How Samuel Ladoke Akintola Was Killed
The reminiscences of the heroic deeds of a late Premier of the defunct Western Region, Chief Ladoke Akintola came alive in Ogbomoso as the son of the deceased politician, Ambassador Abayomi Akintola gave a vivid account of how his dad was murdered over 50 years ago.
He said this at a lecture marking the 50th anniversary of the death of Akintola who died in January 15, 1966
The event was held at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso.
According to him, the picture of how the remains of his father were left at the entrance of the building is still fresh in his memory.
At the LAUTECH lecture, Akintola said that none of the premier’s children and their wives was injured while the gun attack lasted, describing their father as a hero who laid down his life and shielded his family from the invaders
He said, “I was managing a thriving business in Lagos when my later father directed me to relocate to Ibadan when he became premier. Although, I was very reluctant to leave certainty for uncertainty, I had to defer to him. That was how I came to Ibadan.
“During the coup, about 50 soldiers invaded our house. My father was in a room within the house with us and we begged him not to go out. We shielded ourselves with the big wardrobes in the room as the soldiers began to shoot sporadically.
“At a stage my father told us he wanted to go and meet them, but we begged him not to go. Like the hero that he was, he told us that he would prefer to go and face them and damn the consequence, rather than to allow them to wipe out his family if they continue to hide.”
Source: Ola Ajayi
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