EDUCATIONAL LOAN REQUEST LETTER BY LATE OBAFEMI AWOLOWO

Dear Mr. Odutola,

I think it will be an exceeding saving of time and more business-like if I avoid all sweet preliminaries and go straight into the object of this letter and say that I am writing to ask you to be good enough to lend me a sum of £1,400 (One thousand and four hundred pounds) free of interest for twelve years.

It is a staggering figure! More staggering indeed does it become, when it is realized that I, who am asking for this loan, have nothing in all the world to give as a security for this money, excepting my good faith and my brains which again are of value only so long as I continue to breathe the breath of life!

Nevertheless, I here proceed to outline in brief why i want this big loan from you. And I hope you will be kind enough to sacrifice some time to go through what I have to say, even though, in  the end you might find yourself unable to do me this grand favour.

One great ambition of mine since my boyhood days is to be a lawyer, a politician and a journalist, rolled into one. I cherish politics and journalism as a career, and I desire advocacy as a means of livelihood. For you will agree with me that a politician or journalist who has no money with which to support himself and family comfortably, is like a blade which has no razor.

Now, at one time, I was on the verge of making enough money with which I could proceed to England in order to pursue the object of my ambition; but I suffered a twist in my fortune, and I crashed. Ever since, I have tried without success to recover lost grounds, financially. But spiritually and intellectually, I have made appreciable advance in spite of towering difficulties, all of which have now been surmounted.

As you are aware, I have just passed the intermediate Bachelor of Commerce Examination. Next year, I am taking the final B.Com. Having a degree is not my goal; I hate to be a government or mercantile employee. Otherwise, there are opportunities for me here and there to get a suitable and well paid job under government or one of the mercantile houses. As you know, however, once I become an employee of government or a mercantile establishment that is the end to my career as a politician and journalist. I have therefore resolved that under no circumstances will I take up such employment.

That is just by the way. I am now thirty-four years of age. After careful thought, I have come to the conclusion that if I could raise a loan free of interest sufficient to cover expenses, I should go to England, this year and within three years, I should qualify as a Barrister –at –law, and also obtain with Honours the LL.B Degree of London University. In addition this degrees apart from giving me good backing as a solicitor and Advocate will help me immensely as a politician and journalist.

But where on earth could i get the money? Who in Nigeria today could give £1,400 free of interest to help his fellow-man? J. Henry Doherty, Esq., of illustrious memory who did the like to many successful Nigerians is no more. But after meticulous, shifting and weighing, I hit upon you.

I have no doubt whatsoever in my mind that out of the bounty with which providence blesses your grit and efforts as a businessman, you can well easily afford to advance such a sum of money. I have no doubt too that as a young and progressive man you will be quite happy to give the money for the pursuit of the project for which I desire it.

But then, could you take this risk?

That is the question. As I have said before, I have no security for this loan. Moreover, I want it free of interest. So that you stand to gain absolutely NOTHING in the whole transaction, except the satisfaction that by helping me to achieve my ambition you are indirectly or even directly helping Nigeria or even Africa.

This risk becomes greater when it is borne in mind that I might die in the course of my studies or immediately after, so that, since I have no security or surety, you stand the chance of losing not only the money but also the satisfaction which you may cherish that you are contributing to the uplift of Africa. It is indeed a great risk; the greatest any man ever embarks upon.

But, this is a big BUT, if I live, as I have no doubt I will do, you will not only get your money back in full, but you will, to the end of your days, have cause to rejoice that you have done one of the most outstanding and most philanthropic acts any human being ever does. Among other things, I shall make excellent use of the money while in England by breaking records in my examination. On my return  to Nigeria, I shall strive to be one of the foremost advocates, politicians and writers in West Africa, and while I do all these, I shall make it a point not only to pay your money back in full, but also to repay your kindness and generosity towards me in every way I can.

All the same, it is a big risk! So, Sir, I like you to think seriously about it, and see if you can take it in the interest of a young man who has brain, industry and determination to back his ambition, but lacks the money. I know we have never been close friends, but I have a shrewd idea that you may take the risk and help me.

On this assumption, therefore, I proceed to the next and last stage of this letter.

I shall not require the whole £1,400 in a lump sum. To start with, you will help me pay a sum of £208-13s-3d to the Inner Temple. I have already received an application form from this Inn of Court; and from the details forwarded, I gather that the sum of £208-13s-3d will cover all the cost of training as a barrister, examination fees excluded.

