By; ADAMA JOHN,, Lokoja.
The Ohinoyi of Egbiraland who doubles as the vice chairman Kogi Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Ado Ibrahim is dead.
He died in the early hours of Sunday October 29, 2024, in an Abuja hospital after a brief illness, aged nine-five.
Alhaji Ado Ibrahim was born on February 7, 1929 and was the fourth traditional ruler as the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland.
The late Ohinoyi attended both Western and Quranic schools during his formative years including primary education in 1940 at the Native Authority (NA) primary school in Okene.
He had part of his secondary school education at Ondo Boys High School and later Oduduwa College where he graduated in 1949.
He bagged his bachelor’s degree in Economics from the prestigious London School of Economics and a master’s degree from the Harvard Business School in 1959.
Following the death of Ohinoyi Sanni Omolori of the Oziada clan in 1997, Alhaji Ado Ibrahim ascended the Okene throne as the second Ohinoyi or fourth independent traditional ruler of Ebiraland on June 2, 1997.
During his reign, he constructed the magnificent Azad Palace named after one of his sons. The palace is renowned as one of the most beautiful in West Africa.
In recent times, Alhaji Ado Ibrahim faced challenges with the Kogi State Government when he was reportedly issued a query by Kogi State Government for not granting an official welcome to ex President Muhammadu Buhari during the latter’s visit to Kogi State on December 29, 2022.
A bomb exploded during ex President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit near a mosque close to Alhaji Ado Ibrahim’s palace, resulting in casualties.
The Nigerian police Department of State Security (DSS) arrested bomb blast masterminds who were members of ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province).
Alhaji Ado Ibrahim clarified that he did not receive an official notification about another palace construction project other than the one he had been residing in since his coronation.
The late monarch, Alhaji Ado Ibrahim will be remembered for his wisdom and dedication to tradition as indelible landmarks in the lives of generations to come in Egbiraland.
He will be buried in Okene today according to Islamic rites.
