Who was Bode Thomas? Olabode Akanbi Thomas, popularly known as Bode Thomas, was born in October 1919 to Andrew Thomas, a wealthy and influential Yoruba trader. He attended the C.M.S.Grammar School, Bariga, a missionary school founded on June 6, 1859 by the Church Missionary Society. Bode Thomas studied law in London with FRA director Williams and Remi Fani-Kayode (Femi Fani-Kayode’s father). Subsequently, Bode Thomas, FRA William and Remi Fani-Kayode established the first law firm in Nigeria named Thomas, Williams and Kayode on Jankara Street, Lagos. Chief Bode Thomas became famous at a young age, in 1951 he became a member of the regional House of Assembly. He represented the Western Region as Minister of Transport under the Macpherson Constitution. He was intelligent, workaholic, thoughtful and future-oriented. He was also a founding member of the Action Group. Before joining the Action Group, he was a successful lawyer in Lagos and a member of the Nigerian youth movement. Bode Thomas was reportedly a brilliant but very arrogant lawyer.
He was said to be so arrogant that he was sometimes called a tyrant. The judges didn’t like his behavior in court. They considered him a fiery and arrogant man. Bode Thomas dies under controversial circumstances after a hostile encounter with Alaafin Adeyemi II, the father of the current Alaafin Lamidi Adeyemi III. Alaafin Adeyemi II and Thomas (who was Balogun of Oyo in 1949) were both members of the Oyo Divisional Council. The respected Alaafin was chairman of the board for a time before Thomas took over. We learned that on November 22, 1953, when Chief Bode Thomas arrived at the council meeting, all other council members except Alaafin Adeyemi stood to greet him. He asked the king bluntly, “Why were you sitting when I came in?” Why can’t you show me respect? Bode was 34 years old and Alaafin was over 60 years old. Alaafin Adeyemi II was very embarrassed and said to Bode: “Shey emi on gbo mo baun?” Emi ni ongbo bi aja mo baun? Ma gbo lo,” which translates to “Am I the one you’re barking at?” Are you barking at me like a dog? Keep barking.It was claimed that Bode Thomas came home and started barking like a dog. He barked and barked all night until he died the next day, November 23, 1953. Alaafin is said to have poisoned Bode Thomas.
He is survived by his wife Lucrezia Shobola Odunsi and their children. His children include Abimbola, Eniola and Dapo. Bode has a street named after him in Lagos. He served as Colonial Secretary of the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria and secret historical advisor to the Oyo clan of Yorubaland. He was a brilliant and successful man whose pride supposedly led to his downfall.
