Samuel Ladoke Akintola was a Nigerian Journalist, Politician from Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Nigeria.
Profile Summary
- Name: Samuel Ladoke Akintola
- Date of Birth: July 6, 1910
- Death: January 15, 1966
- Citizenship: Nigerian
- Ethnicity: Black
- Place of Birth: Ogbomosho, Oyo, Nigeria
- Aged: 55 years
He was born in Ogbomosho in Oyo State on July 6, 1910, and was one of the first military coup victims in Nigeria.
Education
Akintola attended baptist college in 1925, upon graduating secondary education, Akintola started working.
In 1946, he received a British scholarship to study in the UK, where he earned a law degree.
Career – Background
Akintola started teaching after graduating from secondary education. In 1930, Akintola began teaching at the Baptist academy.
He left teaching in 1942 and joined the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).
In the same year, Akintola left NRC and started working at the Daily Service Newspaper, working his way to be an editor within months of starting.
In 1945, Akintola started his Newspaper, Iroyin Yoruba, in which it’s written in the Yoruba language.
Political career
Akintola returned from the UK in 1949 and teamed up with others, including Chief Obafemi Awolowo to form the Action Group (AG) political party.
He was appointed as the AG party parliamentary leader in 1953 and a minister at the federal level.
He became the Minister for labor in 1952 before he was appointed as the Minister of Communications, Health, and Aviation.
Samuel Ladoke Akintola – Controversies
After Nigeria gained independence, the AG party started facing a leadership battle. Awolowo accused Akintola of trying to replace him as the leader.
AG party passed a vote of no confidence and removed Akintola as the premier during a meeting in May 1962.
It led to a different crisis within the party, leading the party to break into two. This crisis at the western region house of assembly led the prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, to declare a state of emergency.
Akintola lost all legal proceedings to be reinstated into power, but in a dramatic turn, In 1963, Sir Balewa restored Akintola as premie.
Soon after, Akintola became the leader of a newly formed political party called the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP).
1963 Election and death
Akintola was announced the winner of the general election in 1963 and became the premier under NNDP. The vote was reportedly vigorously rigged as people of the western region favors Awolowo’s party to the newly formed party.
Samuel Ladoke Akintola – Death
Akintola was among those killed during January 15, 1966, military coup. The coup plotters had stormed Akintola’s residence in Ibadan, targeting him.
He was said to have engaged in a deadly shoot out with the coup plotters before being killed.
Source: Dakingsman
