Awolowo’s statue: Honouring legend, promoting domestic tourism

In a bid to preserve history and to encourage domestic tourism, Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, early this week, unveiled the new 20-feet statue of the late sage and nationalist, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, in Ikeja.

The location in the heart of the headquarters of Lagos and commercial city centre, has since been drawing Lagosians and visitors alike.

Speaking at the unveiling of the statue, located on Obafemi Awolowo Way by the Lagos Television (LTV) junction, in Ikeja, Ambode aid the state has synchronized with the position of the All Progressives Congress, APC, on restructuring and devolution of powers.

He recalled that that Pa Awolowo, during his time, had charged leaders in the country to rise up to the occasion to engender true federalism and devolution of powers, saying that it was only in such circumstance that can prevent the country from disintegration.

He said the party’s position, as stipulated in its manifesto, seeks to amend the Nigeria constitution with a view to devolving powers to states and local governments in order to entrench true federalism, adding that the state supports the restructuring committee of the party going round the country to achieve same.

The governor, who also spoke when he hosted members of the Awolowo dynasty at the Lagos House residence in Ikeja, said like himself, new generation leaders have a lot to learn from the ideals and principles of Awolowo if they intend to impact positively on the lives of the people they govern.

Ambode said that own his vision, through his political journey, was particularly motivated by Awolowo’s principles, which were basically anchored on the improving the welfare of the people and reviving the South-west region, as the economic basin of the nation.

Similarly, a Lagos base Civil Servant Olaide Olaitan told our correspondent that the statue was launched for history purposes, more especially for the benefit of younger generations. “This statue is laudable. Awolowo died in 1987, which is 30 years now . A lot of international societies have statues and figures of their heroes, more especially, if the heroes had done something good.”

According him, “A lot of younger ones would be wondering why Awolowo is every where. The only thing that is wrong is the way they just put Awolowo, they would have put some information at the base of the statue as a direction, especially for the benefit of foreigners. If there are some information about him, it will benefit the foreigners, Olaitan noted.

Explaining further, he said out that unveiling of Awolowo’s statue was one of the ways of promoting domestic tourism, stressing there are more lot heroes that are needed to be preserved and presented to the public for the benefit of younger generations.