How Tafawa Balewa’s personal physician saved Western region in 1962

How Tafawa Balewa’s personal physician saved Western region in 1962

How Tafawa Balewa’s personal physician saved Western region in 1962

In 1962, the Western Region was on the verge of collapse. It wasn’t saved by the Army, it was saved by a doctor-politician. Dr. Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi was appointed Sole Administrator of the Western Region.

THE CR!SIS THAT BROKE THE WEST

The Action Group (AG) had split between its national leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and its Premier, Chief S.L.A. Akintola. At the Jos Congress Feb 1962, Akintola was accused of making a pact with the NPC to “trade away” the West.

On May 20, 1962 the Action Group’s Federal Executive voted to remove Akintola as deputy leader and Premier for anti-party activities. Governor Sir Adesoji Aderemi (Ooni of Ife) sacked Akintola, and swore in Alhaji Dauda Soroye Adegbenro as the new Premier.

But Akintola refused to leave. He førced his way back into the Premier’s Office on May 22. Then, there were two Premiers.

On May 25, 1962, when the Western House of Assembly met to give Adegbenro a vote of confidence, the House erupted into a free-for-all – members fought, tables broken, and the famous mace incident occurred. Law and order collapsed.

Looking at the turn of events, Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa had no choice but to declare a State of Emergency on May 29, after emergency sittings of the Federal House and Senate. The Western region’s constitution was suspended and the governor was sent out of Government House to Ife.

HOW MAJEKODUNMI SAVED THE WESTERN REGION

Balewa appointed his own personal physician and Federal Minister of Health, Dr. Majekodunmi, as Administrator in the evening of May 29. He flew into Ibadan and assumed office May 31, 1962.

He did 3 things that are remembered as his masterstrokes:

1. Absolute impartiality:
   He was not from any of the AG factions. Therefore his sincerity of purpose and decision not to take sides helped to calm the situation.
2. Immediate security clampdown without bl00dshed: He had Governor-General Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe sign 13 Emergency Regulation Acts to give legal backing to the emergency. His first act was signing restriction orders detaining leaders of both factions – Awolowo, Akintola and six others on the first day. By locking up both sides, he stopped the street thūgs and assembly vi0lence.
3. A technocratic, caretaker government: Instead of bringing politicians, on June 4, 1962, he appointed technocrats as Commissioners – Dr. Victor Omololu Olunloyo and Oba Sikiru Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebuland, among others. He also appointed a young Captain Murtala Ramat Muhammed, just back from Congo peacekeeping, as his ADC.

He ran the Region for 6 months from 29 June, 1962 to December 1962 – keeping schools, hospitals and civil service running while courts decided who the lawful Premier was.

Once order was restored and the courts had spoken, he handed back power. Akintola resumed office on January 1, 1963.

That is why history records him as the man who saved the West from descending into full civil wãr in 1962 – not by førce, but by neutral administration and detēntion of the wãrlords until tempers cooled.