The senator who represented Kwara South district in the 8th National Assembly, Rafiu Ibrahim, is dead.
Ibrahim, Daily Trust gathered, died around 4:30 am on Wednesday morning, at a hospital in Abuja where he had been on admission for an undisclosed illness.
It was gathered that the former Senator had been battling illness since late last year, a struggle that was kept private.
His aide, Abdulganiyu Abdulqadir, who was still in tears, told our correspondent that his Janazah and burial would hold at Muslim cemetery, Osere, Ilọrin, around 2pm, on Wednesday.
According to findings, his corpse will arrive Ilorin through the Ilorin International Airport by 12 noon.
Late Ibrahim was a staunch ally of former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, and served in the red chambers from 2015-2019.
He was a reputed philanthropist and built bridges across ethnicity and political lines within and outside Kwara state.
He is survived by wives and many children.
The news of his death is still trending back home in many social media platforms and WhatsApp groups.
He was chairman of the senate committee on banking, insurance and other financial institutions in the 8th national assembly.
He lost his bid to retain the Kwara south seat in the 2019 and 2023 elections.
In a statement, his media aide said, “Senator Rafiu returned to his creator this morning, leaving behind a legacy of dedication, service, and profound impact. We kindly request your prayers and support during this difficult time. We pray Allah forgives his shortcomings and grants him Al-jannah Firdaus. Ameen.”
Also, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, in a statement said he “received with shock and profound sadness reports of the death of Senator Rafiu Ibrahim of the Peoples Democratic Party after a brief illness”.
In the statement signed by Rafiu Ajakaye, his chief press secretary, the governor sent his “heartfelt condolences to the family of the late senator, the people of Ojoku in Oyun Local Government Area, and the Peoples Democratic Party on this sad development”.
“This shocking development again reminds everyone of the inevitability of death for all human beings and the fact that it could come unannounced for anyone,” the statement reads.
“Governor AbdulRazaq prays to Allah to admit the senator to al-Jannah Firdaus and give comfort to his family members, political associates, and followers.”
Brief Profile
According to Wikipedia, Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim PhD, FCIB was born December 12, 1966.
He represented Kwara South Senatorial District in the 8th National Assembly was the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions.
He was also a member of Senate Committees on Appropriation, Federal Character and Inter Government Affairs, and Media and Public Affairs.
He was in office as senator from 6 June 2015 – May 2019 and preceded by Simon Ajibola succeeded by Senator Lola Ashiru.
He was a member of the House of Representatives for Ifelodun/Offa/Oyun from 2011–2015 and member of the Kwara State House of Assembly For Oke-Ogun Constituency from 2009–2011
From Ojoku in Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Ibrahim was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party and a core Sarakite.
He attended the Kwara State Polytechnic for his first degree and the University of Ado-Ekiti (MSc). He was also at the Lagos Business School.
Ibrahim started off his political career, under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as a member of Kwara State House of Assembly in 2009.
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