Obafemi Awolowo

“What I am celebrating is not my birthday but my transition to the world beyond. The fact that I am celebrating it must mean that the world beyond is a good place to be.”

“At the threshold of our New Social Order, we would see for ourselves that, as long as Nigerians remain what they are, nothing clean, principled, ethical, and idealistic can work with them. And Nigerians will remain what they are, unless the evils which now dominate their hearts, at all levels and in all sectors of our political, business and governmental activities are exorcised.”

“I do fervently and will continue fervently to pray that I may be proved wrong. For something within me tells me, loud and clear, that we have embarked on a fruitless search. At the end of the day, when we imagine that the new order is here, we would be terribly disappointed.”

“The man who stole the precious rings, if he doesn’t drop it voluntarily, it will soon be taken from him. A time will come when the misery of the [ Yoruba ] People will become unbearable, they will then rise by themselves to demand a redirection of their destinies.”

“Furthermore, the spirit of man knows no barrier, never dies and can be projected to any part of the world. This being so I am confident that the ideals of social justice and individual liberty which I hold dear will continue to be projected beyond the prison walls and bars until they are realized in our lifetime.”

“My adversaries might say who am I to think that if I am imprisoned the country might suffer? What if I died? The point of course, is that I. am still alive and I will not die in prison.”

“It is therefore, with a brave heart, with confident hope and with faith in my unalterable destiny that I go from this twilight into the darkness, unshakeable in my trust in the providence of God that a glorious dawn will come on the morrow.”

“Any government that does not enjoy the goodwill of the people should resign: it must not utilise the people’s money for both their enslavement and starvation. (Page 310)”

“We must read history books, and do more than merely read them: we must learn, mark and inwardly digest what we have read. (Page 306)”

“Violence never settles anything right: apart from injuring your own soul. (Page 300)”

“It is the readiness and the yearnings and aspirations of the people that will determine the calibre and character of the people that will determine the calibre of those who rule them”

“There can be no alternative to a democratic way of life if the aim of the government is the physical, mental and spiritual welfare of the people. (Page 273)”

“Indeed, an educated and healthy individual is, in my opinion, the strongest single factor in the economic and social advancement of any nation. (Page 271)”

“We must never lose sight of the fact the attainment of independence is not an end in itself. It is a noble means to a great end. (Page 200)”

“The yearning of independence is a natural instinct embedded in the breast of man by Nature. (Page 199)”

“I solemnly vow to the God of my Heart that wherever the fight is thickest and fiercest in the cause of truth, principle, justice and right, there I will always be. (Page 154)”

“I owe my success in life to three factors: the Grace of God, Spartan self-discipline, and a good wife. (Page 111)”

“Now the world is like a mighty jar, and all of us in it, in our different theatre of operation, are like beans with varying sizes and weights… Getting to the top is one thing and remaining there is another. To maintain your place at the top, you must make sure that you do not at any time shrink in size or lose in weight. (Page 72)”

“I think it is an extremely useful experience that a young person be made to do for himself certain mental and domestic jobs which though distasteful, other people are nevertheless being called upon to do from time to time. (Page 65)”

“When I look back, I come to the conclusion that all these abuses which have been heaped on me all my life for doing nothing, for doing good, they have become honor, and so Eebudola is one of my nicknames. So I’ve cultivated an attitude of indifference, I’ve done no evil to the Ibos.”