Obafemi Awolowo - The Western Region Crisis (1960-1966)

Obafemi Awolowo - The Western Region Crisis (1960-1966) Dive into the most turbulent and defining period in Nigerian history: the Western Region Crisis of 1960 to 1966. This documentary meticulously unpacks the bitter power struggle between two political titans, Chief Obafemi Awolowo (Leader of the Action Group) and his deputy, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola (Premier of the Western Region). Their internal party conflict did not just split the Yoruba nation; it created the instability that ultimately led to the collapse of Nigeria's First Republic. ​We explore the events that started in 1962 with the infamous brawl in the Western House of Assembly, leading to the Federal Government declaring a State of Emergency. Trace the dramatic political events, from Awolowo's controversial Treasonable Felony Trial and subsequent imprisonment, to the rigging-plagued 1965 Western Regional Election. ​This period culminated in widespread violence known as Operation Wetie (meaning "drench him" in Yoruba) where political opponents and their properties were tragically set ablaze—a bloody episode that turned the region into the "Wild Wild West." ​Learn how the violence and political chaos in the Western Region provided the pretext for Major Kaduna Nzeogwu's January 1966 Military Coup, an event that ended Nigeria’s democratic experiment and ushered in decades of military rule. ​Did you know? The violence of Operation Wetie was a direct reaction to widespread electoral fraud in 1965, marking a critical failure of the democratic process. ​Key Topics Covered: Action Group (AG) Crisis, Nigerian First Republic, Obafemi Awolowo, Samuel Ladoke Akintola, Operation Wetie, 1966 Coup, Yoruba Politics. ​Don't forget to like and subscribe for more in-depth historical documentaries on African History! Get a copy of HUMANITY here: https://www.amazon.com/HUMANITY-Chall...