BODE THOMAS: CONTEND WITH CARELESS WORDS!

L-R Bode Thomas, Obafemi Awolowo and Ladoke Akintola

The name Chief Bode Thomas is popular in the Nigeria terrain especially with a popular street in Lagos bearing that name. What is not popular however is the manner of the death of chief bode Thomas. He was an excellent but arrogant lawyer. Because of his education, he was made chairman of the of the oyo division council at one time, while the king of oyo, Alaafin Adeyemi  (father of the current Alaafin) was a mere member! On Bode Thomas’s  first appearance in the council after being appointed as chairman, all council members stood up for him in deference to welcome him, except Oba Adeyemi (the King), who for cultural reasons, should not show overt respect to anyone in public, not even his mother! As soon as

Chief Bode Thomas entered the council meeting with the king refusing to stand up, he barked at the king….. “WHY WERE YOU SITTING WHEN I WALKED IN? YOU DON’T KNOW HOW TO SHOW RESPECT”? At that time Bode Thomas was 34years old, while the king (Alaafin) was in his 60’s. The king felt very insulted and he said “SE EMI Lo NGBO MO BAUN?” meaning (is it me that you are barking at like that?) Chief Bode responded by making some sentence in English which the king didn’t understand.   As the verbal confrontation escalated, the king just told him….”MA GBO LO” meaning (continue barking). The confrontation happened on November 22, 1953. Bode Thomas got home and started barking! He barked and barked and barked like a dog all night until he died in the early morning of November 1953. After his death on the basis of a panel report set up, the regional government deposed their king. The deposed king went into hiding where he was alleged to have placed a “ Soroye” curse on Awolowo that Awo would see the leadership of Nigeria but will never attain it (the spirit of almost there but never there). And truly, that was nearly a summary of the political ambition of the late but gifted Chief Awolowo who was described at his death as “the best president Nigeria never has”.


Chief Awolowo

 We use history in order to avoid repeating its mistake. However some things are best hidden in the valley of family secrets to avoid their misinterpretation in the hands of unlettered clowns.

Politicians must learn the act of maturity in the use of their mouth, rude and uncoated words should not be tools to score cheap political points. There should be respect. Even God taught us to respect authorities. David in the Bible had all the opportunity to kill King Saul who desperate wanted him dead, but he rejected that opportunity, saying that he cannot harm a man anointed by God. Our problem in Nigeria is double standard and hypocrisy; that is why Heaven is far from us, as individuals and as a country.

You disrespect authority yet you call on God, you disrespect elders yet you call on God, which God? Eye service and lip service. May God have mercy on us.

What  is the moral lesson in the above story?

Act in wisdom, be careful with the words you say to another person, no matter how highly placed you are, for what goes around comes around. It might not be as severe as to what happened to Bode Thomas, but then, who knows tomorrow.

Oh the power of words! No wonder Sebastyne Young opined that: “A picture can tell a thousand words, but a few words can change its story” indeed words can change your story for good or bad. And proverb 18:21 says: “Death and Life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat of the fruit thereof”. Learn a lesson from this! These stories magnify the power of curses and careless words. They may also loudly proclaim the evil of pride while sounding an alarm on the fact that without spiritual vigilance, no condition is permanent. As 2014 is coming to an end, determine that you will not allow careless words to hang on to your life and family, while you watch the words you speak, also ask God to help you pull off any evil window such as pride, anger, unforgiveness and any secret sin.

 Be a person of your word for those little foxes of today can become big lion that devour your destiny tomorrow. Be wise.  

Extract from Daily manner, 2014

Further search on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bode_Thomas.