BOLA IGE

By Elvis Abu

He was a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a politician. He was born September 13, 1930 in Zaria, northern Nigeria. His parents were of Yoruba tribe from Esa-Oke village, in the old Oyo State (now in Osun State).

He studied at Ibadan Grammar School between 1943 and 1948 and, the University of Ibadan. He proceeded to London where he continued his education at the University College London. In 1959 he got a degree in Law in this university. In 1961 he was called to bar in London’s inner Temple.

At age 31 he was at the frontline of the action group crisis; this was during the first republic 1963-1966.

Between 1967 and 1970 Bola Ige was the Commissioner for Agriculture in the western region of Nigeria. In the early 1970s, he gave his energy to the anti-racism campaign of the World Council of Churches.

In 1979, during General Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, Ige was elected governor of Oyo State and he served until 1983. He had become friends with the General some year earlier.

When General Olusegun Obasabjo came to power again in 1999, Ige was appointed Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He opposed the idea of Sharia Law being imposed in the Northern Nigeria.

When president Obasanjo went on official visit to Oyo State, he was received in a presidential reception at the liberty stadium, joined by Bisi Akande, the governor of Osun State, Lam Adesina, the governor of Oyo State and Bola Ige. Bisi Akande narrated how the crowd welcomed Ige, who entered after the others, with “a jubilant and deafening shouts of Ige! Ige!! Ige!!!” The love the people had for him made him steal the show in a presidential reception where the president of the country was expected to get the highest attention.

While in prison, he wrote a book titled: People, Politics and Politicians of Nigeria: 1940-1979, among others.

A man loved by the people; he was a patron of the arts, a mentor to the youths.

On 23 December 2001, he died by the bullet of an assassin right in his own home. He was mourned by Nigerians all over and, justice was demanded for his murder.

References: www.wikipidia.com
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