BY ENGR. STEPHEN RAJI. JP DAUDU
(THE AMETUO OF EGBIRALAND).
Dr.Abdulrahman Ado Ibrahim, the late Ohinoyi of Ebiraland.
I had of the very sad, heart breaking news of his majesty demise with a rule shock in the early hour of Sunday 29th October, 2023. It happened with a bang on all of us. His majesty unexpected exit at this time, to say the least is the most unbearably, shocking and unbelievable. The sudden death of HRM, king Ado Ibrahim con, came to all of us with great grief, surprise and pain.
I bear true testimony to the facts about His majesty (HM) King Ado Ibrahim as a great monarch, a mentor and revered royal father of impeccable principles, who inspired countless individuals and organizations.
Meanwhile, many people have described his majesty as a remarkable king whose unwavering dedication to acts of kindness and good deeds impacted greatly on a lot of people across the globe. We all testify to his majesty godliness and selfless service to Almighty Allah, humanity and Ebira community. He was a true lover of Almighty God and humanity and this translated in his unwavering commitments to religious and communal activities as well as his readiness to support and assist all who came across him.
His majesty was humane, sociable, amiable, kind and straight forward ruler. His love for both Muslims, Christians, and traditionalists knows no bound as it was very glaring with his cordial relationships.
His Royal Majesty, Alh. Dr. King Ado Ibrahim CON. Sponsored me to Jerusalem in the year 2014 for Holy pilgrimage after he had conferred on me a chieftaincy title of THE AMETUO OF EBIRA LAND in the year 2004 as a mark of honour . The literary meaning of “AMETUO” is someone who contributes to the development of the society. The investiture took place on the 24th December, 2004, at the famous throne House, AZAD palace, Okene, Kogi State Nigeria, which was well attended by eminent personalities from all walks of life.
His majesty fought relentlessly for the emancipation and liberation of Ebira people at home and in the Diaspora. He single handedly restored the banned ebira cultural festivals by successive military Governments in Kwara state for several years.
During the struggle for kogi state’s creation, His Majesty donated Twenty five (25) new brand vehicles and six (6) motorcycles to the committee set up by. Ebira People Association (EPA) in order to ease the movements, of the committee members across Nigeria. HRM, King Ado Ibrahim CON was the chairman of the committee that, produced Blue-Print for economic development and prosperity of Kogi State when created newly in 1991. The committee was constituted and inaugurated by the then Military Administrator of Kogi State, Col. Danlado M. Zakari, on 30th September, 1991.
His majesty was known to be a universal philanthropist per excellence. He donated one million pound to the Association of common wealth universities education endowment funds launched in 1987 in England, through his Ado Ibrahim foundation. His highest donation to the funds prompted Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II, to host him and his wife to a special dinner party at her majesty Buckingham palace, London on 3rd November, 1998. Her majesty doubled as grand patron to the universities of commonwealth
While on the revered throne of Ebira Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, King Ado Ibrahim, established Kogi central people council (KCPC) that metamorphosed to Kogi Central People Community Development Centre (KCPCDC) with 15 strategic standing committees for socio-economic development of Kogi Central, which was duly registered with Corporate Commission Affairs (CAC). I was privilege to serve as secretary in the Employment and Youth Empowerment Committee and member in other committees.
His Majesty, was a Grand patron to DE-Greater Height Front DE-GHF (World Wide), a socio – cultural club that fosters unity, peace and progress of Ebira land in particular, kogi state and Nigeria at large.
He was a great monarch that, displayed high sense of responsibility with his subjects and palace expositors both in character and his daily relationship with visitors.
His majesty was a successful business tycoon, hard working, virtuous, disciplined and versatile in all aspects of life. HRM, exhibited high intelligence in all his endeavors. He was an epitome of love, boldness, forthrightness, fairness, sincerity, gentility and a Fairless ruler in all ramifications.
His majesty’s generous, peaceful and his fatherly disposition to all the people that came across him in life were second to none and that endeared me to him and to a large number of people all over the world.
The passage of HRM, is a personal loss to me because I shared very deep relationship with him as a title holder of (The AMETUO of EBIRA and Confidant under his ruler ship as a great Monarch of Ebira Kingdom.