When I am ready to sail, you will advance me a sum of £100 to cover passage, provision for my family and any other incidental expenses (NOTE: If I got torpedoed on the way, you would certainly lose this £100 but you will recover the £208-13s-3d).

At the same time you will remit to a London Bank the sum of £491-6s-9d. It is out of this amount that I shall pay the university fees for LL.B course and for special courses in political science and journalism, when I land in England. This is to say, the initial advance will total £800.

At the end of the first year, provided I make satisfactory progress in my studies, you will give instruction to the bank to honour all cheques from me drawn on this account. There will be an arrangement to be signed by me on my return.

On my return, I shall require TWO years within which to establish a solid practice and build a good reputation. After these two years, I should commence to pay at least £200 per annum either in monthly, quarterly or annual payments. So that in seven years after the first two years, I should pay back the whole sum of £1,400. That will be TWELVE YEARS from the time you help me to pay this in April or so this year, then I should be due to pay the whole of £1,400 by April 1955.

Now, as you yourself will see, this is the farthest limit within which I can pay the money. It may be possible for me to pay the money within THREE to FIVE years of my return. As a matter of fact, the sooner I pay it off, the better. But it is much better to be on the safe side in a matter like this. It is no making promises now which will be difficult to fulfil in future. On the contrary it is better to mention a period of twelve years and pay within SIX or EIGHT years than to mention FIVE YEARS and fail to pay within TEN years. Personally, I prefer that I should fail to get the loan under theses unattractive but sure conditions, rather than succeed in getting it under attractive but precarious conditions.

Now, this is all I have to say. You have my request before you, and the reason why i make the request. It is left for you to decide whether it is worthwhile to take the risk of helping me in the manner outlined above or not.

If you do me the great favour, not only myself and all that are mine, but also God and Africa will be grateful, I shall have no cause whatsoever to grumble or to blame you, FOR THE RISK IS GREAT.

Since this is a very selfish request, I enclosed herewith a self addressed stamped envelope to be sent under a registered post.

Obafemi Awolowo.

Chief Odutola refused him of the Loan, Awo could not travel that year. He buckle up his lace and by August 14, 1944 (one year later) he travelled to England, became a Barrister at law and was called to the Bar in November 1946. Amazingly, by 1954 (A year to the time he promised to pay Chief Odutola the Loan ) , Chief Awolowo was already a Premier in the Defunct Western Region and already giving out Scholarship to over 200 undergraduates (First of its kind in Africa).

ONDO EXPERIENCED TRUE TRANSFORMATION UNDER MIMIKO - FORMER COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY-GENERAL

Former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku has described the achievements recorded by Ondo State governor, Olusegun Mimiko as true transformation while stressing that the country will realize its dreams if the kind of welfare services provided Ondo State Government becomes a common sight in other part of the country.

Chief Anyaoku who made the statement in Ondo State during symposium tagged, "Curtailing Nigeria's Centrifugal Forces" which was organized by the state in commemoration of her 40th anniversary, described Mimiko's governing style as exceptional.

He further said "Since I came yesterday, I have seen so many projects. Mimiko is exceptional"

If we have more of what I have seen in Ondo state since I came, Nigeria will be the country of our dream," Anyaoku noted.

I WILL NOT RESIGN, SHERIFF REPLIES PDP BoT

Despite opposition from some quarters, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Senator Ali-modu Sheriff(SAS), yesterday declared that he would not resign his new appointment.

The Board of Trustees of the PDP rose from a meeting in Abuja yesterday night stating that it had rejected Sherif(SAS) as national chairman of the party.

The BoT chairman, Senator Walid Jibril addressed journalist shortly after the meeting, he said "The Board of Trustees of the PDP is of the view that Ali Modu Sheriff is not suitable as national chairman of the PDP. We have proposed viable solutions which will be deliberated upon tonight. We are going for another meeting."

This is the first time that the BoT of PDP will be coming out in high number for a meeting and in attendance for the meeting were Prof. Jerry Gana(Former Information Minister), Adolphus Wabara(former Senate president), Ibrahim Mantua(Ex-Deputy Senate President), Senator Ahmadu Alli(Former PDP national chairman), Inna Ciroma, and among others.

