In the annals of Nigerian history, few figures stand as enigmatic and controversial as Bode Thomas, a man whose life and untimely demise continue to intrigue scholars and historians alike. Born in October 1919, Thomas' s trajectory in the political landscape of Nigeria was as illustrious as it was tumultuous, culminating in a tragic end on November 23, 1953, shrouded in curious circumstances at the tender age of 34.

Thomas' s final days were marked by a series of perplexing events, beginning with a fateful encounter at a meeting of the Oyo Divisional Council on November 22, 1953. As the newly appointed chairman of the council, Thomas found himself embroiled in a confrontation with Alaafin Adeyemi II, the revered king of Oyo. In a display of audacity, Thomas, known for his sharp tongue, chastised the king for failing to stand in deference upon his arrival— a grievous breach of protocol in Yoruba tradition.

The altercation escalated, with accounts suggesting that Alaafin Adeyemi II, feeling slighted, issued a curious command, prompting Thomas to mimic the bark of a dog— a humiliating gesture that would reverberate in the days to come. Thomas' s subsequent behavior, characterized by incessant barking throughout the night at his residence in Yaba, Lagos, baffled observers and foreshadowed a tragic turn of events.