Olabode Thomas was born to the family of Andrew Thomas, a wealthy trader and auctioneer who was originally from Oyo but moved to Lagos.
15 Facts About Bode Thomas
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Bode Thomas was a great-grandson of the Alaafin Abiodun of Oyo.
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Bode Thomas was called to the bar in 1942 and returned to Nigeria to establish what became a successful practice in Lagos.
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Bode Thomas is credited as the first prominent Nigerian member of the political elite during the colonial era to make a strong case for regional-based political parties, which, he believed would be equipped with the necessary knowledge to develop their regions and form a coalition at the center.
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Bode Thomas was a leading advocate for the bringing of tribal chiefs and kings into the expanding fold of the Action Group.
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In 1951, Bode Thomas represented the Western region as Minister of Transport under the McPherson Constitution and an advocate for self governance in Nigeria.
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Bode Thomas resigned from the portfolio during a constitutional crisis in March 1953.
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Bode Thomas later became Minister of Works after a Constitutional Conference in London.
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Bode Thomas was regarded as a brilliant but very arrogant man who had strained relationships with some of the local leaders like Sir Ahmadu Bello and Alaafin Adeyemi II.
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Bode Thomas was said to have been rude to the Alaafin at an Oyo Divisional Council meeting because the Alaafin did not stand up in reverence to him.
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Bode Thomas was a leader of a group that included the majority of the Oyo Mesi who were against the rule of Alaafin Adeyemi on the grounds that the Alaafin was against the capitalization of taxes used to finance education and health.
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Bode Thomas was chancellor of the African Church of Nigeria and was an editorial board member of the Daily Service.
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Bode Thomas was sometimes outspoken and this made him incur enemies.
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On 22 November 1953, after returning from Oyo, Bode Thomas became ill at his Lagos home.
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Bode Thomas was taken to Ijebu-Igbo for treatment but eventually died in Ijebu-Igbo on 23 November 1953 which was his daughter's second birthday.