Ernest Ikoli
Encyclopedia
Ernest Sissei Ikoli was a Nigeria
n politician
, nationalist and pioneering journalist
. He was the president of the Nigerian Youth Movement and in 1942, represented Lagos in the legislative council.
and educated at Bonny Government School, Rivers State and King's College, Lagos
. After completing his studies at King's College, he became a tutor at the school - a post which he left to pursue a career in Journalism. Ikoli is remembered today as one of the pacesetters of Nigerian journalism and the independence struggle. For a period he worked at the Lagos Weekly Record, a paper that has since disappeared.
He was the first editor of the Daily Times of Nigeria
, which was launched in June 1926 with Adeyemo Alakija
as Chairman of the Board.
He later became publisher of the now defunct African Messenger. In the 1930s he was one of the founders of the Nigerian Youth Movement
and was once the movement's president. During this period, the movement was engaged in an intense power struggle with Herbert Macaulay
's NNDP. In 1942 he was elected onto the Legislative Council
and was re-elected in 1946.
(aka General Saki). The movement originally started as the Lagos
youth movement, it was partly formed to voice concerns about the lackluster colonial
higher education
policy. The movement was largely Lagos based but as varied members entered the organization
, it metamorphosed to become the Nigerian Youth Movement; a political action group with a nationalistic flavor and outlook. Nnamdi Azikiwe, an important political personality joined the group in 1936 and brought in a large followership.
In 1941, when Sir Kofo Abayomi
, a Lagos leader of the movement, resigned his position at the legislative council
, an election
was held among NYM members to select a candidate to contest the seat. In the primary election
, Samuel Akinsanya collated the most votes
, second was Ernest Ikoli, but with the support of H.O Davis, Awolowo, Akintola and a few others, the central committee
of the organization which had the right to review the results presented Ernest Ikoli as the movement's candidate. Though, Oba Akinsanya immediately congratulated Mr Ikoli, he later reneged and contested but lost the seat as an independent
candidate with the support of his primary backer, Nnamdi Azikiwe
. The loss of Akinsanya in the election led to his exit from the movement, Azikiwe also left the movement, both took away most of their supporters.
The resulting feud
is seen by some analysts as a contributing catalyst to the enmity that exist between some ethnic groups in the country
and also as a major focal point of electoral disputes and the ominous role they played in destabilizing the country.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, nationalist and pioneering journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
. He was the president of the Nigerian Youth Movement and in 1942, represented Lagos in the legislative council.
Early life and career
He was Born at Nembe in present day Bayelsa StateBayelsa State
Bayelsa State is a state in southern Nigeria in the core Niger Delta region, between Delta State and Rivers State. Its capital is Yenagoa. The language spoken here is Ijaw language and dialects of the Ijaw language such as Nembe, Atissa, Akassa, Ogbia, etc. However, like the rest of Nigeria,...
and educated at Bonny Government School, Rivers State and King's College, Lagos
King's College, Lagos
King's College, Lagos is a secondary school in Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria. It was founded on 20 September 1909 with 10 students on its original site at Lagos Island, adjacent to Tafawa Balewa Square. The school admits male students only, although there were some female HSC students before the...
. After completing his studies at King's College, he became a tutor at the school - a post which he left to pursue a career in Journalism. Ikoli is remembered today as one of the pacesetters of Nigerian journalism and the independence struggle. For a period he worked at the Lagos Weekly Record, a paper that has since disappeared.
He was the first editor of the Daily Times of Nigeria
Daily Times of Nigeria
The Daily Times of Nigeria is a newspaper with headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria.At its peak, in the 1970s, it was one of the most successful locally owned businesses in Africa....
, which was launched in June 1926 with Adeyemo Alakija
Adeyemo Alakija
Adeyemo Alakija, KBE was a Nigerian lawyer, politician and businessman. He was a newspaper entrepreneur who co-founded the Daily Times of Nigeria. He was also a member of the governor's executive council, the legislative council of Nigeria and was president of the Nigerian Youth Movement.He was...
as Chairman of the Board.
