Rita Odafe
Funsho Adegbola has shared the tragic story of her father, Chief Bola Ige, a former Minister of Justice and Attorney General in Nigeria, who was tragically killed in his home in Ibadan on December 23, 2001.
In a poignant conversation with broadcaster Edmund Obilo on State Affairs, Adegbola spoke of her unsettling premonitions.
“I had a dream in which I was mourning while dressed in black,” she disclosed. Concerned, she approached her father, who reassured her, “No one can take my life; I am under God’s protection.”
She also recounted a peculiar event that took place at the palace of the late Ooni of Ife, where Ige’s cap was unexpectedly taken off during a ceremony. “He mentioned, ‘Throughout my political career, no one has ever removed my cap.’”
Adegbola highlighted her father’s humility, noting, “During his time as Minister of Power and Steel, he returned 16 official vehicles, stating, ‘I can’t manage more than two cars.’”
She indicated that his security measures were rather basic. “Kema Chikwe was astonished to see our doors were just plain wooden ones,” she explained.
Despite facing threats, Ige maintained a strong spiritual outlook. “I warned him, ‘Dad, it seems like something is going to happen to you,’” Adegbola recalled. He responded, ‘I am protected by the White Light of Christ, which shields me from evil.’”
Adegbola attributed the threats to political upheavals linked to Iyiola Omisore, who was the Deputy Governor of Osun State at the time.
“There were numerous political conflicts in Osun State during that period, creating a tense atmosphere,” she said.
The family was heartbroken over the lack of justice regarding Ige’s assassination.
“It was a cruel twist of fate that shattered her spirit,” Adegbola noted in reference to her mother, who served as a Justice of the Court of Appeal.
In her book, He Gave Me Wings, Adegbola underlined Ige’s commitment to integrity, stating, “My father genuinely believed, ‘Anything worth living for is also worth dying for.’”
She concluded poignantly, “His life exemplifies true leadership, even as we continue to seek justice for his untimely death.”
