7 Brilliant Nigerians Who Could Have Been Nigeria's President But Never Got The Opportunity; You'll Be Shocked At No. 7

The Nigerian political landscape is one that has witnessed a lot of ups and downs which many will bear witness to. Right from the days of the nation’s independence when the British Union Jack was lowered and the iconic green white green flag was raised, it has been a tupsy-turvy one for the former British colony.

A nation that came by through a process called amalgamation which brought about the union of several distinct and previously independent small nation states has not had it smooth since then.

Right from the day the nation got its independence which was heralded by with much pomp and pageantry  at a ceremony which held at the Tafawa Balewa Square, the scheming, plotting and politicking of who runs what has now become the largest continent in Africa.

Before we go inti the main subject of this article, lets take a look first at some historic facts about the country Nigeria.

Some Historic Facts About Nigeria

Head of State of Nigeria General Sani Abacha arrives in Tunis, on June 6, 1994, to attend the 30th summit of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). (Photo credit should read FETHI BELAID/AFP/Getty Images)

Nigeria first became a republic in 1963, but succumbed to military rule three years later after a bloody coup d’état. A separatist movement later formed the Republic of Biafra in 1967, leading to the three-year Nigerian Civil War. Nigeria became a republic once again after a new constitution was written in 1979. However, the republic was short-lived, when the military seized power again four years later.

A new republic was planned to be established in 1993, but was dissolved by General Sani Abacha. Abacha died in 1998 and a fourth republic was later established the following year, which ended three decades of intermittent military rule.

It has been said that one of Nigeria’s problems has been the case of accidental presidents, men who never were never prepared for the opportunity and the demand of the office of president and so never really delivered whereas there are others who could be said to have had this capacity, were mentally prepared but never got the opportunity to ascend the high position possibly because the politicking and calculation never favoured them.

Below we highlight these personalities, x-raying their ideologies and lifestyle:

Chief Obafemi Awolowo:

Arguably one of the brightest minds Nigeria ever had and one of the brilliant minds that should have been Nigeria’s president.

How much do you know about Obafemi Awolowo, the first Premier of the Western Region? pic.twitter.com/44jbMB5DHm

— The Guardian Nigeria (@GuardianNigeria) August 28, 2017

Commonly refered to as Awo and/or ‘the sage’, Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo was one of the founding fathers of modern Nigeria. A Nigerian Nationalist, political leader and writer, he was one of the frontline fighters in the country’s struggle for independence.

Rest in Peace Obafemi Awolowo! pic.twitter.com/ZdjZKqZoQx

— Dr. Aminu Gamawa (@aminugamawa) May 9, 2015

Obafemi Awolowo was the first premier of the Western Region and then later became commissioner for finance and Vice Chairman of the Federal Executive Council during Nigeria’s civil war.

🎥: Obafemi Awolowo campaigning for election into the Federal House of Representatives 1 month to the elections under his party Action Group in Nigeria's Parliamentary elections in 1959. pic.twitter.com/sP3UPebIv1

— 🌍🔍 (@historyintwits) February 22, 2019

He was the first premier of the Western Region and later federal commissioner for finance, and vice chairman of the Federal Executive Council during the Civil War. He was thrice a major contender for his country’s highest office.

Chief Obafemi Awolowo commissions the first Television station in AFrica, WNTV in Ibadan pic.twitter.com/LVBW2Re2hC

— Ayobami (@dondekojo) April 21, 2016

A native of Ikenne in Ogun State of south-western Nigeria, he started his career, like some of his well-known contemporaries, as a nationalist in the Nigerian Youth Movement in which he rose to become Western Provincial Secretary. Awolowo was responsible for much of the progressive social legislation that has made Nigeria a modern nation.

Chief Obafemi Awolowo shared his vision with, and contributed "inestimably" to, so he could confidently name as his pride in his wife; HID.. pic.twitter.com/MD5rQVaYEg

— Objectv Media! (@objectvmedia) September 22, 2016

Chief Obafemi Awolowo at the constitution conference 1958 pic.twitter.com/QBreUWRmoS

— Ayobami (@dondekojo) April 21, 2016

2. Shehu Musa YarÁdua:

Not many know this but another Nigerian who had a big potential to become Nigeria’s President but ended up never getting the opportunity before his death is the late Shehu Musa Yar Adua, elder brother to former president Umaru Musa YarÁdua.

Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, was a Nigerian major general (ret.) and former Vice President in Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo’s military government which ran between 1976-79. He was convicted in 1995 amid much controversy for plotting to overthrow the Gen. Sani Abacha’s government and planning to re-establish a civilian rule.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x33ojvBP558He died while serving a 25-year prison term (b. March 5, 1943–d. Dec. 8, 1997).

3. Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu:

The popular war lord of Biafra. It’s no news that Emeka Ojukwu nursed the ambition to one day become Nigeria’s president despite the fact that he was in the military.

He was a Nigerian military officer and politician who served as the military governor of the Eastern Region of Nigeria in 1966 and the leader of the breakaway Republic of Biafra from 1967 to 1970. He was active as a politician from 1983 to 2011, when he died aged 78.

The Biafra story will forever be an incredible period in the history of Nigeria but it was an experience that showed the leadership capabilities of the young officer who led the secessionists for a period of 3 years during which they battled the Federal troops popularly referred to by the Biafrans then as ‘infidels’.

He was another Nigeria who could have contributed positively to the Nigerian nation as its president.

4. Alex Ekwueme:

Born 21st October 2018, Alex Ekwueme is one of the very bright and brilliant minds Nigeria has produced ever.

VIDEO: Bishop Emmanuel Chukwuma of the Anglican Diocese of Enugu unleash verbal attacks upon @ngrPresident@MBuhari and politicians during a funeral homily heralding Dr. Alex Ekwueme’s burial pic.twitter.com/bQztaSVQCy

— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) February 2, 2018

Owing to his exceptional brilliance in Kings College, Lagos, he became one of Nigeria’s first recipient of the Fulbright scholarship in the US. He proceeded to the University of Washington where he graduated with a degree in Architecture and city planning.

#Watch Alex Ekwueme speaks,Nigeria is not a Nation", there is no sense of Nationhood in the British contraption called Nigeria #freeBiafrapic.twitter.com/dH9KoCor3J

— andybest (@andybes50484929) March 25, 2017

According to The Guardian, he went on to earn degrees in sociology, history, philosophy and law from the University of London. Thereafter, he obtained a PhD from the University of Strathclyde and BL (honours) degree from the Nigerian Law School.

Sir Alex had great success with his architectural firm such that within a short space of time he had over 16 branches across the country.

He became the first elected vice president of the country from 1979 to 1983 in the Shehu Shagari-led administration. He was notably known for his contributions towards maintaining an active Educational Trust fund for Nigerians as well as proposing the equitable sharing of power among the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria.

5: MKO Abiola:

This is MKO Abiola's Campaign Video in 1993.
How are we still facing the same challenges in 2018? pic.twitter.com/ezp40LEgv8

— King Overdose… (@IamKellyJoe) November 24, 2018

Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola was indeed the President Nigeria never had. He smelt it but never got a taste of it having as he was denied in a grand scheme perpetuated by his close friend, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida.

Chief Abiola GCFR was born 24th August 1937 and died while still in detention on 7th July 1998.

Abiolla was a successful Ngerian businessman, astute politician and the Aare Ona Kakanfo of the Yoruba land.

In 1993, Abiola ran for presidency under the Social Democratic Party (SDP) umbrella in what has been adjudged as the freeest and fairest election process ever in the history of Nigeria even till date and interestingly its the same election that was annulled by the sitting military dictator, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.

Abiola fought to claim his mandate with his last breath as he died in detention.

Abiola was awarded the GCFR posthumously on 6 June 2018 by President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigeria’s democracy day was just recently changed to June 12.

6. Fela Anikulapo Kuti:

Born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti on the 15th of October 1938 in Abeokuta. And unknown to many nursed presidential ambition albeit not on the regular front.

Fela was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist, musician, composer, pioneer of the Afrobeat music genre and human rights activist. At the height of his popularity, he was referred to as one of Africa’s most “challenging and charismatic music performers.

After Fela and his band returned to Nigeria, the group was renamed The Afrika ’70. He formed the Kalakuta Republic, a commune, a recording studio, and a home for the many people connected to the band that he later declared independent from the Nigerian state.

Following an attack on his Kalakuta republic residence by soldiers in 1977, shortly after the release of his hit album ‘Zombie’ which was a metaphor on the Nigerian military, Fela launched his own political party called Movement of the People (MOP). His candidature was however refused and the party has since seized to exist.

But quite recently there has been call on the Kuti family to revive the political party, Movement of People, MOP, on which platform, the late Afrobeat king, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, sought to contest the 1979 presidential elections.

Lets have your thoughts below.