It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Abdul Rahman Ado Ibrahim, the revered Ohinoyi of Ebiraland in Okene, Kogi state.
The first-class king, aged 94, breathed his last on a Sunday morning, around 2 am, at a hospital in Abuja, as confirmed by a family member and his son, Abubakar Ado Ibrahim.
Abdul Rahman Ado Ibrahim ascended to the throne of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland in 1997, succeeding the late Sanni Omolori.
His journey to this esteemed position was marked by an impressive academic background, having attended Ondo Boys High School and Oduduwa College for his secondary education.
He earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the prestigious London School of Economics in 1954 and furthered his studies with an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1959.
In December 2022, the late monarch faced controversy when he was issued a query by the Kogi state government.
This query arose due to his alleged refusal to welcome former President Muhammadu Buhari during the latter’s visit to the state.
The state government deemed his actions “deliberate” and potentially harmful to the reputation of Kogi.
In response to these allegations, the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland maintained that he was unaware of the visit’s arrangements and was, in fact, occupied with attending to victims of an explosion that occurred near his palace on the day of Buhari’s visit.
He only learned of the President’s presence in town after the fact.
At present, preparations are underway to transport the late monarch’s body to Okene, where he will find his final resting place.
The passing of Abdul Rahman Ado Ibrahim marks the end of an era for Ebiraland, as the community mourns the loss of a revered leader and scholar.
