*With his death, I’ve lost a friend – Buhari
*He was Governor when I shared assets between Borno and Yobe – Gen Olanrewaju
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
First Civilian Governor of Yobe State, North East Nigeria, Alhaji Bukar Abba Ibrahim, is dead..
The DEFENDER reports that Bukar Ibrahim, a former Senator of the Federal Republic, died while receiving medical treatment in Saudi Arabia. He was 73
Governor of Yobe State, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni, confirmed the death of one of his earlier predecessors who in had for many years represented Yobe East Senatorial District in the Nigerian Senate.
A statement via Buni’s Director General of Press and Media Affairs, Mamman Mohammed, noted that the former governor died on Sunday and would be buried in Saudi Arabia.
He said condolences are to be received by Governor Mai Mala Buni at the Government House in Damaturu.
Abba Ibrahim a renowned politician who died at 75 is the husband of a serving lawmaker Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim, the member representing Gujba, Gulani, Damaturu, and Tarmuwa Federal Constituency.
Governor Buni has further directed all other aspects of the funeral and condolences to be taken over by the state government to accord the late governor a state burial and honour.
Buhari expresses grief
In the meantime, former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhar, following the demise of the former governor on Sunday, expressed grief over the death of whom he described as a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Buhari spoke through his former presidential spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu in a statement copied to to The DEFENDER, saying that Bukar Abba Ibrahim was a former Senator, who was the first civilian governor of Yobe State.
The former President said, “I am deeply saddened by the demise of Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim. I convey my deepest condolences to the family he left behind and the government and people of Yobe State.
“With his death, I have lost a friend whom I knew for decades, a political associate who shared my views on many issues. His insights and nuanced understanding of the people governed had no parallels. May Allah forgive his shortcomings,” said the former President.
Olanrewaju recalls work he and Ibrahim did together
In an exclusive chat with The DEFENDER in Lagos on Sunday, Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (Rtd), mourned and expressed his condolences over a man, who as first civilian governor of Yobe State then newly created from Borno State, cooperated well with him in achieving the success he achieved as Chairman Presidential Assets Sharing Committee after five new states were created from existing ones by President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida on August 27, 1991.
Apart from Borno and Yobe, General Olanrewaju also shared assets between existing Imo State and newly created Abia State; existing Anambra State and newly created Enugu State; and existing Edo (Bendel) State and newly created Delta State.
“During the course of my duty as Chairman Assets Sharing Committee between those newly created states, I shared assets between Borno and Yobe states and Alhaji Bukar Abba Ibrahim was Governor during the time and he cooperated well with me and we did a neat job between the two states like of others that we did.
“I pray that Allah accepts him as his good servant and repose his soul in Al-Jannah Firdaus,” General Olanrewaju prayed.
About Bukar Abba Ibrahim
Alhaji Bukar Abba Ibrahim was born in October 1950 and died on Sunday February 4, 2024. He was a Nigerian politician who was two-term governor of Yobe State from May 29, 1999 through May 29, 2007 during the beginning of the ongoing Fourth Republic. He also served as governor of the state from January 1992 to November 1993 during the botched Third Republic. A member of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), he was Senator of Yobe East in his post-gornment era.
