President Bola Tinubu and prominent Nigerians have expressed their heartfelt sympathy to the government and people of Kogi State over the death of Ohinoyi of Egbiraland, Dr Abdulrahman Ado Ibrahim.
The paramount ruler died around 2:00 a.m on Sunday, October 29 in an undisclosed hospital in Abuja after a protracted illness.
He was aged 95 years.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale on Sunday, noted that the death of Ohinoyi is a painful loss.
He described the late traditional ruler as peace-loving, affable and cerebral.
“The Ohinoyi of Ebiraland was in a class of his own. He was highly respected and admired for his deep insights, wisdom and sophistication.
“He had a masterful way of handling issues. He was very knowledgeable and wise,” he said.
The President prayed that Almighty Allah will grant His Majesty Aljannah Firdaus, just as he told the people of Kogi to take solace in the legacy of peace and fellowship left behind by the late traditional ruler.
Also, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Candidate in Kogi, Alhaji Usman Ododo described the death of Dr Ado Ibrahim as a personal and painful loss to him.
In a condolence message issued in Lokoja on Sunday, revealed that he was greatly touched by the passing of the paramount ruler.
“The late Ohinoyi was a father who loved all his children, did everything to unite his community and promoted peaceful coexistence among his people.
“The death of our paramount ruler is a personal and painful loss to me. My prayer is that Allah should grant his soul a peaceful eternal rest,” he added.
Ododo informed that Ohinoyi left a big vacuum that would be difficult to fill, considering his wealth of wisdom and leadership qualities.
While stating that the Ohinoyi would be greatly missed, the APC candidate pleaded with the people of Ebiraland to continue to live in peace with one another, as they grapple with the irreparable loss of the traditional ruler.
The Secretary of Ebiraland Traditional Council, Alhaji Yunusa Sule said that the death of Ohinoyi is very sad and a big blow to Ebiraland.
“We lost our daddy and leader this early morning of Sunday in an Abuja Hospital where he was treated for age related ailment for three weeks now.
“We are in shock and pain over his death. He was indeed a good father and leader to not just Ebiraland but Kogi and Nigeria as a whole.
“His death has left a vacuum in the entire Ebiraland,” he said.
However, the remains of Ado Ibrahim was committed to mother earth at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday in Okene.
Briefly
Ado Ibrahim was born on February 7, 1929 and was the fourth traditional ruler and Ohinoyi of Ebiraland in Okene, Kogi State.
He was a son of the second Attah of Ebiraland, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Ibrahim Onoruoiza Attah and Hajiya Hauwawu Ozianuva of the Omadivi Clan, who reigned from 1917–1954.
Ibrahim was enthroned as the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland in 1997. Before ascending to the throne, he was a successful businesman who lived most parts of his life in Lagos.
The former paramount ruler completed his Nursery and Quranic education at 11 years.
Thereafter, he enrolled at the Okene Native Administration School from 1934 to 1940 for his elementary education. He was later admitted to Okene Middle School in 1941.
After his two-year stay at the middle school, he secured another admission at the prestigious Ondo Boys High School for his secondary education from 1943 to 1946.
From 1947 to 1949, he moved to Oduduwa College, Ile-Ife, Osun where he completed his secondary education.
He was employed by the United African Company (UAC) in 1950 as a special entrant for accelerated management. Having successfully pitched a tent at the Accounting and Sales Department in 1952, he was promoted to the post of Manager at the Kingsway Stores, Kaduna.
Also in 1952, he enrolled as an external candidate for a degree at the London School of Economics by utilising the extramural study facilities organised by the British Council in Jos.
In January 1953, he quit Kingsway Stores and relocated to Jos as Personnel Manager of Amalgamated Tin Mines of Nigeria Limited in charge of maintaining operation areas of Bukuru and Barkin Ladi.
That same year, he attended the first Mining School in Jos and qualified as a Mining Prospector and Area Manager.
Later in the year, the company sent him on a technical training course, organised by the Anglo-American Mining Corporation in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Upon his return, he was immediately promoted to Area manager and assigned the responsibility of excavating the Lead/Zinc Ore deposits at Izom in the Abuja district.
He was also mandated to lead a team searching for gold and base materials in the location.
The late paramount ruler combined his mining and prospecting duties successfully with the undergraduate study programme. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Statistics from the London School of Economics in 1954.
In 1955, he won a Ford Foundation Sponsorship to undertake a six-month course in Marketing and Business Strategy at the Business School of Harvard University.
Given his excellent performance, he was readmitted into the Master’s Programme of the school as a full-time student. He thereafter earned an MBA from Havard in 1959.
He later married Miss Abimbola Solomon on November 1, 1959.