THISDAYonline

After the demise of the late Asiwaju of the Yoruba, Chief Obafemi Oyeniyi Awolowo in 1987, many Yoruba had feared that the leadership vacuum his exit created could make the Yoruba suffer from the lack of a defender of their rights - someone big enough to inspire awe and command respect from rival ethnic groups in the country.

A subtle struggle for leadership ensued as Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Chief Bola Ige and Chief Olabisi Onabanjo apparently locked horns in the contest for who the true 'Arole Awolowo' (heir apparent to the late Awolowo) was.

The three leaders had been close associates of the late Chief Awolowo. Jakande and Onabanjo had suffered privations with Awolowo during the 1962 Treasonable Felony Trials. While Justice Sobo Sowemimo discharged and acquitted Onabanjo (along with Mr. Etchie, and the late J.S. Tarka), he handed the next highest sentence of seven year-imprisonment to Jakande. Jakande's sentence was next to Awolowo's ten years.

In his verdict on the role Jakande was alleged to have played in the hotly controverted attempt by Awolowo and his followers to stage a coup against the federal government, Justice Sowemimo described Jakande as the "nerve centre of the great design".

Although he was not on the list of the 23 persons that stood trial for the "treasonable felony", Ige, who was elected as the Federal Publicity Secretary of the Action Group (AG) at the Jos Conference in January 1962 was quite close to Awolowo.

Likewise was Chief Ayo Adebanjo who seconded the motion which Ige moved at the Jos Conference of the AG in January 1962 for the defeat of a memorandum forwarded by Chief Ayo Rosiji which sought to bring the AG into a working alliance with the Northern Peoples Congress.

Thus, when the stage was set for the Second Republic, as if to compensate the trio of Jakande, Ige and Onabanjo for their loyalty during the turbulent period of the First Republic, they were fielded and elected as Governors of Lagos, Oyo and Ogun States respectively on the platform of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) led by Chief Awolowo.

Given his star performance as the Governor of Lagos State, Jakande stood clearly as the heir apparent to Awolowo. However, his standing began to wane from the UPN Convention of 1982 when it was alleged that a Joint Action Committee (which caused a great stir in the party) was Jakande's brainchild that was aimed at upstaging Awolowo as the presidential flagbearer of the party.

Besides, even by the sheer fact of their imprisonment by the Buhari-Idiagbon regime on the allegation of enriching the UPN, both Ige and Onabanjo appeared to have enjoyed greater confidence in Awolowo than did Jakande.

Still, by the time the three rivals began to jostle for acceptance as the leader of the Yoruba after Awolowo, it was clear that Jakande's standing with the Awo clan had began to wane. It was said then that Awolowo, before his death, was not too comfortable with Jakande. Whether this was a fact or not, noboyd knew but what was true then was that in the equation as to who would succeed Awo, he was not a factor.

The contest for leadership came to the fore when a group released a document which was widely published by national newspapers. The document claimed that Awolowo had before his death chosen Jakande as his successor.

The two-page document entitled 'Who Succeeds Awo?' and released by a group claiming to be Awo Movement claimed that "Papa Obafemi Awolowo left no one in doubt as to his choice of a competent lieutenant to succeed him."

The Group called on the people it referred to as the Ikenne Mafia to rally round Jakande as the successor to Awo.

Switfly however, Jakande issued a press release to refute the claims by the group. He said: "I wish to say with all the emphasis at my command that Chief Awolowo did not choose me as his successor. Chief Awolowo was and still is in a class by himself. He is suigeneris. There is no question of succeeding him. In the same way, Oduduwa (the progenitor of the Yorubas) occupies a place in Yoruba history which no other person can fill. There is no successor to Oduduwa. Chief Awolowo has also taken his place in Nigerian history. And that place cannot be filled by someone else."

For Onabanjo, his failing health, a direct result of his long years of incarceration by the Buhari-Idiagbon regime, seemed to have knocked him out of the leadership contest.

While Ige seemed clearly to be next in line, his rivals would prefer any other neutral and less controversial figure. At a time, Second Republic Governor of Kwara State, Senator Cornelius Adebayo who had also been a Senator from 1979 to 1983 was considered.

But by the time the chips were down, the usually gerontocratic political system of the Yoruba held sway.

Before the demise of Awolowo, sometime in 1987, to prepare for the Third Republic, the Yoruba had begun making moves to realign their forces and forge a united front so as not to be caught napping when the whistle would be blown for the Third Republic politics.

They held meetings for the purpose of forging unity. One of such meetings was held at the Ikeja residence of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade. It was attended by Awolowo, Sir Adetokunbo Ademola, Dr. Koye Majekodunmi and Chief H.O. Davies among others.

A similar meeting was held in 1964 at the Palace of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adesoji Aderemi. It was attended by many obas, Sir Adetokunbo Ademola, Mr Justice Morgan who was Acting Chief Justice of Western Nigeria, among others. Their aim was to forge a merger between the Egbe Omo Oduduwa and Egbe Omo Yoruba for the formation of Egbe Omo Olofin. (Olofin is another name for Oduduwa the ancestral patriarch of the Yoruba). Bola Ige, as the AG's Publicity Secretary warned Yorubas to stay away from the meeting as he informed the public that it was a design to present AG as working against Yoruba interests.

Although there was a temporary lull in the Third Republic meetings when Awo died, the efforts were soon revived.

In October 1987, Yoruba politicians regardless of their political differences met for three days in Ibadan. The conference began with the meeting of the obas. This was followed by a general assembly of political leaders.

At a similar meeting in Ibadan, in 1967, Chief Awolowo was unanimously formally conferred with the title of the Asiwaju of the Yoruba. Before he was jailed for treason after a largely political trial, it had been obvious that he was the most acceptable leader of the Yoruba. After the death of Awolowo, the Yoruba continued their search for a leader even after the October 1987 meeting in Ibadan.

In February 1988, another meeting was held in Akure, the Ondo State Capital. It was attended by traditional rulers and political leaders. The meeting successfully established a Secretariat and appointed the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade as the President and Major-General Adeyinka Adebayo, former Governor of Western State, as the Coordinator.

In April 1988, the meeting reconvened for the formal launching of the Egbe Ilosiwaju Yoruba (Yoruba Progressive Association). The meeting unanimously appointed Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, the Second Republic Governor of Ondo State, as the Leader and Chairman. In other words, Ajasin thus emerged as the Leader of the Yoruba in succession to Awolowo.

It is noteworthy though that the decision to confer the leadership of the Yoruba on Ajasin did not go without some feeble challenge. Those who had always found themselves outside the mainstream political group of the Yoruba had cause to complain.

Chief T.O.S. Benson had worked closely with Major-General Adebayo in the efforts to forge Yoruba unity. While Ajasin was being proclaimed Leader of the Yoruba, Chief Benson declared that he had himself assumed the leadership of the Yoruba since. As he argued, with the exit of Chief Awolowo, "there was no other senior politician in Yorubaland with the wealth of experience in politics and diplomacy to take the mantle of leadership in Yorubaland."

However, the fact was that while Ajasin was a member of the Executive Committee of the Action Group, Chief Benson belonged to the NCNC. The AG (like the UPN after it) was by far the mainstream political organ of the Yoruba. Those who found themselves outside it remained at odds with any claim to genuine political leadership of the Yoruba nation.

Besides, as if by tradition, the Yoruba mainstream political system has often given due consideration to such factors as consistency, courage, steadfastness and loyalty to the overall cause of the nation as symbolised by the somewhat cohesive group commonly referred to as the Awoist Group.

It would appear that it is not by sheer accident that those who at one time or other had fallen out of the movement have found themselves outside the ranks of the genuine leadership of the Yoruba. For both group loyalty and succession by age are common determinants of Yoruba political leadership.

Thus, it was not surprising that Senator Abraham Adesanya was unanimously adopted as the Deputy Leader to the late Chief Ajasin. Adesanya had himself, even before the Second Republic, played a particularly significant role in the defence of Yoruba interests during the ill-fated First Republic politics.

Adesanya was the defence counsel in the famous Treasonable Felony Trial. Adesanya acted as defence counsel when the Federal Government hurriedly passed a bill forbidding foreign lawyers from practising in Nigeria, a move made to prevent Chief Awolowo from bringing in his preferred lawyer from England, Mr. E.F.N. Gratiaen, a Queens Counsel. The Government refused Mr Gratiaen permission to enter Nigeria. Likewise, another preferred counsel, a Lebanese, Mr. R.A. Ghory was also refused entry to Nigeria to defend Awolowo in the trial.

