20 Facts About Bode Thomas That Are Actually True

On March 9, 2020, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje deposed Sunusi Lamido Sanusi from the throne as the Emir of Kano. It started the conversation around different tribes and the powers of their king. While defending their honour, the Yorubas started to talk about how their king is only second to the gods. Soon, many of them were citing the story of former Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Adeyemi. Legend has it that he had cursed Chief Olabode Thomas, popularly known as Bode Thomas for being disrespectful.

The story is that Bode Thomas who was the chairman of the Oyo Divisional Council had been rude to the king. He arrived at a meeting of the council with the Oba (king) in attendance and expected the king to stand and welcome him. When he didn’t get the welcome he was expecting, he asked the King, “why were you sitting when I walked in? Why can’t you show me respect?” The Alaafin felt disrespected and asked Bode Thomas why he was barking at him and told him to keep barking. It is said that when Bode Thomas arrived at his home, he started barking until he died the next day.

The cause of Bode Thomas’ death was never confirmed and is considered to be a mystery but here are 20 facts about the lawyer that is confirmed and true.

Bode Thomas’ full name is Olabode Akanbi Thomas.
He was born to a wealthy trader, Andrew Thomas in October 1919.
He attended CMS Grammar school and then travelled to London to study Law and was called to bar in 1942.
He served as a junior clerk at the Nigerian Railway Corporation before he got his degree in Law.
When he returned from London, he became the legal adviser of Egbe Omo Oduduwa in 1946.
He was married to Lucretia Shobola Odunsi and they had two children together.
By 1948, he had teamed up with Chief Frederick Rotimi Williams and Chief Remilekun Fani-Kayode to set up the first indigenous Nigerian law firm, Thomas, Williams and Kayode on Jankara Street.
He received the title of Balogun of Oyo in 1949.
He was one of the founding members of the Action Group founded by Chief Obafemi Awolowo in 1951.
Also in 1951, Thomas became the Minister of Transport for the Western Region.
He served as a colonial minister of the colony and protectorate of Nigeria.
He was the Chancellor of the African Church of Nigeria.
He actively supported the move to self-rule and joined the fight for Nigeria’s independence.
The lawyer defended Ahmadu Bello before the colonial court over allegations of financial embezzlement of Native Authorities funds.
Despite doing a good deed, he alienated the Sokoto prince by insulting him.
Many people considered him to be a brilliant, logical, astute, thoughtful, forward-looking and a workaholic man.
People also viewed him as a bully, an arrogant and hot-tempered man.
He was made the chairman of the Oyo Divisional Council on November 21, 1953.
He died at the young age of 34 on November 23, 1953, from a mysterious illness.
A street in Surulere is named after him.