Quotes by Obafemi Awolowo

One way to determine a man’s character is by checking out his words—effectively reading his mind. The list below contains quotes by the late sage Obafemi Awolowo, one of Nigeria's founding fathers.                                                                                                                                                     

·        “Any people that is starved with books, especially the right type of books, will suffer intellectual malnutrition, stagnation and atrophy”

·        “After rain comes sunshine; after darkness comes the glorious dawn. There is no sorrow without its alloy of joy; there is no joy without its admixture of sorrow. Behind the ugly terrible mask of misfortune lies the beautiful soothing countenance of prosperity. So, tear the mask!”
 

                                                                                                                   

·        “... my wife, Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo (nee Adelana) has been to me a jewel of inestimable value. She is an ideal wife…”

·        “It is, I think, enough for me to say that life itself is, from the cradle to the grave, a series of unbroken risks. I make no boast about this, but those who know me intimately will testify to the fact that I have never, at any time, shrunk from taking my full share of the risks which life, with its unending opportunities and vicissitudes, offers.”
                                                                                                                     

·        “I will, more than ever before, subject myself to severe self- discipline. Only men who are masters of themselves become easily masters of others. Therefore, my thoughts, my tongue, and my actions shall be brought under strict control always.”
                                                                                                                 

·        “Those who desire to reach, and keep their places at the top in any calling must be prepared to do so the hard way.”

·        “Those of us placed in a position of leadership must be prepared to grasp the nettle If we unite in doing so, and if, in addition, we set a worthy example and a marat on pace in probity, unselfishness, and self-sacrifice, the people will follow, all too readily, in our footsteps.”
                                                                                                                    

·        “Any system of education which does not help a man to have a healthy and sound body and alert brain, and balanced and disciplined instinctive urges, is both misconceived and dangerous.”

·        “In order to attain to the goals of economic freedom and prosperity, Nigeria must do certain things as a matter of urgency and priority. It must provide free education (at all levels) and free health facilities for the masses of its citizens.”

·        “Let us make no pretense about it, every human being loves power; power over his fellow men in the state, or in business enterprises; or failing that; power over his wife and children, and over his brothers, sisters, and friends, or, in the case of children, power over his playmates. Of these categories of power, the desire for power over one's fellow men is the strongest.”
                                                                                                                    

·        “The Blackman shall be absolute and undisputed master in his own home, and shall enjoy unaffected and unpatronising equality with the other races of the world.”
                                                                                                                

·        “Africa has produced more self-seeking leaders than public-spirited ones. But, thank goodness, the masses of the people remain largely unspoilt and uncorrupted, and are developing fast the technique of differentiating gold from lead and real metal from dross. What is more, they have begun to show their preparedness for very rough action against any political leader who may be caught in the game of public trickery and fraud.”
                                                                                                                     

·        “It is safer and wiser to cure unhealthy rivalry than to suppress it.”
                                                                                                              

·        “Nigeria is not a nation. It is a mere geographical expression. The word Nigerian is merely a distinctive appellation to distinguish those who live within the boundaries of Nigeria from those who do not.”
                                                                                                                 

·        “The seed for a future minority problem in the North has been sown by the Government. It will grow with growing political consciousness on the part of those who settle permanently in the North.”
                                                                                                                   

·        “The creation of the Mid-West State will be the beginning of a journey which may be short or long but which will irresistibly bring Nigeria to the goal of true federalism and more States, and of individual freedom and happiness for all our people.”
                                                                                                                    

·        “Under my proposals, Police is a residual subject, because the immediate problem of maintaining law and order can only be properly and more effectively tackled by the State Government.”

·        “It appears to me that the causes of the last Civil War lie embedded in the nether realms of such degrading and depraving evils as unemployment; mass ignorance; endemic and debilitating diseases; low productivity; abuse and misuse of power, bribery and corruption; favoritism and nepotism; ethnocentricity and tribalism; much poverty and much discontent.”