Again, when the British Government in cooperation with the Federal Government of Nigeria extradited Chief Anthony Enahoro to face trial in Nigeria, Adesanya stood in as defence counsel pending the granting of the request by Enahoro for foreign counsel.

At the demise of Chief Ajasin, Adesanya was unanimously conferred with the leadership of the Yoruba. Given this scenario, there should be little surprise that politicians may be jostling already for the vacant 'stool' of the Deputy Leader of Afenifere, the highest cultural and political organization of the Yoruba people in Nigeria. At such turning points in the political history of the Yoruba there has always been such fervent contests for leadership.

But if history were to be any guide, such person will still be located within the Awo clan, that is those who were in the Action Group/Unity Party of Nigeria/Social Democratic Party and now Alliance for Democracy. We consider many of them including those that might have been in the race but are now out for sundry reasons peculiar to Yoruba politics that has little or no room for any returning "prodigal child".

Lateef Jakande

Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, now 72, is one of the foremost disciples of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. He was among the veteran young men who were jailed together with Awolowo in the now historical treasonable felony of 1963. He was later to own the appellation of "Baba Kekere" (i.e the junior papa). Awolowo was addressed as "Papa" from the period of 1979 elections.

Jakande was to be rewarded with the UPN candidacy for the governorship of Lagos State in the 1979 elections even when the prefered candidate of the people was Alhaji Ganiyu Olawale Dawodu. He won on the strength of an overwhelming support for Awo in Yoruba land. Matters continued to be rosy for him and he eventually became very popular among UPN circles and even Nigeria as a whole that he was generally adjudged the best of all the governors at that time. That also earned him the title "action governor" and today he still has many monuments to his name.

His popularity became so immense particularly among the Yorubas that he was easily seen as the heir apparent to the Awolowo political ideology. In the days after the death of Awolowo in 1987, he was easily looked upon as one out of the many equals in the Awo's political club. Such was that during the late Prof. Femi Agbalajobi/Chief Dapo Sarumi contest for the SDP primary of Lagos State governorship in 1993 when his influence held sway for Agbalajobi. Both candidates were however unilaterally disqualified by the General Ibrahim Babangida's transition machinery.

His popularity among the mainstream Yoruba public was to nose-dive during the Abacha regime. He was among the nominees in Abacha cabinet suggested and supported by the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola with the hope that Abacha would eventually hand over power to him (Abiola). When it became obvious that Abacha was staying put, the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, which is almost synonymous with Afenifere called for Yoruba people in Abacha's government to resign in mass.

However, Jakande, Ebenezer Babatope, Elder Wole Oyelese refused. Only Chief Debo Akande heeded the call. There and then, Jakande was looked upon by the Yorubas as a renegade and they never forgave him. At that moment, Abiola was in prison for declaring himself president, an action which Abacha dubbed treasonable.

However, Jakande looked upon the Abiola debacle as circumstantial and did not see Abiola as one of the veteran Yoruba Awoist with whom they had been through thick and thin in their political odyssey. He diplomatically called attention that just in the early 80s, Abiola was an arch opponent of Awolowo and UPN and constituted on of the main stumbling blocks to Awolowo achieving his ambition of being the president of Nigeria.

Jakande countered "Abiola is in jail, what about it? Have you forgotten that I went to jail with Awolowo?" he queried. He argued further that Abiola was the creation of the northern political oligarchy with whom he (the late Abiola) had been wining and dining and if they stopped his journey half way, he did not see why the Yorubas in the name of ethnic affiliation would come out to do war on behalf of Abiola.

However, the Yorubas who had caught the fever of June 12 phenomenon would not brook any logic from even "Baba Kekere". It was June 12 or nothing. Considering the circumstances of the political evolution to June 12, one may be tempted to have some sympathy for Jakande's personal position then.

It is doubtful that if Awolowo, a highly principled man to whom matters were either black or white were to be alive he would not be taking the same step as Jakande took considering the circumstances that brought up Abiola to the contest. But in the eyes of the mainstream Yoruba today, LKJ as he is fondly called is not in line when it comes to who assumes the leadership of the race now or in the future.

Jakande was born July 23, 1929. He started his education at Lagos Public School, Lagos between 1936-39, Banharn Memorial Methodist School, Port-Harcourt, 1939-43. He also attended the prestigious Kings College, Lagos 1944.

