Celebrating Legendary Ibrahim Idris at 71

469
Spread the love

Former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, popularly known as Ibro, started out early in life as a business man. He was furniture expert in far away Sokoto state.

Born seventy one years ago on April 6, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris moved beyond the general furniture works and turned his craft into an enviable enterprise known as Ibro Furniture.

Ibro Furniture flourished and the entrepreneurial Ibrahim Idris began a lucrative foray into hospitality business in Sokoto.

A philanthropist, religious, employer of labour and patriotic Nigerian, Ibro was deeply involved in humanitarian services to his people and communities for decades before he delved into the main stream of Nigeria politics in 2003.

Alhaji Idris has contributed immensely to the development of both Islam and Christianity in Kogi and Nigeria through donations, building of worship centres within and around Kogi state, as well as contributions to the advancement of religious activities over the years.

As part of his religious activities, he built the Idah, Abejukolo central mosques and is currently building a mosque in Anyigba, all in Kogi state. These religious effort include financial support to aid roofing the Catholic Church in Our Lady’s of Schools, Anyigba.

His unrivaled contributions to the development and sustenance of cultural and community activities can not be overlooked, having maintained a strong feat supporting numerouos traditional and cultural programs within and outside the state.

Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, on assumption of duty as Governor of Kogi State in 2003, made a lot of impact in the social, economic and political development of Kogi state through provision of social amenities, infrastructural development, prompt payment of workers salaries, both at the state and local government areas.

During his nine year stint as Governor, Kogi state civil servants became the highest paid in terms of salaries in the North central.

He also prioritized the welfare of workers by building a befitting Otokiti and 500 housing units for the workers in Lokoja. the state capital.

Roads, water, electricity, schools, hospitals were built and equipped across the state as well as construction of estates in the 21 local government areas of the state.

For the business class, he constructed Lokoja international market. He engineered the Greater Lokoja water works, the confluence stadium, the state secretariat, providing conducive offices in Ministries, Department and Agencies in the state capital, Lokoja.

This is in addition to special funding and provision for accreditation of the Kogi State University, Anyigba that was regarded as a glorified secondary school. He upgraded Kogi state Polytechnic Lokoja, Kogi state College of Education Ankpa, Kogi State College of Education Technical Kabba, Kogi state College of Nursing and Midwifery Obangede, and Kogi state College of Health Technology Idah.

Idris reconstructed all township roads in the 21 local government areas and the linkages, as well as some federal roads linking the state like Ajaokuta- Lokoja, Ajaokuta-Geregu-Itobe roads to ease movement of people across the state.

He built the State specialist hospital Lokoja and renovated all the general hospitals in the 21 local government areas of the state.

Former Governor Ibrahim Idris left a legacy of human capital development through prompt payment of salaries, leave bonus, yearly increment, promotion as well as introduced car loans to Kogi civil servants.

As at the time Idris left in office in 2012, backlog of arrears left by the previous administration was already cleared and salaries was paid as at when due. More employment opportunities were opened up as workers even got a parting gift of salary increment through payment of relativity. 
Having left a good legacy, the successive administration took over his humane and good leadership.

Ibrahim Idris held his head high for nine years and after leaving the mantle of leadership of Kogi state he continued to play leadership roles in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). With a record of consistency and loyalty to the party, he has no record of defecting from PDP since he joined. He currently serve as member of BOT and NWC of the PDP.

Ibrahim Idris is a legend with a heart of gold and we join millions of Nigerians, Kogites, family members, friends and well wishers to celebrate him, while wishing him many more years in the service to his fatherland.

– Abubakar Yusuf writes from Abuja.


Spread the love



Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *