JANUARY 15 - THE LAST STAND OF A LION; THE COURAGE AND TRAGEDY OF SAMUEL LADOKE AKINTOLA
In the grand and tragic history, Premier Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, with unwavering dignity, steeled himself for the tumultuous storm that was about to engulf him.
A ruthless force of fifty soldiers, commanded by the fiery and unforgiving Captain Emmanuel Nwobosi, descended upon his residence. Within the sanctuary of his home, Akintola was surrounded by his wife and children, whose voices rang with pleading concern, begging him to stay hidden and not challenge the blurdthirsty marauders cloaked in the garb of tragedy.
In a moment of sheer valour, they shielded themselves behind the heavy wardrobes as a hailstorm of bullets tore through their sanctuary. But Nwobosi, driven by a relentless thirst for blood, was resolute in his mission.
At a decisive moment, Akintola, with the courage of a lion, turned to his family and declared that he could not cower behind furniture like a frightened cat. He would not allow his loved ones to remain helplessly in hiding while these merciless invaders threatened their very existence.
In a voice filled with resolute strength, he proclaimed his intention to confront the enemy head-on, to face Azrael rather than live in fear.
The mighty Akintola, like the Aare Ona Kakanfo, Warrior king that he was, emerged into the open, challenging his would-be assassins. He confronted them with a defiant fury, opening fire upon his attackers. This was no man to fall without a struggle, no soul willing to be swept away by the tides of fate without leaving a mark upon the waters.
Nwobosi and his men, though skilled and ruthless, found themselves taking cover as Akintola, though but a single civilian, drew blood and wounded trained combatants. But fate, ever cruel, had conspired against the Premier.
The rebels, armed with superior firepower and a more refined mastery of the art of war, ultimately prevailed. Akintola, his body pierced by bullets unleashed from the very hands of Nwobosi, fell in defiance. His lifeless form was left amidst a pool of his own blud, a tragic end to a life lived with unyielding courage.
Worthy of unforgettable note, however, is this: among all the leaders the Igbo Majors struck down on that ill-fated night, only Aare Ona Kakanfo Akintola rose like a wounded lion and fought back. It remains a tale woven with threads of bravery, raw courage, and that indomitable Yoruba fighting spirit - the kind that refuses to bow to bullies even when the night itself turns against you.
May his soul find eternal peace. A man of many tongues - fluent in English, Hausa, Nupe, and Yoruba... Akintola - had spoken the language of unity and strength. That night, however, the rebels spoke a singular and final language: ‘MURDER,’ a tongue beyond his grasp.
Good Morning Severally...