Farewell to Segun Osoba, Notable Historian and Thinker

Dr Samuel Olusegun Osoba passed away at his home in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, on Thursday, 14 May, at the age of 92.

He earned his first degree in History at the University of Ife in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, and later received his PhD from Moscow State University. He taught History for 25 years at Ife starting in 1967.

Professor Toyin Falola, one of Osoba's former students, shared that his "distinctive intellectual and human attributes" and his "love for history was contagious." He noted that Osoba had a knack for making complex historical events easy to understand for his students, despite the difficult ideas involved.

Falola said Osoba made "history come alive" and made it "relevant and interesting." Femi Falana mentioned that this led to trouble for Osoba, as many unregistered "students" kept coming to his classes to audit "Osoba’s classes and public debates for critical analysis and inspiration."

Influence Beyond Nigeria

Osoba's impact stretched beyond Ile-Ife and Nigeria. Dung Sha, a Political Science professor at the University of Jos, said Osoba taught people to never stay silent, to challenge those in power, and to fight for a better society.

In 1981/82, I was a first-year political science student at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria. I read Osoba’s article, "The Deepening Crisis of the Nigerian National Bourgeoisie," published in Review of African Political Economy, No.13, September, December 1978. This article helped me understand the mindset of Nigeria's ruling class, which I saw as totally dependent on Western influence.

It is no surprise that the Second Symposium in honour of Osoba took place in Abuja on Tuesday, 28 July, 2026. Like the first one in Ijebu Ode, it attracted scholars, labour leaders, human rights activists, students, and former students of Osoba.

The theme was “The Historian as a Public Intellectual: Segun Osoba, Radical Historiography and the Defence of the Common People.” The Osoba for Eternity group, made up of 230 activists, intellectuals, lawyers, unionists, journalists, and social activists, hosted the event.

Honouring Osoba’s Legacy

Femi Falana, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, led the symposium, with Owei Lakemfa, a writer and labour leader, serving as the Master of Ceremony. Solidarity messages came from the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic Ambassador, Brahim Salem Buseif, and the Cuban Ambassador, Miriam Morales. They highlighted ongoing challenges from the Trump administration.

Dr. Y.Z. Ya’u, the spokesperson for the Organising Committee, said the symposium aimed to honour Osoba. He pointed out that Osoba's ideas are "eternal and will continue to resonate with society."

Ya’u also said they want to spread Osoba's ideas "beyond academia and the movement." He believes society will learn to appreciate Osoba’s ideas, which remain relevant in the fight for a better Nigeria.

The organisers hope popular discussions about Osoba’s ideas will inspire patriots to work for positive change in the country. They see ideas as tools for action and encourage others to view them the same way.

Reflections on Osoba

Professor Jibrin Ibrahim spoke about Osoba as a "Radical Historian Who Stood with the People." He described Osoba as deeply patriotic and committed to Nigeria with a clear socialist orientation.

Ibrahim mentioned that Osoba became well-known for the Minority Report & Draft Constitution for the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1976, which he co-wrote with Dr Yusuf Bala Usman. This report was dismissed by military leaders but faced police violence from students and activists who wanted to present it in Zaria.

Ibrahim said Osoba was "one of the first to popularise Marxist methodology" and helped make Ife a hub for radical thought and student activism in the 1970s and 1980s.

He reminded everyone that the current political scene in Nigeria is run by criminals posing as politicians. These individuals focus on stealing public funds and have no real plans for the people. They divide citizens while they loot because the Left has been weak and disorganized in politics.

The Call to Action

Ibrahim urged leftist groups to work hard to remove these leaders from power through independent political organization. He noted that Osoba opposed quick fixes for change and dedicated his life to improving ideological understanding.

He also criticized "revolutionaries" who joined mainstream politics and betrayed their ideals. Professor Toye Olorode discussed Osoba's influence on class struggle in Nigeria since the mid-1970s, highlighting the collaboration between Ife comrades and Osoba, and the decline of leftist movements.

Olorode examined Osoba’s views on Nigeria's economy, the bourgeois class, and the ongoing crisis of underdevelopment. He also discussed capitalism's crisis and how it triggers class struggles, reflecting on the Left's challenges inside and outside Nigeria.

Olorode concluded that Osoba’s work emphasizes the need for individual and collective action to reinvigorate movements for change. He stressed the importance of collective leadership and the role of individuals in fostering a strong movement.

Labour leader Comrade Hauwa Mustapha spoke on “Historiography and its Effects on Gender Inequality in Nigeria.” She aligned with Osoba’s belief that archives are not politically neutral. She emphasized the need to examine who creates these stories and whose voices are missing.

Mustapha stated that just as Osoba’s work aimed to elevate the voices of marginalized groups, historians must recover women’s experiences in Nigeria’s history. This should not just be an academic task but an act of social justice.

She concluded that understanding Osoba’s work shows that the fight over history is also about citizenship, identity, and power. The discussion was well-received, and the challenge now is turning words into action.