By Ambassador (Dr) Awolowo Dosumu
Preserving History: Facts Must Remain Sacred
It has come to my attention that a recent account—whether through ignorance or deliberate
revisionism—has alleged that my mother, Yeye Oodua Chief (Mrs.) Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo,
was at some point appointed as an Honorary Minister with full privileges by Chief Michael Okpara,
then Premier of Eastern Nigeria. This claim is not only wholly inaccurate but a complete fabrication
with no basis in historical record or personal testimony.
Let me be unequivocal: at no point in her long, illustrious life of public service and moral leadership
was my mother appointed Honorary Minister by Chief Michael Okpara or by any government in
Nigeria. She was, indeed, a political and economic powerhouse, a stabilising force behind Chief
Obafemi Awolowo, and an active participant in the Action Group and later the Unity Party of Nigeria.
But this particular claim is entirely false.
Neither in the extensive writings, speeches, nor autobiographies of Chief Obafemi Awolowo—
meticulously kept records of one of Nigeria’s most documented political lives—is there any mention
of such an appointment. Similarly, in the many interviews, essays, and reflections of Yeye Oodua herself, no such event was ever recorded, implied, or celebrated. Given the significance of such an appointment—if it had occurred—it is inconceivable that it would have gone unrecorded by both
principal parties.
More importantly, there was never a hint nor discussion of such an appointment in our home throughout Mama’s long life.
It is important to state clearly that the alliance between the Action Group and the NCNC during the First Republic is a well-documented historical reality. I respect that historical alliance. It was part of a
strategic attempt to forge national solidarity across regional and ethnic lines. That alliance, while
noble and visionary, must not be used today as a pretext for inventing events that never took place.
This attempt to rewrite history—however well-meaning—is misguided. We must not invent history to prove a point. Doing so undermines genuine efforts at national reconciliation and cohesion.
We must uphold the integrity of our collective memory and the sanctity of historical facts. Nigeria’s complex and often painful political history deserves to be told truthfully—not reshaped, for whatever
reason. False claims, no matter how well-intentioned, do a disservice not only to those they concern
but also to the generations who look to history for truth, clarity, and inspiration.
Mama, Yeye Oodua HID Awolowo, remains a towering figure in Nigerian history—not because of
mythical titles, but because of her verifiable contributions to nation-building, her exemplary values,
and her unwavering commitment to the ideals of justice, federalism, and national development. We
owe it to her memory, and to future generations, to keep the record straight.
Let us, by all means, continue to build bridges across the country.
Let us honour the past by telling it as it was. But let us also remember that while interpretations may vary, facts must remain sacred.
