In the turbulent political landscape of Nigeria’s First Republic, few rivalries left as profound a mark as the bitter fallout between Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola. Once united by shared ambition and vision within the Action Group (AG), the two Yoruba political titans would later find themselves on opposing sides of a divide that reshaped the destiny of the Western Region.
At the heart of their conflict lay a clash of ideology and political strategy. Awolowo, the intellectual architect of the Action Group and a staunch advocate of progressive welfare policies, believed in strict party discipline and a clear ideological identity rooted in social democracy. Akintola, his trusted deputy and the region’s Premier, held a more pragmatic view. He argued that the AG’s survival depended on alliances with the Northern-led federal government, seeing cooperation—not confrontation—as the key to maintaining regional influence.
What began as a difference in political philosophy soon degenerated into distrust and open hostility. Party meetings became scenes of acrimony; fiery speeches replaced thoughtful debate. Supporters on both sides entrenched their loyalties, and the once cohesive Action Group began to fracture. The Western House of Assembly turned into a stage for chaos—walkouts, shouting matches, and procedural disruptions became the order of the day.
By the early 1960s, the internal crisis had spiraled beyond reconciliation. The split within the Action Group culminated in widespread violence, infamously remembered as “Operation Wetie.” The streets of Ibadan, Ogbomoso, and other cities descended into riots, arson, and mob attacks. Political thuggery replaced governance, and the region once regarded as Nigeria’s model of development was plunged into turmoil.
As law and order broke down, the Federal Government declared a state of emergency in the Western Region, effectively dissolving local political control. A rift that began between two men had ignited a crisis that engulfed thousands.
In the aftermath, both Awolowo and Akintola remained towering yet tragic figures. Awolowo, later imprisoned on charges of treasonable felony, emerged from confinement as Nigeria’s enduring moral and intellectual conscience. Akintola continued to govern the Western Region until his death in the January 1966 coup, a violent end to a career once defined by brilliance and charisma.
Their story stands as a powerful lesson in political leadership: that unity without mutual understanding is fragile, and that when ambition overshadows collaboration, even the most visionary movements can collapse from within.
Author: Gbenga Teejay Okunlola
London, UK
teejayok@gmail.com
