at 1&'0* "hen !igeria attained her independence*out of 2' of such independent ,frican states that "ere accorded independence* onl$ fe" of them shared the idea of an#,fricanism( These include =g$pt* 6hana* 6uinea* )ali* )orocco*and the ,lgerian pro%isional go%ernment( This "as the reason "h$ the goal of an#,fricanism

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became difficult to be achie%ed at the le%el of state # go%ernment institution( The group thatsupported an#,fricanism "ere kno"n as asablanca group and the other ,frican statesma4orit$ that included mostl$ rench colonised countries "ere referred to as Bra++a%ille group(Both groups later formed a loose united ,frican organisation kno"n as Organisation of ,fricanAnit$ 9O,A and recentl$ named ,frican Anion 9,A( The ri%alr$ bet"een the t"o groups did notsubside despite this coming together(

an#,fricanism found its ground more in the non#go%ernmental organisations such as: tradeunions* student mo%ement* "omen organisations and political associations that "ere under theinfluence of !krumah led an#,frican )o%ement( ,t the international le%el like A!* an#

,fricanist ad%ocates readil$ ad%ance their ideas and position to member delegates( The$ alsoformed alliance "ith other progressi%e members "ithin ,fro#,sia mo%ement* and ,fro#,siamo%ement "as the norm in the 0.s and '0.s at all le%el of the organisation(

The ,fro#,sia mo%ement ser%ed as a strategic alliance for the an#,fricanist ad%ocatesachie%ing their ob4ecti%e at the inter#go%ernmental le%el( Ola Oni as a member of this mo%ement"as con%ersant "ith political situation at home "hich also led to follo"#up or back#up acti%itiesin Britain( Balarabe )usa testified to the acti%ities of Ola Oni as far back as 1&C "hen the

struggle for !igerian independence "as still on and as a teacher in ostis@ue he and some of his other colleagues recei%ed a message from Ola Oni in%iting them to come to a meeting inneighbouring ameroun( Balarabe said he "as surprised to meet a $oung man like Ola Oni "ho"as stud$ing in the A-* but also in%ol%ed in such underground acti%ities and challengingpolitical roles( The ,fro#,sia members also en4o$ed the opportunit$ of being sponsored b$ ,sianDcommunist. countries like hina* !orth -orea* and )ongolia( The relationship that Ola Onicourted "ith hina and !orth -orea started at this time( hen Ola Oni %isited hina in 1&'F* he"as recei%ed and gi%en the red#carpet treatment b$ the hinese head of state* hairman )ao(

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C#APTER T#REE: I%ADAN

Oni "as an internationalist but made >badan* the first republic capital of estern Region hisbase and the epicentre of his political acti%ities from the time he returned from London( ?isinfluence as a )ar5ist and re%olutionar$ cut across the length and breadth of !igeria(

Ola Oni started his career in >badan as a lecturer at the Ani%ersit$ of >badan in September* 1&'3on returning from London after his uni%ersit$ education( =%er since then* there "as ne%er a dullmoment in his political life( ,s a matter of fact* the histor$ of !igerian left politics "ould not becomplete "ithout Oni( ?e contributed immensel$ to the de%elopment of the socialist struggle in!igeria( ,s a committed )ar5ist* he did not 4oin an$ of the e5isting popular bourgeois parties"hen he returned from Britain( ?e preferred to "ork instead "ithin the Anited orking eople.sart$ / Socialist art$ of orkers and armers( ?e 4oined Omotosho* a legal practitioner andother labour leaders in >badan to lead the part$ in estern +one(

The !ational ouncil of !igeria and the ameroons had lost its ideological bearing asmost of its radical and socialist inclined $outh had been frustrated and left the part$( ,t

that time the ideological struggle raging in the ,ction 6roup had degenerated to a ma4or political crisis in earl$ 1&'0.s "hen S( L( ,kintola and ,$o Rosi4i* the remier of esternRegion and the part$.s ederal Secretar$ respecti%el$ "ere e5pelled from the part$(

The opportunism and ideological "eakness of the t"o leading parties became e%er moremanifest* immediatel$ after independence in 1&'0( ?o"e%er* ma4orit$ of the nationalist$outh "ho "ere socialists* especiall$ in the est pitched their tent "ith the ,ction 6roup"hich had a more attracti%e state led de%elopment* "elfarist programme and a solid recordof achie%ement( Oni* despite this* aligned himself "ith the independent leftist organisation(

,ll his intellectual and political "ork re%ol%ed around the liberation of the poor masses(

T(e Ag)eko&a Da&>n 1&'C the peasant farmers of >badan and its en%irons 9O$o* Osun* =gba* >4ebu re%oltedagainst the militar$ go%ernment of Brigadier ,de$inka ,deba$o* the militar$ go%ernor of esternState( ,deba$o "as the second militar$ go%ernor of the state after Lieutenant olonel ,dekunlea4u$i "ho "as killed* in the compan$ of the erst"hile head of state* Lt 6eneral ,gui$i >ronsi in6o%ernment ?ouse at ,godi* >badan* "hile on a state %isit to the estern State of !igeria( The

,gbeko$a da$s pro%ided the first ma4or e%ents for Ola Oni to displa$ his re%olutionar$ potential(