He started his career as a reporter at Daily Service in 1949. He rose gradually first as a sub-editor/Proof Reader and became associate editor between 1949-1950. He rose to become editor of the Daily Service in 1953. He later moved to Nigerian Tribune as an Editor in 1954 and was to be promoted Joint General Manager, Amalgamated Press Nigeria Ltd, 1956.

He was to become the Editor-in-Chief, Amalgamated Press, 1956-69, Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, African Newspapers of Nigeria Ltd between 1968-79. It was from there he resigned to become governor of Lagos State between 1979 and 1983. He has also held several positions such including, Chairman/Managing Director, John West Publications Limited and John West Newspapers Limited, Chairman, John West Farms Limited and John West Properties Limited. He was appointed Minister for Works and Housing, 1993-95.

His traditional titles include, Gbobaniyi of Ibeshe, Baba Adinni of Epe and Baba Adinni of Badagry. He has also published several books some of which include, The Case For Lagos State; The trial of Obafemi Awolowo; The Problems and Prospects of Free Education, The Role of the Mass Media in a Developing Country among others.

Ebenezer Babatope

Chief Ebenezer Babatope is one of the fiercest stalwarts of the UPN and an Awoist to the core. By his age he could not have had much impact in the Action Group, being a boy during that period. But certainly at maturity he played a most prominent role in the propagation of the UPN ideology being the Director of Publicity between 1978-1983 when political parties were again banned by the Buhari/Idiagbon regime.

He played his part fanatically, endearing himself to both the leadership and followership of the UPN and was fondly called "Ebinotopsy". It is believed that up to this time he is still one of the closest political confidants of the Awolowo family inspite of having seemingly fallen out of favour with the hierarchy of Afenifere, the Yoruba socio-cultural organisation.

Like the late Chief Bola Ige, Babatope is an Ijesha man from Osun State and it is doubtful if there is any love lost between him and Ige. This is because since this democratic dispensation, Ige's political vision for the Yoruba land appear to have been oscilation from the seemingly bandwagon approach to more deregulation and freedom of thought and association for every Yoruba man in the larger Nigerian political landscape. Although many had argued that Ige's later day position was borne out of his being a participant in Obasanjo's government, he was actually enjoying support from a broad spectrum of Yoruba younger elements.

This later attitude appears to be the vision of people like Jakande and Babatope for which they have been vilified by the larger Yoruba conservative political club. Like Jakande, Bababtope who served Abacha as Minister of Transport had countered that it amounted to a political suicide of unimaginable proportions for the whole Yoruba race to withdraw from the government of Nigeria when there was no actual programme by anybody for Yoruba resistance.

They cited the tragedy of Biafra when the totality of Easterners were forced to withdraw from the rest of Nigeria and yet the out come was disastrous. He also contended that the issue of June 12 was most circumstantial and opportunistic because Abiola was an opponent of the mainstream Yoruba political class in favour of the northern political oligarchy which have thrown him up and were scuttling his opportunity.

Therefore, he did not see the justification for suffering political martyrdom on his (Abiola's) behalf. However, the emotion of June 12 was too strong in Yoruba land for anyone to consider his opinion. Though it will not be surprising if circumstance one day throws him up again as one of the favourites of the Yoruba political court, the chances for now is that he is out of contention.

Babatope is a veteran journalist, politician and Lawyer. He schooled at Methodist School, Ifaki-Ekiti, 1954-56, Ifaki Grammer School, Ifaki-Ekiti, 1957-62, Igbobi College Yaba Lagos, 1964-65, University of Lagos Akoka, 1966-69, University of Buckingham, England, 1986-87.

He was appointed Editor, Nigerian Tribune, 1969-70, University Administrator, University of Lagos, Akoka, 1973-78. Member, Editorial Board of the Nigerian Tribune, January-September, 1988.

As a politician he was the National Director of Organisation of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria, 1978-83. He was also a member of the defunct United Nigeria Congress Party, UNCP and a member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

He is the Eletulua of Ikole-Ekiti and some of his publications are, The Ghana Revolution, The Socialist Alternative, The Struggle for Power in Nigeria among others.

Akin Omoboriowo

Chief Akin Omoboriowo was a deputy governor under the late Chief Adekunle Ajasin of the old Ondo State in 1979-1983 in the second republic. He was equally a faithful disciple of Awolowo and the UPN ideology. He propounded the theory of Awoism on which he wrote a book and he was generally seen as one of the young men very close to the late Awolowo. But he was too much in a hurry.

