Messages pour in as Ohinoyi of Ebiraland is laid to rest

By Bilal Omeiza

President Bola Tinubu has described the late Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Alhaji Dr. AbdulRahman Ado Ibrahim, as a peace-loving and cerebral traditional ruler.

The Ohinoyi, who died at the age of 95 years after a brief illness was buries yesterday evening.

This newspaper, on Sunday reliably gathered that Ado Ibrahim he has been sick for some times and has been receiving medical attention at a private hospital in Abuja.

According to source, the Paramount ruler gave up the ghost early hour on Sunday morning.

According to the President, “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.
“May Almighty Allah grant His Majesty Aljannah Firdaus,” Tinubu prayed.

The National President of the Ebira Development Association, Dr Godwin Oyibo, described the death of the 94-year-old as “shocking and very painful.”
“With a painful heart we have just laid to rest the remains of our leader and father, who died in the early hours of Sunday in a hospital in Abuja.
“Committing his corpse to mother earth is very painful and unbelievable.

“I have never been this close to someone who suddenly is no more. It has never happened to me till this time. He is the kind person one would not want to part with.
“I have worked very closely with him for three years and he was a very wonderful leader. He has shown me that leadership is not about occupying the position, but about making an impact.
“It is unfortunate that we are greatly going to miss him,’’ Oyibo said,” he said.

He was born February 7, 1929, and is the fourth traditional ruler and current Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, a traditional state, with headquarters in Okene, Kogi State.

He attended both western nursery and Quranic schools, and went on to conclude his primary education in 1940 at the Native Authority (NA) primary school in Okene, Northern Region (now Kogi State).

He began his secondary school education at Ondo Boys High School and later on moved to Oduduwa College, where he graduated in 1949.
Meanwhile, the Secretary of the Ebiraland Traditional Council, Alhaji Salihu Sule, has explained the delay in the burial was due to unforeseen challenges.
According to Sule, the Ohinoyi’s body arrived late from Abuja, reaching Okene at around 6:45 p.m, then a family meeting was held before the final interment.
The Ebiraland paramount ruler’s burial, conducted in accordance with Islamic customs, took place at about 8:40 p.m.

The chief imam of Ebiraland, Sheik Salihu Ebere, led the burial rites and prayed for the repose of the late Ohinoyi’s soul.
The funeral was attended by sons and daughters of Ebiraland, including the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, the Attah of Igala land, His Royal Highness, Matthew Opaluwa, and other royal fathers in Kogi State.