The political turmoil in the state "as personified b$ Obafemi ,"olo"o* former remier and ,ction 6roup leader and Ladoke ,kintola* "ho "as the substanti%e remier of the region( Thisultimatel$ led to street fights and a serious political insurrection against the go%ernment of

,kintola and his supporters( >t "as also largel$ one of the remote causes of the 1&'' militar$coup* led b$ )a4or -aduna !+eogu( The coup failed to capture state po"er e%en after killing soman$ top !igerian political leaders* including ,kintola* ,hmadu Bello* Tafa"a Bale"a* Okotie#=boh( >t led to the take#o%er of po"er b$ ,gui$i >ronsi* a 6eneral in the arm$* "ho "as probabl$the most senior !igerian militar$ officer at the time and "ho "as responsible for o%er#turning thecoup attempt b$ !+eogu(

The northern militar$ officers interpreted this coup differentl$ ( The$ sa" it as an ethnic agendastaged b$ >bo militar$ officers in the selfish interests of their people( The counter coup of 8ul$*1&'' led to the death of >ronsi and "as follo"ed b$ a pogrom of people of >bo descent li%ing in

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northern !igeria( This "as responsible for the start of the Biafran ci%il "ar 91&'G / G0* led b$olonel Odumeg"u O4uk"u in an attempt to gain independence for the =astern Region(

Ola Oni e5plained that the farmers* kno"n as ,gbeko$a* "ere complaining that the militar$go%ernment of ,de$inka ,deba$o in the est "as shifting the burden of the ci%il "ar on to thepoor !igerians* especiall$ the "orkers and peasant farmers( The go%ernment* according to Ola

Oni* imposed multiple financial burdens on the poor people of the state( This included differentforms of ta5 and dues such as income ta5* local rates* de%elopment ta5* market dues* motor park charges* "ater rates* high transport costs* rises in school fees for their children etc( >naddition* the cocoa price "as fi5ed far belo" the le%el in other cocoa producing countries like6hana( ,lthough the e5cuse gi%en b$ the go%ernment for the lo" price "as that the marketingboard "ould manage an$ surplus from the sale of such cocoa produce on the "orld market* inthe best interests of the farmers and use it for de%elopmental purposes* including infrastructuralin%estment* public utilities and amenities 9such as roads* education* health ser%ices* "ater andelectricit$ schemes and for direct contributions to industrial in%estment( 6ar%in illiamsremarked that this had Hamounted to a massi%e and disproportionate fiscal contribution b$ thefarmers "ho "ere ne%er compensated b$ cocoa price abo%e the "orld price( !one of thego%ernments. promises came to fruition< the$ "ere mere deception of gullible farmersI(

Ola Oni argued that: Hthe poor people of the >badan area* mostl$ peasant farmers* ha%e nosource of reasonable income< the$ relied on sales of food products "ith an a%erage income of less than K20 per annumI( hereas at the time of the strike in 1&'C / '&* illiams put theminimum ta5 liabilit$ for farmers at K(10s per annum( >n the preceding $ears the a%erage ta5had been Gs per capital per annum( >n addition to the ta5 increases* the immediate cause of thefarmers. re%olt "as the %arious acts of %iolence from the go%ernment ta5 collectors and the%ariet$ of pett$ council officials* such as to"n planners* clerks and sanitar$ inspectors "hoembe++led mone$* took bribes from the farmers for the non#implementation of incomprehensibleregulations* or 4ust demanded mone$( H,ccounts of the oppression of politicians and officials inthe rural areas 9at the time leading to the re%olt sound more like the acti%ities of an arm$ of occupation than an indigenous administrationI(

Ola Oni had contacts and a "orking relationship "ith leaders of the ,gbeko$a Societ$( ?econfessed that it "as at this time that he first learnt of the %arious farms and %illages around O$oand >badan( Reports also reached Ola Oni that ,"olo"o had %isited the leader of theorganisation* Tafa ,deo$e at his farm in ,kanran* "hich "as the head@uarters of the re%olt(hile he "as pleading "ith the farmers ,"olo"o also ad%ised them to shun Ola Oni and otherslike him* "ho he described as professional trouble makers( ,"olo"o also assured the farmersthat he "ould inter%ene in the matter b$ personall$ taking up their case "ith the militar$go%ernor of the estern State* Brigadier ,de$inka ,deba$o( Later* the one#person 4udicialcommission of en@uir$ of 8ustice ,$oola 9"ho later became the hief 8udge of estern State"as constituted b$ the go%ernment( But the commission did not recommend a reduction in theta5es charged on the poor farmers despite the acceptance of the grie%ances of the ,gbeko$a

Societ$(

, graphic description of the re%olt "as gi%en b$ 8ustin Labin4oh* a sociologist "ho e5plained these@uence of e%ents as follo"s:

Hthe agitation began first in O$o against the misuse of education rates( >t @uickl$ spreadto >badan and Orogun and also to >shara in >4ebu#Remo di%ision "here the palace andthe properties of the Odemo of >shara* Oba Samuel ,kinsan$a* "ere burnt b$ an angr$mob( On 11th !o%ember* a mob of about 3*000 farmers singing "ar songs and carr$ing