The going was good with his governor and the party until the second term election in 1983 when he committed what was generally regarded as a political "harakiri" by challenging the Ajasin in the party candidacy for the 1983 elections. Both Awolowo and the party as a whole counseled him to allow Ajasin to continue but he would have none of this. And when he was played out he changed sides and became the gubernatorial candidate for the rival National Party of Nigeria (NPN) that was then the ruling party at the centre.

This was generally regarded as the height of inordinate ambition. During the elections the scenario of the Western region elections of 1965, when Chief S. L. A. Akintola claimed victory against an obvious unpopularity, reared its head again. Exactly as it was in 1965 mayhem was let loose and Omoboriowo who claimed victory went into hiding. With several people killed and houses burnt, the court gave victory to Ajasin and until the military overthrew the government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Omoboriowo could not walk the streets of Ondo state.

It is doubtful if the Yorubas can easily forget that trauma and Omoboriowo may have to work hard to regain a battered image.

He is not in contention.

Sunday Afolabi

Chief Sunday Afolabi's case was similar to that of Omoboriowo. He was a good stalwart of UPN and a good Awoist up to the time of 1983 elections. He was the deputy governor to the late Chief Bola Ige, then governor of Oyo State.

Problem started in 1982 when Afolabi challenged his boss in the UPN primaries. Inspite of the intervention of Awolowo and party elders, Afolabi stuck to his gun and when he failed, he switched camp to NPN. However, he was not able to clinch the gubernatorial position which fell to the more charismatic Dr. Omololu Olunloye who eventually won the election in controversial circumstances.

Ever since then, Afolabi has not been in the good books of Afenifere and it is doubtful if he can ever be acceptable as a core Yoruba leader.

Afolabi, an accountant by profession and a politician attended Holy Trinity School, Kano, Offa Grammer School, Offa Kwara State, 1948-50, Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta, 1951-53. He was an Accounts Clerk at United African Company, 1953-54, worked at Bank of British West Africa later Known as Standard Bank (now First Bank Nigeria Limited), 1954-61. He was also Chief Accountant, University of Ibadan, 1961-78.

He was elected deputy governor of Oyo State, 1979-83, appointed Minister, Federal Ministry of Education, October-December 1983. He was also a member and leader of the Defunct Action Group, Osun Division, member, banned Unity Party of Nigeria, 1978-83 and later member, banned National Party of Nigeria in 1983. Afolabi was a member of the defunct Social Democratic Party and presently a member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.

His traditional title is the Bada of Ile-Ife, Osun State

Adewale Thompson

Chief Adewale Thompson, a retired Judge and Attorney General of the old Oyo State in the second republic is the Secretary-General of the Yoruba Council of Elders, (YCE). The emergence of YCE otherwise known as "Igbimo Agba Yoruba" caused a silent but strong leadership tussle in Yoruba land.

While Thompson explained the objectives of the organisation to be the achievement of unity of the Yoruba race and securing greater participation of Yorubas in the affairs of the nation, Afenifere would have none of this. Afenifere views YCE as a rival organisation, this explains the cold war brewing between the two organisations.

"The Yoruba people know their leader". This was the statement made by the leader of Afenifere, Pa Abraham Adesanya and Thompson on two separate occasions. Adesanya claims to be the leader of the Yoruba nation and was infact coronated the leader of the Yorubas in 1997 in Ibadan after the death of Chief Micheal Ajasin, while Thompson does not lay such claim but vehemently refutes Adesanya's claim to the leadership of the House of Oduduwa.

Thompson claims that the YCE is an umbrella body for all Yoruba irrespective of the roles they played during the military regime. He also claims that the organisation has forgiven the past mistakes of all Yoruba sons and daughters and is willing to accept them into their fold. Therefore, all politicians from across the three parties are welcome into its fold.

This is a sharp contrast to the belief and stance of Afenifere which still sees Yorubas who served under the military regime as outcasts and renegades. "Will Afenifere welcome Yoruba politicians who are not in AD to its fold? Thompson queried. "They are partisan, we are not partisan" he said.

Being a very elderly man, it is certain that Thompson is not gunning for any political position, but is rather making strong efforts through the organisation to bolster the future of the Yorubas in the country. They are known to be solidly behind President Olusegun Obasanjo's second term bid. As it stands, YCE appears to be gaining ground and acceptability in Yoruba land especially as it relates to Obasanjo's second term bid but nothing is ever certain in Yoruba land. The death of Ige, within whose group Thompson was operating may have made the old man to enjoy some sympathy but for how long?