He later became publisher of the now defunct African Messenger. In the 1930s he was one of the founders of the Nigerian Youth Movement
Nigerian Youth Movement
The Nigerian Youth Movement was Nigeria's first genuine nationalist organization, founded in Lagos in 1933 with the name of Lagos Youth Movement and renamed the Nigerian Youth Movement in 1936.-Early years:Founding members included Dr...
and was once the movement's president. During this period, the movement was engaged in an intense power struggle with Herbert Macaulay
Herbert Macaulay
Herbert Samuel Heelas Macaulay was a Nigerian nationalist, politician, engineer, journalist, and musician and considered by many Nigerians as the founder of Nigerian nationalism.- Early life :...
's NNDP. In 1942 he was elected onto the Legislative Council
Legislative Council
A Legislative Council is the name given to the legislatures, or one of the chambers of the legislature of many nations and colonies.A Member of the Legislative Council is commonly referred to as an MLC.- Unicameral legislatures :...
and was re-elected in 1946.
Nigerian Youth Movement
Ernest Ikoli started the Nigerian Youth Movement with other prominent Nigerians like Hezekiah Oladipo Davies, James Churchill Vaughan and Oba Samuel AkinsanyaSamuel Akinsanya
Samuel Akinsanya, also rendered incorrectly as Akisanya, was a Nigerian trade unionist and nationalist based in Lagos, Nigeria during the colonial era, one of the founders of the Nigerian Youth Movement.-Early years:...
(aka General Saki). The movement originally started as the Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
youth movement, it was partly formed to voice concerns about the lackluster colonial
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
policy. The movement was largely Lagos based but as varied members entered the organization
Organization
An organization is a social group which distributes tasks for a collective goal. The word itself is derived from the Greek word organon, itself derived from the better-known word ergon - as we know `organ` - and it means a compartment for a particular job.There are a variety of legal types of...
, it metamorphosed to become the Nigerian Youth Movement; a political action group with a nationalistic flavor and outlook. Nnamdi Azikiwe, an important political personality joined the group in 1936 and brought in a large followership.
In 1941, when Sir Kofo Abayomi
Kofo Abayomi
Kofoworola Adekunle "Kofo" Abayomi, Kt was a Nigerian ophthalmologist who was one of the founders of the nationalist Lagos Youth Movement in 1934 and who went on to have a distinguished public service career.-Early years:...
, a Lagos leader of the movement, resigned his position at the legislative council
Legislative Council
A Legislative Council is the name given to the legislatures, or one of the chambers of the legislature of many nations and colonies.A Member of the Legislative Council is commonly referred to as an MLC.- Unicameral legislatures :...
, an election
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
was held among NYM members to select a candidate to contest the seat. In the primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
, Samuel Akinsanya collated the most votes
Votes
Votes are a people of Votia in Ingria, the part of modern day northwestern Russia that is roughly southwest of Saint Petersburg and east of the Estonian border-town of Narva. Their own ethnic name is Vadjalain . The Finnic Votic language spoken by Votes is close to extinction. Votians were one of...
, second was Ernest Ikoli, but with the support of H.O Davis, Awolowo, Akintola and a few others, the central committee
Committee
A committee is a type of small deliberative assembly that is usually intended to remain subordinate to another, larger deliberative assembly—which when organized so that action on committee requires a vote by all its entitled members, is called the "Committee of the Whole"...
of the organization which had the right to review the results presented Ernest Ikoli as the movement's candidate. Though, Oba Akinsanya immediately congratulated Mr Ikoli, he later reneged and contested but lost the seat as an independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
candidate with the support of his primary backer, Nnamdi Azikiwe
Nnamdi Azikiwe
Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe , usually referred to as Nnamdi Azikiwe and popularly known as "Zik", was one of the leading figures of modern Nigerian nationalism who became the first President of Nigeria after Nigeria secured its independence from the United Kingdom on 1 October 1960; holding the...
. The loss of Akinsanya in the election led to his exit from the movement, Azikiwe also left the movement, both took away most of their supporters.
The resulting feud
Feud
A feud , referred to in more extreme cases as a blood feud, vendetta, faida, or private war, is a long-running argument or fight between parties—often groups of people, especially families or clans. Feuds begin because one party perceives itself to have been attacked, insulted or wronged by another...
is seen by some analysts as a contributing catalyst to the enmity that exist between some ethnic groups in the country
Country
A country is a region legally identified as a distinct entity in political geography. A country may be an independent sovereign state or one that is occupied by another state, as a non-sovereign or formerly sovereign political division, or a geographic region associated with a previously...
and also as a major focal point of electoral disputes and the ominous role they played in destabilizing the country.