Awo vs Akintola Western Nigeria – Hubsand vs Husband Power Tussle & Wife vs Wife Coca Cola Dealership

Key Figures

Obafemi Awolowo

• Born 1909, died 1987. First Premier of the Western Region of Nigeria, founder and leader of the Action Group (AG). guardian.ng+5Western Post+5tile.loc.gov+5

• Ideologically committed to democratic socialism, strong regional autonomy, and the upliftment of the Yoruba people in Nigeria. tile.loc.gov+2RSIS International+2

• After relinquishing the Premiership in 1959 to his deputy, he became Leader of the Opposition at the federal level. Vanguard News+2theartsjournal.org+2

Samuel Ladoke Akintola

• Born 1910, died in the 1966 first military coup. He succeeded Awolowo as Premier of the Western Region and was also a deputy leader of the AG. Western Post+2theartsjournal.org+2

• More conservative in his orientation compared to Awolowo. Favoured closer cooperation with the federal/central government and the northern-dominated Northern People’s Congress (NPC) rather than staying rigidly in opposition. Western Post+2tile.loc.gov+2

Overview of the Rift between the Husbands

Roots of the conflict

1. Power transition and ambiguity – When Awolowo gave up his role as Premier (1959) to aim for federal office, Akintola became Premier. Yet Awolowo retained leadership of the party (Action Group) and remained influential. This created a tension: Akintola as Premier felt he should have full autonomy; Awolowo as party leader did not easily relinquish control. oya.ng

2. Ideological divergence – Awolowo was committed to “democratic socialism” and the transformation of the Western Region along welfare and state-led lines. Akintola and his supporters were more conservative, preferred business-friendly policies, less radical economic transformation. tile.loc.gov+2theartsjournal.org+2

3. Strategic alliances – Akintola believed the Western Region (and Yoruba elite) would lose out if they isolated themselves. He thus advocated alliance with the NPC and broader national coalition. Awolowo opposed this, fearing the Yoruba region would be subsumed or side-lined. Western Post+1

4. Party‐machinery struggle – The AG congress in Jos (1962) scrapped the post of Deputy Leader, which undermined Akintola’s power base. The Western House of Assembly passed votes of no confidence; Akintola was dismissed (May 1962) and the federal government imposed a state of emergency in the Western Region. dawodu.com+1

5. Violence and breakdown – The struggle spilled into the streets: the so-called “Operation Wetie” (wet him) riots where political opponents’ properties were petrol-bombed, violence erupted. Wikipedia+1

Why the conflict mattered

• The rift weakened the Western Region’s political stability and contributed to broader national instability. Vanguard News+1

• It marked a major split within the Yoruba political elite, in the AG and beyond. The Nation Newspaper+1

• Some historians argue the crisis was one of the proximate causes of the 1966 coup in Nigeria. thenicheng.com+1

The Role of the Wives: Interpersonal and Business Rivalries

Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo (“HID Awolowo”)

• Wife of Obafemi Awolowo, married in 1937. guardian.ng+1

• A prominent businesswoman in her own right: she had distributorship for Coca-Cola and other commodities from about 1956 in the Western Region. guardian.ng+1

• Politically active: she played major roles in party women’s wings and helped her husband’s campaigns. TheCable

Faderera Akintola

• Wife of Samuel Ladoke Akintola (married in the 1930s). guardian.ng+1

• From Igbajo (Yoruba land). Trained as a nurse. Strong‐willed and influential in her husband’s political circle. guardian.ng+1

The Rivalry between the Wives

1. “Coca-Cola distributorship” dispute – HID Awolowo held the distributorship rights for Coca-Cola in the Western Region since 1956. Faderera Akintola, as wife of the incoming Premier, insisted that such premium distributorships (being the wife of the Premier) should be reallocated or shared. HID refused to give up her business. The dispute became symbolic of deeper power and patronage struggles. Tribune Online+1

2. Meeting venues and protocol – Faderera reportedly insisted that political and party meetings should no longer be held at Awolowo’s house (Oke-Bola) but should now be at the Premier’s Lodge (her husband’s official residence). This was seen by Awolowo as an insult. The Eagle Online+1

3. Influence over husbands and policy – Both women had significant influence. Faderera apparently encouraged her husband to resist Awolowo’s dominance; HID was close to her husband’s politics and business interests. The wives’ animosity is cited by some writers as having aggravated the overall rift. thisdaylive.com

4. Broader impact – Some observers go further and suggest that the dispute between the wives was one of the initiating triggers of the larger split in the AG and by extension the political crisis in the Western Region. For example, Dr. Tank Yakassai claimed the quarrel between the two wives over contracts (exercise books etc) helped spark the 1966 coup. thenicheng.com+1

Summary: Combined Issues & Why They Exploded

Why This Matters for Nigerian Political History

• The rift showed how personal ambition, ideology, regionalism, patronage and gender dynamics within families and parties all intertwined in post-colonial politics in Nigeria.

• It weakened the Western Region, which had been among the most advanced in Nigeria under Awolowo’s leadership, and helped destabilize the First Republic. Vanguard News+1

• It underlines how leadership succession without clarity, and a failure to manage internal party democracy, can lead to destructive outcomes.

• The story of the wives reminds us that political conflict is not just among “men in suits”; spouses, family business interests, social networks all mattered.

Remaining Questions & Caveats

• While the wives’ rivalry is often cited, many historians caution that it alone did not cause the crisis: the underlying structural and political issues were far more important. theartsjournal.org+1

• Some of the narratives (e.g., that the wives’ conflict triggered the 1966 coup) are contested and may be simplified or retrospective mythologizing.

• The full picture includes external actors (federal government, NPC, regional governors) beyond just Awolowo & Akintola.