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28 July, 2015

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As an active journalist, the author had been seriously concerned about the slow pace of economic, social and political development in Nigeria, Black Man’s most thickly populated country and one of the richest countries in the world, considering its abundance in natural and human resources in the world.
In his column, ‘Frank Talk by Omo Oye’, when he was the editor of the then Daily Times, the biggest Nigerian Newspaper outfit and the one with the largest circulation in Africa, he wrote on how Nigeria can drop its ‘trial and error’, ‘fire brigade’ approach to economic development. He canvassed for Nigeria to develop coherent, deep-rooted and forward-looking policies that could transform it into a medium world power in record time and a proud homeland for the blacks worldwide.
Acknowledging his outstanding contributions to ideas for a better Nigeria, when he turned 60 in 1986, the most prestigious Newspaper in Nigeria wrote inter-alia about him: “if there was any Nigeria who has enriched this country with sound ideas that could make her a great nation, that man is Areoye Oyebola, who turned 60 recently. In his column, ‘Frank Talk by Omo Oye’ and other articles, he expressed, like the prophets of old, profound ideas on how our country can have a rapid breakthrough to modernity”. They then quoted some of his past writings.
SHORT POLITICAL HISTORY
Shortly after his graduation from the premier University, University of Ibadan, with a degree in Economics in 1964, he was elected as Co-Chairman of the United Progressive Grand Alliance, the Youth wing of 2 leading political parties in Nigeria, the Action Group and the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC). The group fought gallantly against what it perceived as political injustice of the then Western Region.
As a Young Politician, he pitched his camp with the progressive elements in Nigeria, and joined the party then led by the legendary Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, who was the first Nigerian ceremonial President, and who later contested to become the executive President of Nigeria in his party, National Council of Nigerian Citizens, under which platform the author contested elections as governor of the Old Oyo State in Nigeria, which he lost.
With his long-standing fervour and struggles for rapid progress in Nigeria, he developed the urge to start an organisation that could totally transform Nigeria, and put an end to its recurrent and daily worsening predicament. This was in 1993, during the confusion that followed the Chief MKO Abiola’s June 1993 Presidential election, adjudged by Nigerians and the international community as being the most free and fair elections ever conducted in Nigeria, of which the then Military Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Gbadamosi Babangida annulled.

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