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charms and "eapons marched to the Olubadan.s palace( , "eek later* council offices"ere attacked and properties there "ere damaged( On 2th !o%ember* farmers attackedthe council offices at >$ana Offa in >badan =ast( The ne5t da$ armed farmers con%ergedat >badan from the South and South#est and attacked council "orkers in )apo ?all(hen the combined arm$ and police units opened fire on them the$ fled* lea%ing tendead and ele%en "ounded( >di ,$unre in >badan South* one official "as reported killedI(

,nother account in illiam.s book DState and Societ$.* pointed out:

HOn 2 8une 1&'&* olarin >do"u 9eput$ Leader of ,gbeko$a Societ$* a farmer.sleader* declared at a public meeting of ,kanran that the farmers "ould pa$ onl$ K0(30sta5( hen the go%ernment finall$ began its long dela$ed ta5 raids on 1st 8ul$* then police"ere ambushed at Olorunda corner* near ,kanran< agitation spread throughout >badandi%ision and to Ogbomoso* "here the Soun 9the Oba of Ogbomoso "as mercilessl$hacked to pieces( >n the %illages the heads bore much of the brunt of the farmers. anger and in >badan di%ision* the Bale of %irtuall$ e%er$ to"n and %illage fled hurriedl$ to>badanI(

urthermore* the ?eadlines !e"spaper 9historical maga+ine format re%ealed as much:

HThe modus operandi of the ,gbeko$a men looked too sophisticated for mere illiteratefarmers( The$ laid ambush for police patrol men at strategic positions and mounted roadblocks at random( >n places like >le#>ddo* >di#,mu* >ta Bashorun and >di#,$unre D"arriors.mounted road blocks and engaged in cross#fire "ith the police and soldiers sent aroundto @uell the riots(

HThe riots spread into da$s and into "eeks and into months( The ,gbeko$a menorganised themsel%es into operational groups to keep the securit$ forces at ba$()ean"hile* deaths had been recorded on both sides( >n a clash bet"een the rioters andthe police and soldiers at =gba Obafemi near ,beokuta* 10 ci%ilians and a soldier "ere

reported to ha%e lost their li%es( ?o"e%er* the rioting farmers appeared to ha%e held thefort for so long because the$ struck in different areas of the state at the same time* or ine%er$ @uick succession* thus making it difficult for securit$ agencies to concentrateaction(((

Herhaps* the most striking action of the rioters "as the siege on the ,godi rison in>badan on September 1'* 1&'&( Before then* the rioting farmers had organisedthemsel%es into groups across the state; ?a%ing perfected their plans* the ,gbeko$afighters from ,kanran mo%ed from the %illage to ,godi rison in >badan( The$ caught theprison authorities as "ell as the police una"ares( The farmers pounced on the prisongates* flung it open and set all the prisoners free( Before the prison "orkers kne" "hat"as happening* the farmers had descended on the prison properties* destro$ing

e%er$thing on sight< "ithout lea%ing an$thing left( >n the ensued milieu* prison "ardersand other prison officials had no option but to run for their li%es(

H,fter the siege* a corpse "as l$ing outside the prison gate( Some meters a"a$* at the>ta#Bashorun* another corpse "as found( The report of the outbreak of la"lessnessstunned the police( The ,godi police station* "hich "as almost opposite the prison $ard*"as %andalised b$ the HriotersI* and policemen on dut$ had to take to their heels(?o"e%er* the follo"ing da$* the police s"ung into action* apparentl$ irked b$ theplundering of the ,godi prison and the killing of a police superintendent in charge of the

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prison* and the ra%aging of the ,godi olice Station;

H>n the raid carried out b$ a combined team of policemen and soldiers* FG personsbelie%ed to be connected "ith the Driot. "ere arrested( ?o"e%er* on Thursda$* September 1C* 1&'&* four policemen on a police patrol team "ere reportedl$ attacked b$ rioters(

,nother group of rioters broke loose* setting abla+e the police station and an arm$

barrack in Oba near ,beokuta( Similarl$* a number of policemen "ere also said to ha%edied at the ,deo$o ?ospital* >badan* follo"ing gunshot "ounds the$ sustained during aclash "ith the farmers at ,kufo %illage near >badanI(

Ola Oni* in discussing the e%ents* takes e5ception to referring the incident as a riot( ?e insistedthat "hat actuall$ happened "as a re%olt because it "as not a spontaneous action* as somepeople "ill "ant to make us belie%e( Rather* according to him* the actions "ere consciousl$planned b$ the poor farmers targeted against the rich and the elite class in societ$( The issuethat man$ researchers and scholars interested in this area of stud$ are tr$ing to unra%el are the@uestion of leadership behind the re%olt and the cause 9remote and immediate responsible for the action( On that* Ola Oni a%erred that man$ interpretations had been offered as being thereason for it( This includes the ongoing issue of local feudal politics about election of chiefs in

"hich state administration "as held responsible* and the issue of state creation( But Tafa ,deo$e* the leader of the group is on record to ha%e denounced this e5planation( The "a$ there%olt "as conducted confirmed Tafa.s positio their actions "ere not onl$ directed against thego%ernment but to all categories of elites in the societ$* including the old politicians of bothfactions and chieftainc$ title holders that the farmers percei%ed as responsible for their problems(

