Senator Adeyemi has described the late former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, as a remarkable democrat, compassionate leader and statesman whose impact transcended political, ethnic and religious boundaries.
In a condolence statement issued on Sunday, September 21, 2026, Senator Adeyemi said he received the news of Idris’s passing with profound sadness, noting that words were hardly sufficient to capture the loss of a man who represented the virtues of tolerance, fairness and inclusive leadership.
According to him, Idris was a democrat in the truest sense of the word, a leader who could receive criticism without bitterness and accommodate opposing views without turning disagreement into persecution.
He said this capacity to engage people across political divides was one of the qualities that distinguished the late former governor.
The lawmaker noted that Idris had a large heart and an uncommon capacity to accommodate people of different backgrounds, adding that he did not allow ethnic or religious considerations to define his relationships with people, and believed strongly in carrying everyone along.
Senator Adeyemi recalled that as Governor, Idris brought together people from diverse backgrounds and demonstrated an understanding of the need to balance the interests of the different peoples and communities that make up Kogi State, reflecting a belief that government belongs to all the people and that no citizen should feel like a stranger in his own state.
He described the late former governor as a good-hearted man who understood that political differences should not destroy human relationships, noting that even when confronted with criticism or opposition, Idris had the temperament to separate political disagreement from personal animosity.
“For these reasons, history will remember Alhaji Ibrahim Idris not merely as a former governor, but as a leader of the people and a statesman whose sense of accommodation transcended ethnic and religious sentiments,” he said.
Senator Adeyemi added that Idris’s life demonstrated that leadership is not only about occupying office, but also about how one treats people, accommodates differences and leaves behind relationships that survive political seasons.
He described the reactions of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, former Governor Yahaya Bello and the people of the state as a manifestation of appreciation for the leadership role Idris played while in office.
The senator extended his heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and political associates of the deceased, as well as the government and people of Kogi State, and prayed that God forgive his shortcomings, grant him eternal rest, and give his family and all Kogi indigenes the strength to bear the loss.