My deepest condolences to members of his family, Ebira council of Dadus, kogi state council of chiefs and traditional rulers, Ebira Area traditional rulers, Egbira nation, Aniku-Ezi Idu clan, DE-GHF (worldwide) and kogi state Government in general, at this painful and trying times. I am consoled by the legacy of good deeds and forthrightness, His Majesty left behind.
King Ado Ibrahim was born on 7th February, 1929 to the Royal family of Alh, Ibrahim Onoruoiza Atta II and Hajiya Hwawu Ozianuva of Ehebe (The then paramount ruler of Ebiraland). After his Quranic studies, he attended followings schools for his elementary and secondary education.
Ebira native Authority Primary School Okene from 1934 – 1941.
Middle School, (now AAMCO Okene) from 1941 – 1943.
Ondo boys High School Ondo, Ondo state from 1943 – 1946.
Oduduwa College Ile-Ife, Osun Sate from 1947 – 1949.
He joined United Africa Company (UAC) in 1950 as an employee and Rose to Managerial Position at Kingsway stores Kaduna in 1952. He also worked at Amalgamated Tin Mines (ATM) Limited Bukuru, Jos as personnel manager in 1953 and subsequently attended Technical Mining College Jos and Mining industrial training scheme at Anglo America Mining Cooperation in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was appointed as Area manager (ATM Ltd) Bukuru, Jos in the year 1953, on completion of Mining Engineering Course in South Africa. He then preceded to London School of Economics for his B.SC Economics and graduated in 1954 and obtained his masters degree from Harvard Business school of Harvard University, London in 1959 respectively. He died at Age of 94years on 29th October, 2023 at Abuja after a brief illness and buried on 29th October, 2023 at AZAD – Palace Okene according to Islamic rites he survived by wives, great children and grand children.
In business cycle, he was a successful business magnate. He established the following limited liability companies.
Ado Ibrahim Construction Company (AICC Ltd)
Veritas Insurance Company
National Technical Motor Company Ltd
Food Specialties Ltd
Negu Petroleum Nig. Ltd
Ado Ibrahim Mining Co Ltd
Proposed Iron & Steel Co. Ltd Ubogiri Ajaokuta LGA
Propose fertilizer company Ubogiri Ajaokuta LGA
Proposed Ado Ibrahim polytechnic Okene
Proposed King Ado Ibrahim Amusement park Paku Road Adavi LGA
Ado Ibrahim Foundation
Proposed Ado Ibrahim Hotel’s Ltd Okene etc
Alh. Dr. King Ado Ibrahim CON, the Ohinoyi of Ebira Land reigned for Twenty-six (26) years on the throne and accomplished economic prosperity, Security, Peace and Development for Ebiraland in particular, Kogi State and Nigeria in general. He was appointed by the then Military Administrator Kogi State, His Excellency Col. Afakriya Bzigu Lassa under edict No. 3 of 1997, which took effect from 6th May, 1997 and coronated by Prince Abubakar Audu, the first Executive Governor of Kogi State, on 2nd June 1997 with his presentation 1st class staff of office as Ohinoyi of Egbiraland.
The pain of his death still lingers in my heart as we all will miss him, especially HM’s hospitality, prompt advice, wise counseling and his elegance and glamour while on the revered throne of Egbiraland.
King Ado Ibrahim finished strong and death has been swallowed up in victory. His majesty was great in life and greater in death. Allah owns him and gave His majesty to Egbira nation as a special gift and creation.
His majesty inspired us by his influential and exemplary life he lived that, worthy of emulation but difficulty to emulate.
His majesty’s reign good works and performances on the revered throne of Ebira Kingdom left indelible marks and foot prints in the sand of time for which he will forever remain in many hearts.
Your Royal Majesty, you came for a special mission as ordained by Almighty God of which you have accomplished it faithfully and set out the way for us to follow. There was still much, HM king Ado Ibrahim CON could still do but Almighty Allah, his creator who knows the end from beginning took better decision.
We will miss His Majesty’s astuteness, smile and resourcefulness. His majesty will forever be remembered for being a hero and great King in our generation.
Good night Your Majesty, Rest in the blossom of the Almighty Allah your creator for a life well spent in monarchy, Islam, Business circle and community Development Amen.
Adieu! Great King! Great Soul.