>n anal$sing the re%olt in perspecti%e* Ola Oni recognised the position of the elite of >badan andO$o "ho belie%ed that the solution to their problems "as to create a state that "ould be led b$them( This position "as %indicated b$ the fact that the$ had al"a$s been in opposition topre%ious go%ernments( On the other hand* Ola Oni also shared Tafa.s position that that

,gbeko$a "as not being used but that the$ "ere able to hold their ground and remain focused

because of the farmers. high sense of political consciousness and their sensiti%it$ to in4ustice*ho"e%er minor( >n his "ords he traced this consciousness to the role of the acti%ists in the past:

Hthe past political acti%ists ha%e built in the people a le%el of political consciousness"hich makes them regard the state machiner$ as an instrument for dra"ing resources tobenefit the ruling class 9people in po"er* bureaucrac$* politician* militar$ officers andbusinessmen( Report has it that the ,gbeko$a.s re%olt "as not the first kind of e5hortations that generated political dissension and contro%ers$ in the state( >n the1&0.s 91&2* precisel$ the >badan Ta5 a$ers ,ssociation "as organised b$ ,deo$e

,delabu to fight against e5cessi%e ta5ation of the people of >badan( This organisationlater transformed to the )ai$egun League to fight for the cocoa farmers( This* thereafter*became a political force that ,delabu reinforced for his political mission(I

,round the same issue "as the crisis that erupted bet"een the t"o leaders of the ,ction 6roup* ,"olo"o and ,kintola* "hich started from a fiscal polic$ disagreement o%er ho" to apportion ta5on the people of estern !igeria( , political record of the crisis according to emi ,hmedstated:

Hsome of the issues "ere that ,kintola.s go%ernment reduced ta5 to K1:1Gs( 'p leading tothe loss of Kmillion pounds in the region.s re%enues* reduction in the price of cocoa andincrease in school feesI(

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>n an attempt to clear himself of the allegation* ,kintola insisted that it "as a part$ decision tointroduce a reduction in ta5ation and that the reduction in cocoa price to K100 "as a result of thedepression in the international market for cocoa< citing comparati%e prices from 6hana 9K&*=astern !igeria 9K&' and ameroon 9K100 to substantiate his claim( On school fees heinsisted that it "as also a collecti%e part$ decision( This defense did not persuade ,"o.s camp(

The difference became "ider "ith each passing da$( The con%ention of the part$ in 8ossucceeded onl$ in heightening the crisis( ,$o Rosi4i* "ho belonged to ,kintola.s camp* "assuspended as the 6eneral Secretar$ of the part$ and replaced b$ S( 6( >koku* "ho had earlier been the leader of opposition in the =astern ?ouse of ,ssembl$(

Ladoke ,kintola "as later dismissed from office as the remier of estern Region and e5pelledfrom the ,ction 6roup* for not consulting "ith the part$ machiner$ before carr$ing out his polic$and for the steps he had earlier taken in re%oking the appointments of 8( ,( Odeku* ,lfredRe"ane* 8* Odun4o and others "ho belonged to ,"olo"o.s camp from their %arious positions ingo%ernment( This "as ho" the differences reached a full blo"n crisis* a position of no return(This crisis in the est* apart from the effect it had on the national politics of the militar$ takingo%er po"er and the subse@uent ci%il "ar* "ere the product of the militar$.s inabilit$ to contain in

a ci%il manner the bottled up conflicts in the land( The main stream political trend in the esthas ne%er been the same since this crisis(

Ola Oni lambasted the successi%e militar$ go%ernments in estern !igeria after the militar$inter%ention for their negligence and failure to adopt a pro#poor approach to resol%ing the crisisin such a "a$ that benefited the people( The basis of Oni.s critism of these militar$ officers "astheir tendenc$ to follo" the same pattern in tr$ing to sol%ing the crisis* for e5ample* Lt ol

,dekunle a4u$i attempted to sol%e the problem b$ follo"ing ,gui$i >ronsi.s line of a unitar$s$stem compared to federalism "hich "as seen b$ man$ as the best( ,t the same time he paidless attention to the domestic problems of the entire state remaining from the pre%iousadministration(

Oni belie%ed that Brigadier ,de$inka ,deba$o "as able to understand the problem before him*better than his predecessor( But Ola Oni did not agree "ith ,daba$o.s solution< disunit$ "as notthe ma4or problem of the region( ,deba$o.s panacea for disunit$. "as to pacif$ the t"o factionsof old politicians( One of the things he did "as to share the appointment of commissioners andother political offices bet"een these t"o political factions( The realit$* according to Ola Oni* "asthat despite these palliati%e measures to assuage both camps* the$ failed "oefull$ to addressthe backsliding that persisted among the "arring factions(

>n Ola Oni.s opinion* the mistake of successi%e militar$ regimes "as to rel$ on the %er$ samepoliticians that "ere responsible for the problems that led to the militar$ to take po"er in the firstplace( ?e found this approach distasteful* politicall$ na%e and morall$ un4ustified( ?e belie%edthat if the militar$ actuall$ meant "ell for the people* the$ should ha%e targeted the mass of poor

people "ith their economic and political policies( or e5ample* the$ still imposed more ta5es onthe poor farmers* instead of ta5ing the upper strata of societ$/ the business contractors* statebureaucrac$* the old politicians etc( ,s a result* the militar$ go%ernment failed like their ci%iliancounterparts before them(

