Kogi PDP Mourns Ex-Governor Ibrahim Idris, Establishes Burial Committee

The Kogi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced a 40-day period of mourning and established an 11-member Central Planning Committee to coordinate the funeral and condolence activities for its late former governor and esteemed leader, Ibrahim Idris. This decision was communicated in a communiqué released following an urgent meeting of the State Working Committee (SWC), which took place on Wednesday at the party’s state secretariat in Lokoja.

The meeting was chaired by the State Chairman, Muhammed Gambo, who co-signed the communiqué alongside the State Secretary, Sunday Ibrahim. The SWC conveyed its profound shock and sorrow upon receiving the news of Idris’s passing. The late governor, affectionately known as “Baba PDP,” was eulogized as a father figure, a prominent leader, a political giant, a detribalised Nigerian, a unifier, and a foundational member of the PDP in Kogi State.

The party further highlighted Idris’s significant contributions to the state during his tenure from 2003 to 2012, crediting him with fostering what it described as unprecedented progress, peace, and political inclusivity. The SWC extended its heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved Ibro family, the entire PDP family across Nigeria, the Kogi State Government, and the people of Kogi State.

Among its resolutions, the party mandated that all PDP flags at its state secretariat, as well as those at all 21 local government and ward secretariats throughout the state, be flown at half-mast starting from Wednesday and continuing for 40 days after the burial.

Regarding the funeral arrangements, the SWC endorsed the formation of an 11-member Central Planning Committee, with Muhammed Gambo serving as chairman and Sunday Ibrahim as secretary. Other members appointed to the committee include Yahaya Karaku, Paul Ukwenya, Anthony M. Akuvada, Yunusa Adazaki, Toluhi Michael Segun, Audu Siyaka Uhanaye, Esther Abimbola Soje, Igagu Idris, and Saba Ibrahim.

The communiqué stated that the committee's primary responsibility is to collaborate with the deceased’s family and the Kogi State Government to ensure a respectful and befitting burial. It explicitly read: “The Committee is mandated to liaise with the family and the Kogi State Government to ensure a befitting burial for the late leader, with its terms of reference to be announced in due course.”

The SWC also expressed gratitude to the Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, and the state government for their proactive steps in planning a state burial for the former governor. “The Party noted that the gesture was a testament to Alhaji Ibrahim Idris’s status as a former Governor and an elder statesman who served Kogi State meritoriously,” the communiqué further added.

Finally, the party appealed to its members, stakeholders, and supporters across all 21 local government areas to maintain calm, unity, and a spirit of prayer as they collectively mourn the departed leader. The SWC concluded by praying for the peaceful repose of Idris’s soul, asking Almighty Allah to forgive his shortcomings and grant him Aljanat Firdaus.