This iS an account ofdecolonialisation in Nigeria<br > as seen through the eyes of a Nigerian political<br > leader who was closely involved in the process<br > This book is therefore partly a biography of a<br > manAdegoke Adelabumuch more thoughit<br > tells in a highly personal and intriguing way how<br > a Nigerian politician operated in the last years of<br > colonial rule<br > The story of AdelabuS life iS an interesting<br > oneHe iS an example of one of thenew men<br > who led African nations tO independence in the<br > fifties and sixtiesHis family was not closely con-<br > nected with the traditional chieftainships of his<br > native cityIbadanbut he was sufficiently well<br > placed tO take advantage of such secondary<br > school education as was available to African boys<br > in the thirtiesAfter a number of vicissitudes<br > involving abortive careers as a government<br > officialworking for one of the big British trading<br > concerns and on his own accountAdelabu found<br > his role as a popular leader andbossof Ibadan<br > politicsHe was a leaderin the WeStofAzikiweS<br > NCNC and he was successively a federal minister<br > and Leader of the Opposition tO AwolowoS<br > government in the Western RegionRunning<br > through the accounts of personal intrigues and<br > 0ces held iS the thread of AdelabuS attractive<br > personalityCharmingresilient in adversityand<br > with his ideas running ahead of any possible<br > Continued on backbr >