By Our Correspondent

The Senate on Tuesday mourned former Kogi State Governor and businessman, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, who died in London on September 20, 2026, at the age of 77.
The deceased was remembered through a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho (Kogi East), who described Idris as a prominent Nigerian whose contributions to business, politics and public service left a lasting impact on Kogi State and the country.
Echocho said he and the former governor were both associated with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at different times, adding that Idris remained a significant figure in Kogi’s political history.
Born on April 6, 1949, in Idah, present-day Idah Local Government Area of Kogi State, Idris spent part of his childhood in Onitsha, where his father was a trader. He attended Holy Trinity Primary School, Onitsha, and Prince Commercial College, Buguma, Rivers State, before obtaining a bachelor’s degree from the University of Abuja.
Before venturing into politics, Idris established himself as a successful businessman and industrialist under the Ibro brand, with interests in construction, furniture, manufacturing and hospitality.
Among his notable ventures were the Ibrahim Furniture Factory in Sokoto and Ibro Hotel, which was regarded as one of the pioneering hotels in the region.
He later entered politics and was elected Governor of Kogi State on the PDP platform. He served from May 29, 2003, to January 6, 2012, making him the longest-serving elected civilian governor in the state’s history.
Echocho said Idris’s administration recorded major infrastructural projects, particularly in Lokoja, including housing for civil servants, classroom blocks, the Lokoja International Market, the State Specialist Hospital and the expansion of the Greater Lokoja Water Scheme.
He described the former governor’s death as a major loss to his family, Kogi State and Nigeria, and urged the Senate to observe a minute’s silence and send a delegation to his family to convey its condolences.
Contributing, former Sokoto State Governor and Senator representing Sokoto South, Aminu Tambuwal, praised Idris for his contributions to Sokoto State, where he built his business empire and raised his family.
Tambuwal recalled that Idris, popularly known as Ibro, started his business career in the wood industry before venturing into hospitality. He said the late businessman was highly respected in Sokoto and was conferred with the title of “Ambassador” by the Sultan of Sokoto.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) described Idris as a man committed to the welfare of the people, recalling his willingness to pay the minimum wage to workers while serving as Kogi governor.
Oshiomhole said that when he led the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to engage Idris over workers’ welfare, the former governor demonstrated his commitment to improving their conditions.
Senators Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) and Abba Moro, the Minority Leader, also paid tribute to Idris and prayed for the repose of his soul.
Leading the tributes, Senate President Godswill Akpabio called for a minute’s silence in honour of the former governor, which the Senate observed