In a dramatic new development concerning the murder of former Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige, Bisi Akande, former governor of Osun State, has publicly implicated Rashidi Ladoja, his counterpart from Oyo State, in withholding crucial information about the assassination.
Akande, in a recent explosive interview with renowned broadcaster Edmund Obilo in Ibadan, accused Ladoja of having vital knowledge regarding Ige’s death—information that could have brought the truth to light. Akande’s statement has reignited long-standing debates about the unresolved murder that shocked the nation in December 2001.
“The case is still unsolved, and I believe Ladoja knows more than anyone else. When Ladoja took over from Lam Adesina as governor of Oyo State, he withdrew the case from the court. Why did he do that? He might have had reasons, but it is time for the truth to come out,” Akande revealed during the candid conversation.
The assassination of Bola Ige, a prominent political figure and member of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), has remained one of Nigeria’s most controversial unsolved murders. Ige, who had served as Minister of Mines and Power and later as Attorney General of the Federation, was shot dead at his residence in Ibadan, Oyo State, in 2001. His murder sparked national outrage, but the investigation was marred by confusion and inconsistencies.
According to Akande, the key players who could have shed light on the case have all either died or become unavailable. Lam Adesina, who was Ige’s political ally and the governor of Oyo State at the time of the murder, took the case to court, but Akande believes the subsequent withdrawal by Ladoja from the legal proceedings signaled a deliberate attempt to hinder the truth.
“There are many things that die with people. I know Lam Adesina went to court over the matter, but after he passed away, who can confirm his accounts? Ladoja should be asked, he may know more about what really happened,” Akande said.
The connection between the murder and political rivalries remains a subject of speculation. Bola Ige’s assassination came at a time when the political landscape was marked by intense rivalry between the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition Alliance for Democracy (AD). Ige had, at the request of the AD leadership, joined the administration of then-President Olusegun Obasanjo. Akande, who was involved in the political discussions at the time, recalled that the decision was made collectively by AD and Afenifere leaders, including Abraham Adesanya and Ayo Fasanmi.
“It was a collective decision,” Akande explained. “We all agreed that Ige should join Obasanjo’s government. The leaders of Afenifere and AD supported him. It was a unanimous decision at the time.”
However, Akande also shared his belief that Ige regretted his decision to join the Obasanjo government. “Ige later regretted joining Obasanjo’s administration. He felt it was a ‘kiss of death.’ The environment was toxic, and he knew the risks,” Akande stated.
He added that the murder of Ige was not a random act of violence, but a politically motivated assassination. “This was a state-sponsored murder. They killed him in anticipation of what he might become in the future,” Akande claimed. He further accused the Obasanjo government of showing little interest in investigating the murder, stating that Obasanjo’s primary concern was not uncovering the truth but maintaining political stability.
Akande’s statements have prompted new questions about Ladoja’s role in the aftermath of the murder. Why, as the newly-elected governor of Oyo State, did he decide to withdraw the case from court? And what did Ladoja know about the circumstances surrounding Ige’s death?
“Ladoja might be able to shed more light. He was in charge of Oyo State after Lam Adesina, and he had the power to decide whether to pursue the case,” Akande remarked. “I believe there is more to the story than what we’ve been told.”
Although Ladoja has not publicly responded to these allegations, Akande’s comments have reignited the search for justice and the truth behind Ige’s murder. The case has been plagued by delays, political interference, and conflicting reports, leaving many Nigerians dissatisfied with the investigation’s outcomes.
Akande also spoke about his own political journey and how Ige’s death affected the Yoruba political community. “We supported Ige in joining Obasanjo’s government. We all believed it was the right thing to do. But the tragedy of his death reminds us of the high stakes in politics,” he remarked.
Akande’s claims were not limited to the question of Ige’s death. He also defended Ige’s political choices, emphasizing that Ige’s alignment with Obasanjo’s government was not a mistake, but rather a collective decision made by key political figures from Afenifere and AD. “It was not Ige’s mistake alone; it was a collective decision made by Afenifere and AD leaders,” he said. “There are no permanent enemies in politics; we all have our roles to play.”
Reflecting on Ige’s final days, Akande recalled a conversation where the late minister expressed his frustration with the government. “Ige told me he was planning to resign. I advised him not to, but he had already discussed it with others like Wole Soyinka and Bola Tinubu,” Akande said. He emphasized that Ige’s resignation, had it gone through, could have altered the political dynamics at the time.
As Akande continues to raise questions about the unresolved murder, many are left wondering whether Ladoja will eventually break his silence. With crucial figures from the past now gone, the mystery surrounding Bola Ige’s assassination may remain unsolved, unless new information comes to light.