The re%olt of ,gbeko$a confirmed that mass resolute struggle pa$s di%idends( =%en though notall their demands "ere met* some significant concessions "ere "on(

HTa5 "as reduced to HK2 per person per annum* there "as an amnest$ for all farmers

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arrested e5cept for those charged "ith murder* all local go%ernment staff "eresuper%ised from >badan< motor park and market fees "ould be abolished and could onl$be introduced in future if councils sho"ed e%idence of capital e5penditure in this area* nospecial rates "ould be le%ied "ithout the e5press permission of the people concerned*the 4urisdiction of the to"n authorities "ould be restricted to areas "ith a modern la$#out*non#farmers "ould be e5cluded from the farmers union* the go%ernment "ould appoint

representati%e ad%isor$ committees* the assets of the local go%ernment staff "ould bein%estigated and there "ould be an end to ta5 raids and an end to arm$ and policepatrolsI 9ail$ Times* 1th October* 1&'&(

Ola Oni himself "as one of the %ictims of the re%olt( =%en "hen the state could not directl$ linkhim to the re%olt* the$ speculated that he had a hand in it( or this reason* he "as arrested anddetained( ?is household "as sub4ected to harassment( ?is house and office "as searched b$the securit$ forces( Some of his documents and files "ere carted a"a$ and "ere then Dlost. b$the police( The idea that he "as acti%e in this re%olt and other open protests e5plained thestate.s hostile polic$ to"ards him( Since the the ,gbeko$a uprising Oni "as on the statesecurit$ agents. list of securit$ risks( This nonetheless did not diminish his re%olutionar$ +eal andhis commitment to the cause of the common people(

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C#APTER FOUR: LECTURER AS ACTI*IST

omrade Ola Oni "orked harmoniousl$ "ith his colleagues at the Ani%ersit$ of >badan(Throughout his academic career as a brilliant scholar he brought ingenuit$ to academics( ?e"as one of the pioneer lecturers in the epartment of =conomics at the time "hen theAni%ersit$ had been full$ indigenised and its status "as changing from its former a ollege of

the Ani%ersit$ of London to a full fledged independent uni%ersit$( ,lthough he got appointmentletters to three uni%ersities # Ani%ersit$ of >fe 9no" Obafemi ,"ol"o Ani%ersit$* Ani%ersit$ ofLagos and Ani%ersit$ of >badan( ?e preferred the Ani%ersit$ of >badan* "here he "as to "orkuntil he retired(

Before he decided "hich appointment offer to accept* Ola Oni considered "hich uni%ersit$* atthe time* "ould enable him to ha%e the greatest impact on societ$( or him* teaching "as not

4ust a career to make a li%ing* but an opportunit$ to achie%e a mission* the emancipation of thedo"ntrodden( This is the reason that before returning to !igeria for this appointment* he kne"that his academic career "ould not be dedicated to preser%ing the old order* but geared to"ardssocial commitment and impacting on the li%es of ordinar$ !igerian people(

>n correspondence* for instance "ith Sam ,luko o%er the offer of his appointment at theAni%ersit$ of >fe* "here ,luko "as the ,cting ?ead of epartment of =conomics* Ola Onipointed out ho" he shared ,luko.s concern o%er the urgent need to ha%e local te5tbook of their o"n "hich used local e5periences to illustrate their academic discipline( >n his "ords* Ola Oniurged that* Hour department can surel$ a%oid sla%ish imitation "hich has been kno"n tocharacterise man$ of the educational institutions emerging in the ne" countriesI( ?e "ent onfurther:

Hthere is an important matter "hich > ha%e "anted to ask $ou( This concerns the attitudeof the members of the authorities of the uni%ersit$ to the political acti%ities of members of the academic staff( > regard it absolutel$ essential that in our profession "e mustpossess that necessar$ intellectual freedom of speech and "riting( ithout this freedom*

"e shall be handicapped in putting our kno"ledge to the ad%antage of the mass of thepeople( uring this era of economic and social changes* "e surel$ cannot remain apassi%e agent "ithin our milieu( -indl$ let me kno" frankl$ in $our ne5t letter the %ie"s of the authorities of the Ani%ersit$ of >fe on this matterI(

The Ani%ersit$ of >badan might ha%e been considered b$ him not because it "as pa$ing ahigher salar$ than >fe or Lagos* neither "as it for its social infrastructures and reputation nor for being the first uni%ersit$ in the countr$ "ith a link to Ani%ersit$ of London* but because thereappeared to be relati%e lack of academic autonom$ at the Ani%ersit$ of >fe< "here lecturers andstaff in general "ere polarised along part$ lines / ,ction group and !igeria !ational emocraticart$( These t"o parties "ere at the centre of the crisis that engulfed the first republic( )ilitar$go%ernments that came through the coup of 8anuar$ 1* 1&'' and thereafter could not resol%ed

this polarisation( That "as perhaps the reason the go%ernment of )uritala )ohammed andOlusegun Obasan4o 9"hich prided itself as a reformer took o%er all the uni%ersities o"ned b$the regions including Ani%ersit$ of >fe* ,hmadu Bello Ani%ersit$ 9,BA* Maria and Ani%ersit$ of !igeria* !sukka 9A!!(

