READ THE: Ikoli-Awolowo Relationship: Ijaw-Yoruba Political Relationship By TonyeBarcanista

We all know who the Great Chief Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo was, but how many of us have heard of an Ijawman named Ernest Sissei Ikoli whom Awolowo along with Akintola helped to win political office in Yorubaland?...


Who Was Ernest Ikoli?
Ernest Ikoli, an Ijawman from Nembe(Bayelsa state) was born in 1893. He was one of the founders and and pioneer vice president of Lagos Youth Movement that was formed in 1933, which later became Nigeria Youth Movement. 

Other prominent Nigerians that formed the movement were Dr Kofo Abayomi(President), Prof Ita Iyang(founding father/patron) and Samuel Akinsanya. Other prominent Nigerians that would later joined the movement were Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe(1937), Hezekiah Oladipo Davies(1938, later became the Secretary), Obafemi Awolowo (1939) and Samuel Akintola.

Okoli-Awo Political Comradeship
Among the prominent members, Chief Awolowo was the closest to Ernest Ikoli. In fact, Ernest Ikoli made Awolowo the secretary of Ibadan branch of NYM, a position that will mark the beginning of Awo's political career. 

In 1941 when Dr Kofo Abayomi resigned his position as member of Lagos Legislative council and President of NYM to further his studies abroad, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Samuel Akintola and Oladipo Davies all backed an ijawman Ikoli to succeed Abayomi in both positions. 

Awo not only backed Ikoli to succeed Abayomi, he also served as the campaign manager of Ikoli in the by-election. The interesting part of it is that Awolowo's kinsman and member of NYM, Samuel Akinsanya was interested in the legislative council position. Akinsanya was backed by Nnamdi Azikiwe. 

Awolowo backed Ikoli Won The By-election
Primary election was held and though Akinsanya won majority vote in the primary, Awo, Akintola and Davies insisted on Ikoli as the NYM candidate(against their own kinsman). Akinsanya insisted on contesting the by-election, he had the backing of Nnamdi Azikiwe to run as independent candidate. 

Guess what happened next? Awolowo backed Ikoli defeated Azikiwe backed Akinsanya in the legislative by-election; and Awolowo won his first election as a campaign manager. 

The defeat of Nnamdi Azikiwe-backed Akinsanya led to both men quitting the NYM, but the movement went on. In fact, Ikoli ran for another by-election with his partner Awolowo and others behind him and again won. 



It is interesting that the man(Awo) that some people choose to call 'tribalist' twice backed an Ijawman to defeat a Yorubaman in an election held in yorubaland. Indeed, It shall be well with Awolowo and Akintola. 

Though, Ikoli died in 1960 at age 47, while Awo, his protege and partner-in-progress not only became the most effective premier of the entire western region, he also served as the defacto Vice President of Nigeria under Gowon's military administration. Not just that, his political ideology, Awoism is well and alive despite his demise. Not forgetting that Akintola also rose to the position of Premier of Western region. Whoever says Awolowo was an ethnic bigot owe common sense an apology.



Yoruba-Ijaw Political Relationship Beyond Awo-Ikoli
The Yoruba-Ijaw political relationship didn't just end with Awo/Akintola-Ikoli episode, it rared its head again in 2010/2011 when Yorubaman Chief Olusegun Obasanjo backed Ijawman Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to clinch the PDP Presidential ticket among all the Northern heavyweight to the position of President of Nigeria(though both would later become estranged). This is a position the Ijaws never dreamt of occupying as at that time.

Save Ikoli, I don't think there is any Ijawman that has held any elected political position outside his native domain.



May God Continue To Keep Us Happily As One...
(Amen)