Chief Obafemi Awolowo (1909-1987) was a Yoruba political leader from Nigeria. He founded many organizations, including Egbe Omo Oduduwa, the Trade Unions Congress of Nigeria and Action Group. He was also the author of several publications. He was the first Prime Minister of the Western Region under Nigeria's federal system, from 1952 to 1960, and led the federal opposition to the Balewa government from 1963 to 1966. In 1979, he founded the Unity Party of Nigeria as a successor to the Action Group, and contested the presidential election that year. He lost to Alhaji Shehu Shagari by about 400 000 votes. In 1983, he again contested the presidential election, this time losing to Shagari by over four million votes, in an election that was widely regarded as fraudulent.
