AMBROSE ALLI : ALTERNATIVE FACTS

By C. Anthony Ikpo

It is cruel to speak ill of the dead because they cannot defend themselves. It is also unforgivable to leave distorted history unchallenged as an incorrect narrative will distort the development of mankind.

We must situate history in its proper context so we can learn lessons from it.

Ambrose Folunrunsho Alli was a man rightly honoured by his people for he meant well for his people; and for the injustice he suffered for his efforts.

Did Ambrose Alli do well by his people?

I think not. Ambrose Alli's policies ULTIMATELY destroyed the educational and health services Samuel Ogbemudia bequeathed the State.

Scriptures in *Luke 14:28* teaches us that no man should attempt to build a tower without first counting the cost.

Ambrose Alli did not count the cost of his social engineering before embarking on his revolution to tragic consequences.

First off, Ambrose Alli did not build 600+ schools. He founded 600+ schools and situated them on already existing schools in the hope of relocating them when funds became available. The result was all schools having Schools 1,2,3,....ad infinitum.

Ambrose Alli abolished long standing boarding school systems to accommodate these newly founded schools.

Ambrose Alli hurriedly founded Colleges of Education and Teacher Training schools to create man power for these schools. Colleges the state could not fund or staff properly, due to the paucity of resources. Colleges where standards were lowered for admission purposes to quickly produce teachers for his new schools. 

Ambrose Alli abolished payments for hospital services without the means to purchase medicine, upgrade equipment or replace medical comsumables.

The result of the attempt at social engineering where immediate.

Over crowded schools, poor student performance in national examinations, loss of worker moral, production of half baked students and teachers (which Oshiomole eventually corrected by demanding primary school certificates from primary school teachers on the pain of retirement).

Hospitals became "mere consulting clinics" without the ability to dispense the expected free medicine.

Is it any wonder that private schools and hospitals proliferated in the immediate aftermath of the Second Republic?

Ambrose Alli's hostility to the Federal Government was naive especially given that he expected more revenue allocation from the Federal Government.

A friendlier approach may have brought better results to fund his projects. Alas he chose confrontation.

More astounding is the fact that Shagari's visit was to commission the Federal Housing Estate along Aduwawa road which the Federal Government had graciously built in Benin City. A Housing estate which would have benefitted citizens of the State. Must everything be seen from the lens of politics is a question our amicable late Professor of Morbid Anatomy will unfortunately, never answer.

Professor Ambrose Folunrunsho Alli is dead and buried. We honour him for his well meaning dreams BUT we must never forget the law of unintended consequences. We must never bury our heritage on the alter of utopia.