Emmanuel Alayande

The YCE is led by the septugenarian Pa Emmanuel Alayande who is one of the prime movers of the organisation. Though in his 90s, Alayande is at the fore-front of the struggle for the welfare and survival of the Yoruba nation in their own distinct way. He shares the same strong vision with Thompson who does not believe that the Yoruba cult-like politics should continue. He also strongly believes that Afenifere is not all-embracing or an umbrella group for the Yorubas.

It may be difficult to break the monopoly of authority in Yoruba land but Alayande appears set to fight the battle.

Filling The Gap

The demise of the late Attorney General and Minister for Justice Chief Bola Ige must have left a vacuum in the leadership of the Yoruba race. And with the incumbent leader, Chief Abraham Adesanya growing in age, finding a replacement seem a harculean task. From the depleted rank of the Awoists, it is difficult to find a rallying figure who has the carriage, the intellect, the strength of character, the charisma, the courage and stature to assume the leadership of the Yoruba race. But in looking ahead, a few names come up but how strong are they?

Olusegun Osoba

Chief Olusegun Osoba, Governor of Ogun state is one of the likely candidate. An astute politician and two-time governor of Ogun state has a rich backround that makes him a strong contender.

Beyond everything else, his party, the Alliance for Democracy, AD which is more of a Yoruba party has brought the Akinrogun of Egbaland more into Yoruba affairs and he was an active participant in what is now known as the watershed June 12 Election. He is charismatic and leadership has endeared him to all and has on many occasions served as the mouthpiece for Afenifere.

Osoba's antecedent and reputation as a thoroughbred journalist has never been in question the more reason he is been tipped for this enviable position.

In an interview granted THISDAY sometime last year over his eligibilty to rule Ogun state for a second term Osoba, said he was not interested in a second term but rather what he wanted is a platform that would determine the political terrain in his state. But if Osoba can extend that beyond his state and that story may surely changed. But the question still remain how far an Osoba can go in the face of a factionalised Yoruba leadership as represented by YCE and other groupd to bring everyone in line.

Inspite of all these Osoba has the prerequisite and intellectual background that should help him waggle through the task.

Osoba was born July 15, 1941 at Osogbo, Oyo State. He schooled at African Church School, Osobgo, 1947-53, Methodist Boys High School, Lagos, 1956-61, University of Lagos, 1965, Indiana University, Bloomington, USA, 1970-71 and Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, 1974-75.

He started his career as a journalist when he was appointed reporter, at Daily Times, Lagos, 1964-67. He was rose to become Diplomatic and Political Correspondent in the same media house between 1968-69. He was also Acting News Editor in 1968. In 1968 he moved to Lagos Weekend as Editor, a post which he held till 1971. He was to become the General Manager of Nigerian Herald, ILorin, 1975-78, Managing Director, Daily Sketch, Ibadan, 1979-84, Managing Director, Daily Times of Nigeria, 1984-89. He has held several other positions.

His traditional titles include Otun of Ago-Oba, Akinrogun of Igbore, Aremo Awujale and Akinrogun of Egabaland.

Though the Egba first citizen of Ogun state is capable it is yet to be seen, how, if the mantle eventually falls on him, he intend to managed a race that is sharply divided among the registered three political parties. It is doubtful if the Governor of Ogun State will be considered for the post.

Bolaji Akinyemi

If educational background and achievement in one's chosen field were the determining factor one can safely say as a professor Bolaji Akinyemi towers above all. But the criteria for Yoruba leadership are beyond that. But Akinyemi has one thing going for him, ever since he was made the Director General of the Nigeria Institue of International Affairs in the seventies, he has been in the limelight. And like the proverbial wise child has dinned with the high and mighty as a foreign Minster during the Babangida regime.

When in 1993, the government he served annulled the much talked about June 12 election, Akinyemi was, like most of his colleagues in NADECO, vocal in condemning it. And for dearing to look the regime of the Late Sanni Abacha in the face Akinyemi was forced to go on exile. And in America where most of them found solace, Akinyemi and others formed what was then known as NADECO abroad.

On that platform Akinyemi not only worked for the revalidation of the annulled election he did all in his power to see to the righting of the wronged. And gradually he endeared himself into the heart of many the more.