Sheriff said that he did not know when his tenure as a chairman would end. He noted that he would only reveal his agenda when he had been briefed on the status of the party including its finances.

"I will unfold the agenda of this party to everybody as soon as other members of the National working Committee, particularly the national Treasurer and the National secretary brief me fully on the status of the party, i will let Nigerians know where we are going and what we intend to do," he said.

And in Ekiti state, Governor Ayodele Fayose, said "His emergence at this time is the best thing in the present circumstance. Those who are aggrieved should sheathe their sword and deploy their time and resources into fighting the All Progressives Congress(APC) instead of their own party."

Senator Sherriff also denied links with the Boko Haram terrorist group when he was addressing a press conference after the handing over session. He also answeredd to the question of inadequacy of time to carry out the task of rebuilding the party which he explained that his tenure was not yest known to him, adding that only PDP leaders would decide on that later.

"I took over this party today, i am here as a national chairman of this party by the grace of all the National Executive Committee(NEC) members of the party. I am here to rebuild the party.

"what time we need to do this job will be determined by the leaders and owners of the party when they sit down collectively to discuss. For me taking over office today, i cannot tell you when i am leaving, I will only tell you when the party leaders sit down and see what is the immediate time to do this job. if they decide, I am ready for it."

Sheriff who expressed dismay over calls for his resignation by a former governor of defunct Gongola state, Amb.Wilberforce Juta, stated that having contested the PDP chairmanship election with him and lost, Juta had no moral right to ask for his resignation.

"The leadership of this party, in their wisdom asked me to lead. If the NEC of this party collectively asks me to leave, I will leave, but not somebody who contested an election and got one vote.

"I think if there is morality, he should not even go to television. In this country, people are allowed to say what they want. You want something, you got into the party, the party has submitted your name. In the midst of everybody, you got one vote and you go outside and ask the chairman to resign. My brother, where is the credibility? Where is the justice? I would have listened to him better if he did not aspire to be one.

" Therefore, I do not plan to resign, I will not resign." And i will reposition this party and take it to election within a time frame decided by the leaders to conduct a credible, effective congress that will stand the test of time"

He also declared that he never regretted leaving the All Progressives Congress(APC) which he said he played a significant role in forming. So he begged all aggrieved party members to drop their grievances and join him in the task of rebuilding the party,

I WON'T RESIGN - ALI-MODU SHERIFF

The newly appointed National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has debunked wide accusations being leveled against him as one of the Boko Haram sponsors.
Sheriff who stated this yesterday while addressing the press after he received a hand over note at the party's national secretariat, said those throwing such accusations against him will not go Scot-free this time around.

He said, "I assure you that those people like Fani-Kayode leveling me with the outlawed group will not go Scot-free '."

He stated that, "There is nobody in the possession of the truth about the Boko Haram has ever indicted me, rather the Boko Haram whom had killed my blood brother and people close to me were targeting me for making life uncomfortable for them while I was governor of the state".

He also explained that those calling for his resignation should sheath their sword as he has come to stay to help in the building aspect of the party. He added that part of those clamoring for his resignations which include Mr. Junta Wilberforce whom had a single vote after his nomination "lacked the moral right to challenge my victory," he stated.

He said his stint at his former political party, the APC added value to it that made it attractive to the people and I assure you I will transfer such to the PDP as my guiding principle.

SHIITE SECT SHUN COMMISSION OF INQUIRY - ZARIA ARMY/SHIITE CLASH

The Commission of Inquiry which was set up by Kaduna state government to look into the immediate and remote causes of the Zaria Army/Shiite sect clash that left over sixty persons killed and several others injured, witnessed a set back when the Shiite members refused to appear before the judicial commission of Inquiry.

As early as 9am, the members of 13-man judicial commission of Inquiry headed by justice Muhammadu Lawal Garba, were at the Hassan Katsina state House, Kaduna to listen to parties involved in the Zaria clash case, only to hear that the shiite through a letter written to the commission said they would appear only if they have access to their leader, Shiekh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, who will give them order to either appear or not.

Meanwhile the army were represented by the General Officer commanding, GOC,1 Mechanised Division, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade and some other senior army officer and they all appeared for the hearing.

Addressing the sitting, the chairman of the commission, justice Muhammadu Lawal Garba, said, "this sitting has to be adjourned till Wednesday because of the absence of one party involved in the inquiry". Garba also told counsel to the commission, Yusuf Ali(SAN) to do findings about there whereabout of Shiekh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and report back to the commission within the next 24 hours.

