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October 30, 2023
This was coming after the governor was criticised for shunning the invitation to attend the late king’s burial ceremony on Sunday evening.
The Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has expressed his "deep sorrow" over the passing of His Royal Majesty, Dr. Ado Ibrahim, the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Sa'aki.
In a statement made on Monday by the State Commissioner of Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, Bello described the death of the prominent monarch as a painful and personal one and expressed his admiration for the late monarch as a father figure and trusted confidant.
This was coming after the governor was criticised for shunning the invitation to attend the late king’s burial ceremony on Sunday evening.
The governor, while addressing sympathisers at the palace of the late traditional ruler, in Okene said the passing of the reverred monarch had left a void that could not easily be filled and that he had lost a source of genuine wisdom, guidance, and unwavering leadership.
"It is clear that the people of Ebiraland have lost a great leader and a respected member of their community, and Governor Bello's heartfelt words are a testament to the high esteem in which his royal majesty was held," the statement said.
The governor said, "He was a distinguished scholar in Islamic and cultural affairs, and his contributions were truly exceptional, not only in the progress of Kogi State, but throughout Nigeria.
"I want to thank you all for your condolence messages to Anebira over the passing of our reverred royal father, the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland. For me, I have lost a father figure and a trusted confidant with the passing of Sa'aki. As we all know, his royal majesty was renowned, not only for his role as a traditional leader, but also as an expert in conflict resolution.
"He was a distinguished scholar in Islamic and cultural affairs, and his contributions have been truly exceptional, not only in the progress of Kogi State but throughout Nigeria," the governor stated.