After the demise of the terror that was Abacha regime, Akinyemi returned and continued the strugle and joined the opposition party, AD. Since then however, Akinyemi, a staunch member of the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere and its course, has been identified as one of those on whose shoulder the future of the Yoruba race lies.

But how well is Akinyemi suited for this enviable position? Well, analysts contend that when pros and cons are weighed he may not be well suited for the job. Basically because he is not a political person of the Awolowo tradition and therefore cannot be a force strong enough to determine where the Yoruba should pitch their tent when it come to politics.

But others are of the opinion that the so-called short coming is even his greatest asset. They argue that at a time like this when Afenifere seems to be in a crisis of image because of its partisan nature, Akinyemi who has come to be known as a moderate in the circle would therefore be able to rally all forces irrespective of their political leanings.

The soft spoken Akinyemi, is, however, not known to be a fire brand kind of politician even though he belong to the AD. In fact Akinyemi can be said to be new in politics to the extent that he did not play politics in the second republic.

Even though an Ijesha man like Ige, the odds do not favour Akinyemi. Akinyemi was born January 4, 1942 at Ilesha, Osun State. He schooled Igbobi College, Yaba, 1955-59, Christ's School, Ado-Ekiti, 1960-61, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, 1962-64 among others.

He was appointed Instructor in Politics of Developing Nations, North-Eastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 1965-66, Lecturer and later Senior Lecturer, Visiting Professor of Political Science, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA, 1970, Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan, 1970-83.

His publications include, Foreign Policy and Federalism: The Nigerian Experience, Readings in Nigerian Foreign Policy, The British Press and the Nigerian Civil War among others.

Olu Falae

Like all great men, especially those who worked hard to achieve it, Samuel Oluyemisi Falae has attracted to himself many admirers as well as powerful adversaries in the course of his rise to fame.

For most members of Afenifere, only a few could contest with his profile and records of his achievements in general terms. But in political terms, he apparently has a formidable burden in pulling through his candidature on many occasions. Even now the Ondo Chief is seen more as a Presidential candidate than a candidate for Yoruba leadership.

The fact is that Falae has endeared himself to so very man people within and outside his South West region. Those who look at him with admiration and confidence are impressed by the man's intellectual and administrative capabilities, while those who detest his person, and would want his political ambition dashed, are vexed by his legendary support and advocacy while in government for the General Ibrahim Babangida administration's policy of Structural Adjustment, (SAP).. Falae is however one man who seems to have destiny with faith. He has over the years found a way of playing into the heart of many. Despite serving a military regime, Falae has managed to become one of the power brokers in the core Afenifere. The event leading to his being the choice of the AD/APP joint ticket in 1999 is a pointer to this fact. Even when the late Ige was said to be the choice of the majority in the party, Falae, a two-time presidential aspirant emerged from the shadow to pulled the ace off the feat of the late Cicero of Esa-Oke.

But there are some drawbacks for him when it comes to leadership that traces everything to Awolowo. Falae in first republic was a member of the NCNC, and therefore can be said to be a Zikist.

That is as far politics beyond the West is concerned. Back home in the Yoruba enclave, Falae is a big factor and a very strong member of the inner caucus of Afenifere.

Beyond the rhetorics Falae is a great achiever who can succeed where other have failed. And indeed his record is mouthful. He joined the federal public service in 1964 and rose to become a permanent secretary. In his 18 years he spent in service, he distinguished himself as a brilliant, hardworking and earnest public servant. He resigned in 1981 and took up a job as managing director of the Nigerian Merchant Bank from where he became the Secretary to the Federal Government and later a minister. He left the government in 1990.

The Gbobaniyi of Akure and Olu of Ilu-Abo is not new to big assignment like this.

In 1992, he ran for presidential election until he and others were banned by Babangida. He again revived his political machine which he least put at the disposal of late Chief MKO Abiola, the winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election.

His message then was, "What I am saying is that you need people who understand how to use governmental structures and power to re-empower the masses and re-engineer prosperity." At a time when handshake across the Niger seem to be the other of the day, he is perhaps the only hopeful who is also acceptable to the people outside his own Yoruba clan and party. Such a quality is not common really and signs are that he may be the Afenifere ace for 2003 in the contest against Obasanjo of PDP just like he was in 1999.

