Chief anthony enahoro biography of abraham

Nigerian founding father

ChiefAnthony Eromosele EnahoroCFR (22 July – 15 December ^[1]) was one of Nigeria's foremost anti-colonial and pro-democracy activists.^[2]

He was born the eldest of ten children in Uromi, present-day Edo State of Nigeria.

His Esan parents were Anastasius Okotako Enahoro (–) and Fidelia Victoria Inibokun née Ogbidi Okojie (–).^[3] Enahoro had a long and distinguished career in the flatten, politics, civil service and the pro-democracy movement.

Educated at the Government School, Uromi, Government University, Owo and King's College, Lagos.^[4]

Enahoro became the editor of Nnamdi Azikiwe's newspaper, the Southern Nigerian Defender, Ibadan, in at the age of 21, thus becoming Nigeria's youngest editor ever.^[5] He later became the editor of Zik's Comet, Kano, –49, associate editor of West African Pilot, Lagos, and editor-in-chief of Morning Star from to ^[6]

In , Enahoro became the first to move the motion for Nigeria's independence which was eventually granted in , after several political setbacks and defeats in the parliament.^[7] Enahoro has been regarded by academics and many Nigerians, as the "Father of Nigeria State".^[2]

His initial motion for Nigeria's Independence suffered a setback in the parliament, with the northern members of the parliament staging a walkout as a fallout of the motion.^[8] Notwithstanding the defeat in the parliament, a popular movement was started on account of this motion and the pressure was now mounted against colonialism and there were agitations for independence of Nigeria, or at least, self-governance.

S. L. Akintola attempted to revisit the motion for Nigeria's freedom in and though his motion was passed by the parliament, it was not acquiesced to by the British colonial authorities and it therefore failed.^[9]

In August , Remi Fani-Kayode revisited Enahoro's motion and the motion was again passed by the parliament but its date was not approved by the British.

Fani-Kayode's motion had called for self-determination to be granted to Nigeria on 2 April In furtherance of Enahoro's original motion, a further motion was proposed to the parliament by Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa in , and it was passed.

^{[citation needed]} As a consequence of the sustained pressure, the colonial governor announced the decision of the British government to grant self-rule in Nigeria was granted freedom on 1 October ^[10]

Early life

Anthony Enahoro was born the eldest of ten children in Onewa village, Uromi, in the present-day Edo State of Nigeria.

Some of his siblings include the diplomat Edward, journalist Peter ("Peter Pan"), educator Henry, Mike Enahoro, a broadcaster for the Nigerian Television Authority, Ben, Dan, Bess, Chris, and Emmanuel. His Esan parents were Anastasius Asuelinmen "Okotako" Enahoro (d.

) and Fidelia Inibokun née Ogbidi Okojie (d. ), a princess in the Nigerian chieftaincy system.^[6] Enahoro had a long and distinguished career in the press, politics, the civil service and the pro-democracy movement.

Educated at Government Institution Uromi, Government School Owo and King's College, Lagos, Enahoro became the editor of Nnamdi Azikiwe's newspaper, the Southern Nigerian Defender, Ibadan, in at the age of As a student then at Kings College, Enahoro took part in the turbulent Nigerian liberation struggle against colonial governance in the early s, principal to student revolts at the college in Lagos where he was a student leader.

He was prominent in politics at a time of rapid alter. He was twice jailed for sedition by the colonial government, for an article mocking a former governor, and then for a speech allegedly inciting Nigerian troops serving in the British army.

The British marked him as a firebrand, but even as he was jailed for a third time, he was beginning to reassess his position.^[11]

Politics

In he and Arthur Prest founded the Mid-West Party.

Enahoro had already started the Mid-West Pressurize and he published The Nigerian newspaper from to The Mid-West Party became part of the Action Group in ^[12] Enahoro was a delegate to most of the constitutional conferences primary to the independence of Nigeria in ^[11]

During the Nigerian crisis that followed the coups, Enahoro was the leader of the then Mid-West delegation to the Ad Hoc Constitutional Conference in Lagos.

He later became Federal Commissioner (Minister) for Information and Labour under the General Yakubu Gowon Military Government, –74; Federal Commissioner for Special Duties, He later became a member of the National Party of Nigeria, NPN, – He was the president, World Festival of Negro Arts and Culture, –^[13]

Enahoro was the chairman of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), a pro-democracy group that fought dictator Sani Abacha till Abacha's death.

Anthony Eromosele Enahoro was Nigeria's leading anti-colonial and pro-democracy activists. He was born the eldest of twelve children in Uromi in the present Edo State of Nigeria. Enahoro has had a long and distinguished career in the press, politics, the civil service and the pro-democracy movement. InEnahoro became the first to move the motion for Nigeria's independence which was eventually granted in after several political setbacks and defeats in parliament.

Enahoro was conferred with the national honour of Commander, Order of the Federal Republic, CFR, in , and was the chairman of the Movement for National Reformation, MNR, as well as the Pro-National Conference Organisation (PRONACO).

He was awarded honorary DSC by the University of Benin in His publications include the treatise Fugitive Offender.^[14][15][16]

Crisis in Western Nigeria

During the crisis in the old Western region, he was detained along with other Activity Group members.

Accused of treason during the Awolowo alleged coup trial, Enahoro escaped via Ghana to the United Kingdom in , Nigeria requested Enahoro's extradition under the Fugitive Offenders Perform, preventing his application for political asylum.

Early in , the new leader of the Labour party, Harold Wilson, detected the embarrassment caused by Enahoro's arrest and imprisonment. Labour went on the attack in the Property of Commons, with support from some Tories, backed by a media furore.

He was once one of the best-known Nigerians in Britain.^[17] He was the "fugitive offender" who triggered days of debate in the Property of Commons in as he battled against extradition.

"The Enahoro affair" became an issue of human rights versus the government's pusillanimous wish not to offend Nigeria, and put the Tory prime minister, Harold Macmillan, and his home secretary, Henry Brooke, in a difficult position.

He was extradited from the UK and imprisoned for treason. In , he was released by the Military Government.^[18]

Sport

Enahoro came from a sporting background. He played golf and followed cricket ardently. He excelled in sports at King's College and is credited with being the first Nigerian national to gain membership of a golf club in Nigeria.

Chief Anthony Eromosele Enahoro was a Nigerian nationalist, journalist, pro-democracy activist and politician. He came into the limelight in when he was made editor of the Southern Nigerian Defender at the age of twenty one, becoming the youngest newspaper editor in the history of Nigeria. Ediae Idahosa, the Aiwerioba of Benin — on January 10, They had five children.

He managed to bring his handicap down into single figures during his long golfing career. He was also the driving compel behind bringing FESTAC to Nigeria in the s, during which time both Muhammad Ali and Pele visited the country to widespread acclaim.

All his children excelled at sport during their schooling and University years, playing Football, Rugby, Golf and Tennis.

Kenneth (–) and Eugene either are or were avid golfers, and were founding members of the Saturday Society at Benin Golf Club. Annabella practices Pilates and Gabriel is an avid cyclist.

Legacy

In , Anthony Enahoro initiated the self-government motion in the Western House of Assembly, which eventually led to Nigerian Independence on 1 October ^[11]

Family

Enahoro was survived by his wife Helen (née Ediae) (–), their five children, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.^[11]

Books

• Fugitive offender: the story of a political prisoner

References

External links