Farewell To A Jolly Good Politician And An Exemplar of Self-Development Who Made Indelible Marks As Governor
Convener and Director-General of Okun Agenda Global Network and SDP Candidate for Kogi-West 2027, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba has expressed sadness on the passing of the former Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, CON.
The news of the death, at age 77, of the former Governor of Kogi State, and successful business man and hotelier, who was popularly known as Governor Ibro, which occurred in a UK hospital, came as a shock, considering the goodwill of Kogites, their prayers, and high expectations that he would get out of the meducal condition that he had contended with.
I feel a deep sense of sympathy for him to have been eventually overwhelmed by the ill health he contended with, and also for the number of traumatic experiences that he went through and coped with, such as: the miraclous experience in 2006, of having three of his daughters survived the ADC Airline Flight 53 crash which claimed scores of lives, and the death of his son, Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim Idris, a member of House of Representatives, representing Ankpa/Olamaboro and Omala Federal Constituency, among other sad occurrences.
As governor, Ibro was reputed to have achieved significant infrastructural development records during his nine years in the saddles. Some of what are recorded as his legacy achievements include: 400-bed capacity Specialist Hospital in Lokoja; General Hospitals and Primary Health Centres in many parts of the state; Confluence Stadium in Lokoja; 2,000 Housing Units at Otokiti; Ganaja House of Assembly Quarters; Staff Quarters at Prince Abubakar Audu University Anyigba; Confluence International Market; Phase 11 State Secretariat, Lokoja; Meme Bridge; Greater Lokoja Water Scheme; regular payment of salaries of state civil servants without borrowing; payment of WAEC, NECO, scholarships and bursaries, among others.
By my personal engagements with him, out of office as Governor, he came across as a political figure with uncommon humility and affableness. He was a leader who was very comfortable with all the categories and classes of people around him.
Governor Ibro, like all mortals, undeniably had his own flaws, but his endearing charisma, deep humanity, and the love for all that he demonstrated set him apart as a truly great man and notable politician.
He will be sorely missed by his family, friends, associates, the Kogi political class, and the many people he impacted their lives.
My condolence to his immediate family, the government, and the good people of Kogi State in general.
Governor Ibro will continue to live on through his indelible marks on the sands of time.
It is good night to the Ogbomachi of Atta Igala; Sardauna Nupe; Jarkardan Sokoto; Fagachi of Lokoja; Bobajiro of Ogidi; Ocheimedo Ukeosisi; Maiyedero of Owo Kingdom, and Atuluse Takete-Ide.
– Araba Rufus Aiyenigba
Convener and Director-General of Okun Agenda Global Network and SDP Candidate for Kogi-West 2027