Falae is a banker, administrator and politician. He was born September 21, 1938. He attended St David's Primary School, Akure, 1944-52, Igbobi College, Yaba Lagos, 1952-57, Government College, Ibadan, 1958-59, University College (now University of Ibadan), 1960-63, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA, 1971-72.

He was appointed Assistant Secretary, National Manpower Board, 1963-67, Principal Assistant Secretary, National Man-power Board, 1967-69 and a Director National Insurance Corporation of Nigeria, 1967-71. He has held several other posts.

On the political front, he was a presidential aspirant on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party and the joint presidential candidate, APP/AD Alliance in 1999. He was a member of National Democratic Coalition, NADECO.

Bola Tinubu

The Lagos State Governor, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu last Thursday in Lagos demonstrated his power with the deft manner in which he played out the Afenifere old brigade in the funeral of Ige. While they were waiting at Jibowu, he took the casket to the National Stadium where the crowd was waiting. And it was not lost on those who attended that Ige's family came to Tinubu's show. While thanking the Lagos State Governor, Muyiwa, eldest son of the slain Ige referred to him as "my own Uncle Bola".

The Lagos State Governor has grown in stature from the NADECO days to his stewardship in the state. Young, rich and well connected Tinubu can rally many young Yoruba behind him but does he have what it takes to become a future Yoruba leader? Within Afenifere, he is seen as a rebel who has not only hijacked the AD but is rallying other Governors like Lam Adesina of Oyo, Bisi Akande of Osun and Niyi Adebayo of Ekiti behind him. Given the nature of Yoruba politics, there does not seem much prospects that Tinubu can assume leadership in the foreseeable future.

Cornelius Adebayo

Chief Cornelius Olatunji Adebayo, 60, is of the old UPN folk and has remained so even with the demise of the late sage, Obafemi Awolowo. Though he has been a bit silent in recent times Adebayo has maintained close relationship with the Yoruba leadership of which he an important member as constituted by Adesanya and Ige. He was also an active member of the defunct NADECO the rallying point for those who clamoured for the revalidation of the annulled June 12 election. When the heat was turned on him by the Abacha junta he fled on exile and was to be NADECO's country representative in Canada from where he returned after the dictator died.

Adebayo has always shown interest in Yoruba issues notwithstanding the fact that he Kwara where he hails from is generally regarded as minority Yoruba by the "mainstream". When the uproar over the place of Yoruba in Ilorin was on Adebayo was one voice that could not be suppressed even by his political opponents. All these has in some played Adebayo into the heart of the Yoruba who seem bent on installing a Yoruba Oba in Ilorin or at least change the equation to reflect the primacy of Yoruba race in the ancient town.

Adebayo, the Balogun of Alla and Jagunmolu of Oke Onigbin, has indeed come a long way. Like most politicians of Yoruba extraction he was drawn into the defunct Action Group as 24-year old youth. In Second Republic he was again on the beat. He pitched his tent with the Unity Party of Nigeria and was from 1979 the Assistant Secretary of the party's Senate caucus. In 1983 he was elected the second executive governor of Kwara, when the combined forces of Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki and the then UPN forced the incumbent, Alhaji Adamu Attah out of power. Within three months of his administration before the military struck, he had endeared himself to the people with his free education programme which he commenced upon his being sworn-in having spent the intervening transition period putting the machinery in place. He was very close to Ige and remains a confidant of Adesanya but within the Afenifere where age matters, he is a "small boy"

This time around, however, the calculations seem to be changing. Especially given that the death of Ige has left a vacuum that can only be filled by a man of high principles and sharp intellect. That may be why all eyes within Afenifere point in the direction of the former University of Ife lecturer. But is Adebayo well suited for the job? Time will surely tell.

Born February 24, 1941 at Igbaja, Kwara State, he attended All Saints Anglican School, Oke-Onigbin, 1948-55, Provincial (now Government) Secondary School, Ilorin, 1956-61, Government (now Barewa) College Zaria, 1962-63, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1964-67 and University of Ghana, Legon 1967-69.

He started his career as a lecturer in English, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, 1969. He was to leave Ife to go and start the Department of English, Kwara State Polytechnic, 1973-75. He was appointed Commissioner for Education, Kwara State, 1975, a year later he got the portfolio for Information and another year after Economic Development and Local Government. He resigned in 1978 to join the UPN. He contested for Senate and won. Four years later in 1983, he was elected Kwara Governor and served for only three months before the military struck.