Ola Oni commenced his academic career at the epartment of =conomics* Ani%ersit$ of >badanon October 1* 1&'3 as an ,ssistance Lecturer( ?e "as promoted to Lecturer >> in October 1*1&'F( >n 1&'G* his appointment "as confirmed and he "as promoted to Lecturer 6rade Le%el >(?is promotion "as dela$ed thereafter until 1&G' "hen he "as promoted to the position of Senior

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Lecturer* the position he held until his retirement from the Ani%ersit$ in 1&CC( The epartment of =conomics had became a full#fledged epartment able to prepare students for egree in BSc=conomics in 1&'2( Since 1&'0 it had kno"n as the epartment of =conomics and SocialStudies preparing student for degree of B, =conomics and other Social Science sub4ects likeolitical Science and ,nthropolog$( The pioneer ?ead of epartment of =conomics "asBarback* an ,ustralian trained scholar and professor< "ho then became the irector of est

,frica >nstitute of Social and =conomic Research 9,>S=R( Tun4i ,bo$ade took o%er the ?eadof epartment position in 1&''( The department gre" stronger* more %ibrant and e%entuall$ hadthe en%iable position of being indisputabl$ the best economics department in ,frica(

omrade Ola Oni.s position in the department "as described b$ the reno"ned poet* rofessor !i$i Osundare 9at his inaugural lecture at the Ani%ersit$ of >badan in 200 sa$ing:

HOla Oni "as a lone )ar5ist intellectual among the mackerel of ,dam Smith economistsat the Ani%ersit$ of >badanI(

This graphic literar$ e5pression of the ideological relationship that e5isted bet"een Ola Oni andhis colleagues at the epartment "as also testified to b$ a participant* rofessor =mma

=do+ien* "ho in relating the comradeship that e5isted among colleagues at the epartmentstated: Hstaff meetings in the department "ere al"a$s li%el$( omrade Ola Oni "ould come "ithhis )ar5ist bent and ,bo$ade "ould look at me and sa$* H=mma* ans"er himI( espite=do+ien.s claim that all the colleagues in the epartment "ere friends and a happ$ famil$* the)ar5ist outlook of Ola Oni "as responsible for the prolonged dela$ in his promotion and theretardation of his academic career( Tun4i ,bo$ade "ho "as seen as being at the centre of this%ictimisation could not hide his ideological hatred for )ar5ism( >n e5pressing this* ,bo$adestated:

Hconcepts like dependenc$ or the socialist or )ar5ist path to de%elopment "hichappealed to left economists in the interpretation of third "orld underde%elopment "erenearer populism than scholarship( The$ allo"ed scholars to make all kinds of statements

"hich 9to him are not disciplined statement* a product of non#discipline minds and of intellectual la+iness(I

espite this despicable comment* ,bo$ade admitted that the socialists "ere %er$ popular "iththe public* but he sho"ed his bias "hen he traced such popularit$ to lo" le%el of economiceducation in societ$( ?e belie%ed that man$ people could not dra" the line bet"een patrioticproducti%e discipline and the populism "hich allo"ed them to shift the burden of de%elopment tothe machinations of outsiders meaning imperialism(

This is characteristic of the ideological background of people like ,bo$ade and amounts toassuming that the poor* oppressed* e5ploited "orking people "ho are at the recei%ing end of in4ustice in societ$ can ne%er think for themsel%es( hereas it is a common dictum in social

science that the best "a$ to test an$ theor$ is in the palace of practice or other"ise it remainsnothing but abstract theor$( ,s =do+ien once commented* Ola Oni belie%ed %er$ strongl$ intheor$( >t "ill generall$ be correct to sa$ that )ar5ism has no e@ual in the theoretical realm* butthe fact remains that if Ola Oni "as to stop his intellectual "ork in the realm of theor$* he "ouldnot ha%e had an$ problem "ith ,bo$ade and his other contemporaries( The problem "as thecommitment and direct political in%ol%ement of Ola Oni in the class struggle* that is* his abilit$ todemonstrate his )ar5ist theories in the da$#to#da$ life of the people( Things ho"e%er changedlater in the epartment "ith the persistent struggles and sacrifices of people like Ola Oni( ?e didnot share the idea of adapting to the e5isting s$stem* but belie%ed in fighting it e%en "hen it "as

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not con%enient for him(

omrade Ola Oni introduced )ar5ist olitical =conom$ in to the s$llabus of the epartment of =conomics at the Ani%ersit$( This "as later accepted at %arious departments of economics inother uni%ersities( >n the 1&G0s there "as no self#respecting uni%ersit$ in the modern "orld* be it?ar%ard* the Sorbonne* the London School of =conomics or ambridge that could afford to

ignore the tradition of )ar5ist scholarship( Ola Oni* unlike man$ of his colleagues* "ould ne%er lobb$ for promotion( >n his opinion* such practices is antithetical to academic tradition andserious scholarship( ?e said:

H>f "e "ant our uni%ersit$ to make an$ "orth"hile contribution to the intellectualde%elopment of our nation* a lecturer should ha%e the freedom to plan his academiccareer in the best "a$ he thinks he can achie%e the best resultI(

Ola Oni distinguished himself as a reputable economist of note "ho had the philosophicaloutlook of combining theor$ "ith practice( Jarious mass organisations including students.unions* teachers* 4ournalists* $outh organisations* trade unions* "orking class groups* market"omen* popular democratic organisations* professional groups 9!igeria Bar ,ssociation*

Bankers ,ssociation* go%ernment institutions and agencies* state go%ernments 9e(g(residenc$ in%ited Ola Oni to s$mposia or lectures( Ola Oni ne%er disappointed them( ?e hadtried to simplif$ intricate economic issues and technical terms for ease of understanding( !oneof his colleagues "ho alleged that his contribution and academic "ork "as not producti%e couldmatch him "hen it came to e5plaining theoretical ideas in a "a$ that the common people couldunderstand( or this* a lot of !igerians held omrade Ola Oni in high esteem( hat is more* for an$ theor$ to be rele%ant it must be tested in practice or else it becomes abstract* pedantic andan obscure compilation of papers for self#aggrandisement( This is no less true for )ar5ism thanfor an$ other branch of kno"ledge that hopes to ha%e a positi%e impact on the li%es of thepeople(

Such a practical approach to e5plaining theories can be found in man$ of his "ritings in

academic 4ournals / e%elopment and eatures of the !igerian inancial S$stem # a )ar5ist ,pproach 91&''* hose Republic 91&'&* The risis of e%elopment and the a$ ,head for !igeria 91&GF* >nflation in !igeria: The roblem of Theoretical erspecti%e 91&GF* ages andSalaries Re%ie": Tight Rope of Bourgeois Reformism 91&GF* !igeria orking eople.s)anifesto 91&GF* , riti@ue of e%elopment lanning in !igeria 91&G* The struggle for =conomic >ndependence in !igeria 91&G* The raft onstitution and the ommoneople< roletarian Struggles in !igeria: ?istorical ?ighlights 91&C3* Reformist olitical)o%ements in ontemporar$ !igeria* in olitics of !igeria To"ards rogressi%e !igeria 9editedb$ ,( >bok 91&CF(

onferences attended "ith papers presented included* orld Ani%ersit$ Ser%ice Norkshopheld at Ani%ersit$ of >badan: risis of e%elopment 91&G2* !igeria Trade Anion ederation

9!TA held in Lagos: The >mplication of ecree 31 on the e%elopment of Trade Anionism in!igeria 91&G3* F1st ,nnual onference of the !igerian Anion of Teachers held at the Ani%ersit$of !igeria =nugu ampus: olitical ob4ecti%es for !igeria e%elopment 91&GF* !ationalorkshop of the atriotic 7outh )o%ement at the Ani%ersit$ of >badan campus: The struggle for =conomic >ndependence in !igeria 91&G*

,bo%e all* omrade Ola Oni pla$ed a central role in establishing the ,cadem$ of ,rts* Scienceand Technolog$( ?e "as the founding resident of the ,cadem$ for ten $ears and he remainedone of the ma4or forces of the organisation( The organisation comprised of progressi%e

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intellectuals from across the "hole countr$ especiall$ from the 1&G0.s( The theoretical 4ournalpublished b$ the ,cadem$ en4o$ed "ider acceptance compared to similar 4ournalsinternationall$( The 4ournal "as kno"n as HTheor$ and racticeI and "as edited b$ theaccomplished scholar r( Omafume Onoge( The ,cadem$ "as open about its progressi%e andradical ideological orientation against the neo#colonial e5ploitati%e s$stem(

The pioneering official of the organ* Theor$ and ractice include the follo"ing =ditorial ,d%isers: ,(,( ,ki"o"o 9!>S=R A>* =me ,"a 9A!! and =(A( =ssien#Adom 9A>< Omafume Onoge #oordinating =ditor 9A>< ontributing =ditors / hinua ,chebe 9A!!* Busari ,debisi 9A>* Ta$o

,kpata 9A>* ?enr$ Bo+imo 9,BA* (O(ada 9A>* Oke =mordi 9A!!* himere >koku 9A!!*S(6(>koku 9=astern !igeria* )(=(-olagbodi 9!,,SO* 7emi )osadomi* >kenna !+imiro* )ergObasi* =mmanuel Obiechina* S(,(Odunuga hi4oke Og"urike 9A!!* ,kin O4o 9A>* O(O(Okedi4i 9A>* emi Okunrounmi 9Anilag* 6(O( Olusan$a 9Lagos* (T( Okpako 9A>* Ola Oni 9A>*(O( Osi$emi 9A>* eli5 Orag"u 9Science Technolog$* 7usuf Bala Asman 9,BA and Obi ali9Ri%ers State 6o%ernment(

The reputation of the organisation and its 4ournal 9Theor$ and ractice spread far and near toe%er$ corner of the "orld especiall$ for its pioneering role in the ad%ancement of academics in

de%eloping countries like !igeria and ,frica in general( , "ord of congratulation once came fromS"eden from a !igerian* harles ,kinde* "ho e5pressed his appreciation for the bold stepstaken b$ the 8ournal( ?e stated that* H$ou ha%e created an insurmountable 4o$ in me 9o%er thisgood "ork b$ progressi%e academicians in the countr$I(

