The children of the late former governor of old Oyo State and ex-Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige, have expressed deep appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for bestowing a posthumous national honour on their father. However, they also lamented that justice has yet to be served, as the perpetrators of his assassination remain free.
Chief Bola Ige was murdered on December 23, 2001, at his Bodija residence in Ibadan while serving as Nigeria’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
In commemoration of the 2025 Democracy Day, President Tinubu honoured Ige with the national title of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR), recognizing his pivotal role in the nation’s democratic development.
Reacting to the honour, Ige’s daughter, Mrs. Funsho Adegbola, told NPO Reports:
“To God be all the glory. Twenty-four years after his assassination, with his killers walking free, we leave everything to God’s judgment. It is well. We thank God for everything and that he is being remembered as a Hero of Democracy.”
In a separate statement, Ige’s son and former Osun State Commissioner for Lands, Architect Muyiwa Ige, expressed the family’s gratitude to President Tinubu, while also renewing calls for justice.
“On behalf of the Bola Ige family, I wish to thank and appreciate the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for conferring the Posthumous National Honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) on our late father, Chief Bola Ige, SAN, as a Hero of Democracy on this 12th day of June, 2025.
“In thanking Mr. President, we wish to once again bring to the fore the fact that justice is yet to be served on the murderers and their sponsors.
“It is our hope that this administration, most especially, having the political will and sense of purpose which previous governments lacked, will graciously serve the man of justice with justice.
“Twenty-four years later, our father is being remembered and honoured. This award essentially affirms the true notion and legacy that Ige lives on! Thank you, Mr. President,” the statement read.
The family’s message underscores a lingering national pain over the unresolved murder of one of Nigeria’s prominent statesmen and advocates of democracy.
