By Abdulkareem Haruna

Darkness has befallen Yobe on a Sunday, because a giant has fallen.

In a sudden wave of sadness that has swept across the arid plains of Yobe State, the heart of the Sahel beats in grief. The state mourns the loss of a rare gem, a political titan who bestrode its corridors of power with the grace and tenacity of a giant. Bukar Abba Ibrahim, a man whose name became synonymous with visionary leadership, passed away at the venerable age of 75.

In the early hours of February 4th, while seeking solace and treatment for an ailment that had long plagued him, Senator Ibrahim breathed his last in the sacred city of Saudi Arabia. The news of his passing cascaded through the streets and the dunes, bringing with it a profound sense of loss. 

Known affectionately as “Diamond” by those who admired his charm, resilience and sparkle, Ibrahim’s demise has left a void in the heart of Nigerian politics.

Yobe State now stands in mourning for the man who steered its ship from 1999 to 2007, and then served with distinction in the Senate. The current Governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, draped in grief, has declared that the late senator will be honored with a state burial. 

In a voice heavy with emotion, Governor Buni eulogized Ibrahim’s monumental impact on the state’s development, calling his departure a “huge loss.”

Governor Buni has called upon the citizens of Yobe and allies far and wide to join hands in prayer for the senator’s soul, seeking its peaceful rest in the eternal gardens of Aljannatu Firdaus. The Government House Mosque in Damaturu stands as a testament to these prayers, where condolences continue to pour in.

Senator Ibrahim, a beacon of hope and progress, has left behind a legacy that transcends the bounds of mere politics. After retiring from the political arena in 2019, his name remained etched in stone as the architect of Yobe’s modern landscape. 

He never chased after his perfection as a human – hence he lived his life free, devoid of worries for mortal judgments but his unwavering commitment to his people’s welfare and the state’s prosperity will be the philosophy that future generations will learn of.

As Yobeans prepares to bid an illustrious son a final once and for all goodbye, the state government, under the auspices of Governor Buni, ensures that the funeral befits a statesman of Ibrahim’s stature. The echoes of his contributions will resonate through the state’s valleys and the nation’s halls of power.

The statement from Governor Buni’s spokesperson, Mamman Mohamed, captures the breadth and depth of the late senator’s influence: “The late senator’s death is not only a loss to Yobe but to Nigeria as a whole, as he was a key figure in the country’s political landscape for many years. His tenure as governor and senator was marked by efforts to improve the lives of his constituents and to foster stability and growth in the region.”

The Diamond of Yobe may have left the mortal coil, but his luster remains undimmed in the annals of Nigerian history. Bukar Abba Ibrahim, the man, the mentor, the leader, will forever be remembered as the Diamond that once graced the land with his brilliance. The land weeps, the people mourn, but his legacy is indelible – a Diamond forever.