The name Anthony Enahoro might not ring a bell like Nnamdi Azikiwe, Tafawa Balewa and the likes. Even though this is the case, the contributions of Enahoro to the independence of Nigeria cannot be overlooked. Chief Enahoro was a prominent Nationalist during the colonial era. He was notable for being the first to file a motion for self governance.
Enahoro later rose to become Action Group’s acting General Secretary and National vice president and held a number of ministerial positions in Western Region. At the age of 30 , as a member of the Nigerian Federal legislature, Enahoro moved on March 31, 1953 the first motion demanding Nigeria’s independence from England in 1957, a motion that was then not carried.
On March 26, 1957, encouraged by Ghana becoming independent three weeks earlier on March 6, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, then opposition leader of the Action Group in Lagos parliament, re-introduced this “Independence in 1957″ motion with an eye to quickly catching up with Ghana – this time it was unanimously carried, but only after the year was amended by Jaja Nwachukwu of the NCNC from “1957” to “1959”. Enahoro attended all constitutional talks within and outside Nigeria preceding Nigerian’s independence, including the Lancaster House Conferences in London which were to follow immediately after the Akintola motion, from May 23 to June 26, 1957, as well as others.
Chief Enahoro was conferred with the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic [CFR] in 1982 and was awarded honorary DSC by the University of Benin in 1972. Among his publications include the treatise Fugitive Offender. He will be remembered for striving and fighting for the independent rule of the Nigerian populace.
He died on the 15th of December 2010.
Olatorera Consultancy Limited provides business development services to high net-worth individuals and companies looking to grow, enter or do business in Africa.
