Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, Wednesday, emerged winner of the first Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership.
Chairman of the selection committee, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, who unveiled the recipient of the maiden award, yesterday in Lagos, said: "Nominees for the prize are expected to have demonstrated, to a substantial degree, the attributes considered to have characterised Chief Awolowo's leadership style.
"They include integrity, credibility, discipline, courage, selflessness, accountability, tenacity of purpose, visionary and people-centred leadership, as well as respect for the rule of law and press freedom.
"After very careful consideration, the selection committee came to the unanimous conclusion that of all the nominees presented before it, the individual adjudged to possess, to the highest degree, the attributes for the award and is, therefore, the first ever recipient of the Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership, is Professor Wole Soyinka.
"An appropriate citation of Professor Soyinka will be given at the actual award ceremony which is scheduled to hold in March 2013, to coincide with Chief Awolowo's birth anniversary."
Meanwhile, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has described Professor Soyinka's award as a crowning glory.
He noted that Soyinka had, in various ways, demonstrated many of the core values that have been associated with Chief Obafemi Awolowo, which the prize is meant to encourage and reward.
Aregbesola, in a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said Soyinka exemplified the true leadership essence that the late Obafemi Awolowo stood for.
He said: "This prize to the Nobel Laureate is a homemade laurel bestowed on our own, who has traversed the globe, raking in honours for his academic excellence, scholarship, relentless promotion of the culture of the African people and his service to humanity.
"To be named the first winner of the Awolowo Prize for Leadership is a crowning glory. He had done the black race the honour of winning the Nobel prize.
"His life remains a source of inspiration to the younger generation. He exemplifies all that Awolowo preached and practiced in leadership.
"Nigerians in general and Yoruba in particular should continue to be proud of both Obafemi Awolowo and Wole Soyinka, while their qualities should energise the current crop of leaders in the country to dedicate themselves to the cause of humanity.
The prize consists of a medal, a certificate and a plaque. The emphasis is on the intrinsic value of the award, which, in itself, not only confers considerable honour and recognition on the recipient, but also serves as a strong incentive for the pursuit of excellence in leadership and good governance in Nigeria."
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In the words of Ikemba of NNewi, Ojukwu. at Awolowo's burial ceremony; Chief Obafemi Awolowo " Is The President Nigeria Never Had ". It was so then , events in the country's continual decay to this day make this comment very real and true. This is the only nation on the face of the polanet with regressive developement despite the massive wealth deposited by nature in our soil. This is about the only country on the planet with the greatest educated men and women who're consumed in the worst corruption ever known to man . It was so when Awolowo made example of what can happen when leaders make that natural commitment to rule fellow citizens by demonstrating the will to give them the benefits of freedom and democracy in return for independence and new day patriotism . That was cearly demonstrated in practical term with his State,The WEstern Region being the only State in the Federation with everything like it is in every developed nation on the planet . It is safe to say that The Western Region under Awolowo's leadership was more developed than most countries like India, North & South Korea, China , as well as most East European nations then . Where are we today in comnparism with htese nations . We're told we have over 80 billionaires non of whom have added an iota of of tricle down effect that can be seen and belived in thier own country , instead their success have become the equivalent of vertical intergration and porfolio investment with London and almost every other nation repeating the benefits of our resourse and capital flight that drain whatever the hardwork of our toiling masses produced to every kown and unknown financial houses and banking institution globally . Except the present doomsday regime are shown the way out of the county's political door , this nation have no way to move forward. We are NIgerians , we kknow the answer , bbut we're incapacitated cos we're surrounded by the worst crminals in goverment who'll do anything to stall efforts to allow for change agents to challenge their stranglehold on nations resources in wealth and human growth. They're delibrately strangling the nation disgracefully .
The nomination of our giant in the forefront of fight for human dignity and relentless war against local tyrants, looters and greedy political leaders represent the peoples commitment to recognize those whose leadership in the past have never been parraled even with 10000% increase in nation's wealth today. It is a very significant symbolic and pragmatic Choice .