According to the chairman of the commission, it is required by law for every party in the clash to be present at all the sittings of the proceedings. Meanwhile, the Islamic Movement group had faulted the 13-man composition of the panel, saying some of its members are already against the Shiite group.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN) Yusuf Ali has promised to locate the leader of the Shiites within 24 hours so as to enable his lawyers have access to him, he said this to our correspondent.

SUPREME COURT GIVES REASON WHY THEY DISMISSED APC'S APPEAL.

The Apex court of country which we all know as the supreme court today, Monday 22nd of February, 2016, said the All Progressive Congress(APC) and its governorship candidate in Taraba state, Aisha Alhassan, had no locus standi to challenge the nomination of Governor Darius Ishiaku by Peoples Democratic Party.

The apex court made the declaration while giving reasons for dismissing the appeal of APC and Alhassan in its judgement on February 11, 2016.

The court held that the governor was duly sponsored by the peoples Democratic Party(PDP) to contest in the election, adding that evidence brought before it had confirmed Ishiaku's membership of the party.

Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, who presided over the case and read the details of the judgement, said the appeals and cross appeals had no redeemable substance. He said "The matter is very simple that the apex court has ruled on matters of this nature at different occasions."

He further said " There  is no way a candidate of another political party who did not participate in the primaries of another political party could suddenly rise to challenge the conduct of such an exercise. It is therefore, clear that the appeals and all the cross appeals against the election of Governor Darius Ishiaku of Taraba have no redeemable Substance".

The supreme court also declared that the Taraba state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal grossly misdirected itself by upturning Governor Ishiaku's victory.

If we recall, that the tribunal had nullified the governors's election and went ahead to declare Alhassan as duly elected governor of Taraba before an appeal by Ishiaku set aside the tribunal judgement, prompting Alhassan and the APC to approach the apex court, which dismissed their appeals and affirmed the validity of the governor's election.

THE COPA AMERICA CENTENARIO DRAW RESULT

The much anticipated Copa America Centenario draw took place yesterday night in New York city as teams know who they will be meeting in the group stage of this summer tournament.

The United state draws what looks to be a group of death, with the top remaining CONCACAF team, Costa Rica, along with 2014 world cup qualifiers Colombia and Paraguay, making up group A. The second group where Brazil was the seeded team includes Peru, Ecuador and Haiti also drawn into the group.

Mexico drew the lowest CONMEBOL team in the FIFA rankings in Venezuela and will and will have a rematch of the 2015 gold cup final with Jamaica in the group and Uruguay who will be joined with luiz Suarez, the highest goal scorer of LA liga so far this season, in group C.

The final group, which is group D, will see a rematch of the 2015 Copa america final between Argentina and Chile because they are both in the same group again. Bolivia, the first team to come out of the pot after the seeded teams, is in the group with panama.

OIL PRICE STABILITY HIGH ON AGENDA AS PMB VISIT QATAR AND SAUDI ARABIA

President muhammadu Buhari will begin a week a week long official visit to Saudi Arabia and Qatar today, February 22, 2016.

PMB who will accompanied by high powered Federal government delegation including the minister of state(petroleum) and group managing director of the Nigerian national petroleum corporation(NNPC) Dr, Ibe kachikwu, will first fly to Riyadyh for talks on Tuesday with king salman Bin Abdulaziz all saud and senior officials of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

On going efforts by Nigeria and other members of organization of petroleum exporting countries (OPEC) to achieve greater stability in the price of crude oil exports are expected to be high on the agenda of discussions between PMB and the Saudi monarch.

Crude oilprices and market stability will also be on the front burner where president Muhammadu Buhari goes on to Doha on Saturday for talks on Sunday with the emir of Qatar, sheikh tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The president is also scheduled to meet with leading Saudi and Qatar business men in Riyadyh and Doha, and invite them to support his administration's effort to revamp the Nigeria economy by taking advantage of the great investment opportunities currently available in the Nigeria's mining, agriculture, power supply, infrastructures, transportation, communication and other sectors.

President Buhari's other engagement in Saudi Arabia includes meeting with head of international financial organizations and multilateral organizations. Before going on to Doha, the president will also go on to Medina and Mecca to pray for a greater peace, prosperity, and progress in Nigeria.