The establishment of the ,cadem$ of ,rts* Science and Technolog$ "as not the first such efforton the part of Ola Oni in organising academic bodies( ,s far back as 1&''* Ola Oni "as in%ol%edin the Sankore Societ$ that published a @uarterl$ 8ournal of Sankore Studies on e%eloping!ations and a monthl$ re%ie" named: HThe ,d%ocateI( Scholars in%ol%ed in this organisationincluded* r( Ope$emi Ola* Adek"u Obasi* Okon4o* ,kpata and himere >koku of Ani%ersit$ of !igeria( hile Ope$emi Ola "as the first secretar$ of the organisation* Ola Oni* ,kpata andhimere >koku constituted the editorial board of the 4ournals( The organisation "as also open

about its politics( >n fact* in its mission statement* the Sankore Societ$ described itself as asocialist academ$ of research* science and art( Ola Oni "as the dri%ing forces of theorganisation( espite all these academic pursuits* Ola Oni "as still accused of teaching ideolog$rather than 4ust being an academic(

Ola Oni himself e5pressed his disappointment o%er the conclusion of a Special ommittee of theouncil of the Ani%ersit$ of >badan that @uestioned the %alue and significance of his contributionto academic "ork( Ola Oni said: Hon the @uestion of m$ producti%it$* please permit me to differ "ith the %ie" and conclusion of the Special ommittee of ouncil( > am full$ con%inced that thisSpecial ommittee has not been properl$ and ob4ecti%el$ informed concerning the %alue andsignificance of m$ academic contributions to the de%elopment of social sciences in the countr$(>f our criterion is the @ualit$ and progressi%e ad%ancement of social sciences in this countr$* it

"ill be found that m$ research book: D=conomic e%elopment of !igeria: , Socialist ,lternati%e.is a ma4or contributionI( ?e suggested that the %ie" of )ar5ist scholars should be sought topro%ide an assessment of the @ualit$ of his academic "orks( Ola Oni did not limit himself tocriticising dependence of ,frican scholars on foreign 4ournals* he "orked hard* to createalternati%e scholarl$ and academic organisations and 4ournals "here scholars and other intellectuals "ithin the countr$ could debate academic issues(

The opposition to the )ar5ist scholarship "hich Ola Oni represented reached a clima5 "hen hisname "as included in the list of uni%ersit$ lecturers and other "orkers that had been

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recommended to the ne" militar$ go%ernment of )uritala )uhammed for retirement on theground of inefficienc$ or ha%ing been found "anting in their utilit$ or proficienc$(

The ne" regime appeared shocked on finding the name of omrade Ola Oni on the list( Theregime demanded an e5planation( hen no genuine e5planation "as forthcoming* therecommendation "as re4ected on the grounds that he did not fall "ithin the categor$ of the

people the e5ercise co%ered( The )uritala )ohammed regime* the onl$ Dpatriotic. regime in thehistor$ of !igeria* sa" Ola Oni as the patriot that he "as throughout his life( hat sa%ed his 4obtherefore "as the progressi%e leaning of the )uritala )uhammed militar$ go%ernment comparedto the reactionar$ bent of the Ani%ersit$ of >badan authorities "ho "anted the ne" militar$regime to relie%e him of his 4ob because of their opposition to his )ar5ist ideas( Ola Oni hadpublished t"o ma4or "orks "ithin t"o $ears: an 11G page* olitical rogramme titled HThe!igerian eople.s )anifestoI 91&GF and a 2'2 page economic programme titled: H=conomice%elopment of !igeria: The Socialist ,lternati%eI 91&G(

Ben Obumselu* a professor of literature* captured this issue of intellectual proficienc$ "ell "henhe stated that:

Hit doesn.t become the lot of an$one to disco%er more than one or t"o truths in a lifetime(But it is possible for a person e%en if he has disco%ered onl$ one truth* or if he hasdisco%ered none at all* to go and "rite si5 books about it( > think that is "hat is reall$ in%ogue< the multiplication of e5pressions sometimes "ithout an$thing to e5pressI(

hiche%er "a$ one ma$ look at it* Ola Oni paid his dues to scholarship in this countr$ despiteall the hindrances and pett$#bourgeois academic ri%alr$ and pettiness he suffered in hisepartment( This cannot be dissociated also from the persecution* he faced at the hands of thego%ernment "hich pre%ented him from attending man$ international conferences to ad%ance hisacademic profession(

,fter 12 $ears of teaching at Ani%ersit$ of >badan as a lecturer* Ola Oni applied for sabbatical

lea%e that "as to commence on October 1* 1&G( The lea%e "as intended to enable him ha%e astud$ %isit to the ASSR and uba to meet other )ar5ist scholars and to e5change %ie"s "iththem in his areas of research interest( The lea%e "as granted b$ ,ppointment and romotionsommittee of the Ani%ersit$* but omrade Ola Oni could not proceed as planned due togo%ernment.s refusal to release his international passport "hich had been sei+ed e

Documents

Biodun Olamosu & Ranti Olumoroti (2013) Life and Struggles of Comrade Ola Oni