It took me like forever to summon enough strength to weave words together in honor of an icon, the Late Senator Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim. It still feels strange that I added the four-letter title “late” to his name. I’ve had a lot to say, but too weak to say. Since the day he exited this sinful world, I’ve shed tears in disbelief. I’ve wished it was not true. I’ve wished it was a dream. I’ve gone close to pinching myself to be convinced enough that it indeed happened. At times, I’ve gone close to asking why him? But no one can question God Almighty, He knows best.

Last week was a beehive of activities in honour of the late hero. Led by the President of the 8th Senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, dignitaries and associates trooped to Ilorin to pay their last respects to the late Ibrahim and register their condolences with the bereaved family. Even the leader (Saraki) himself could not hold back tears at a time. I watched him closely right from when he touched ground at the Airport and moved straight to his (Sen. Rafiu) final resting place. I saw the pain and void in him as we moved from place to place, consoling people and getting consoled as well. Senator Rafiu was such an asset to him, to the party, his community, Kwara, and everyone who came close to him. I felt the Leader’s pain whenever he sang the praises of the late Rafiu, especially for “making a mark while alive and impacting lives.” Indeed, he was an exceptionally loyal being, a dependable ally, and an influential stakeholder.

I’ve had the joy of writing about Sen. Rafiu Ibrahim, especially on his birth dates, and that’s part of the consolation in me; the fact that I celebrated him and testified to his exemplary character while he was alive. Sen. Rafiu was one of the finest humans I’ve ever met. He was a mentor, leader, and confidant. I say with pride that he played a key role in my journey to where I am today. From the first day I knew him, he was unusually amazing. I recall in 2013 when fate brought us together, he had messaged me on Facebook personally. That was when he was the House of Representative Member, representing the Ifelodun/Offa/Oyun federal constituency at the National Assembly. I didn’t know him nor ever heard about him. He appreciated me for what I was doing for the Party and the Saraki structure as a volunteer. He sent me his Blackberry PIN and phone contact on Facebook Messenger. That was quite unusual. It’s hard to believe that a highly placed individual will pick interest in an unknown party member for his activeness. I had thought our politicians hardly take note or reward the common and obscure party man. Sen. Rafiu was an exception.

I asked around and indeed, he was the one. He requested we see and I told him I would only honour that if I met him alone. He agreed and gave me an appointment. Contrary to our agreement, I invited my brother from Pakata in Ubandawaki Ward, Abdulrahman Abdullahi Kayode, (now the State Secretary of the PDP in Kwara) to accompany me to his Adewole residence. I knew it was a breach of our agreement, but I was a bit scared. This was a man I never knew or met before. A few minutes after we settled in, he joined us and promptly apologized for keeping us waiting. He said he was trying to pet his little daughter, Aisha, to sleep before leaving the room. Again, I wondered, what kind of highly ranked political office holder is yet so fatherly to do that? I was later to know him as a loving father, whose busy schedules and high status, never took away his fatherly mien. I got to know him as a devoted husband, and a perfect example of a successful family man.

We spoke at length that very day and since then, I became a friend of the house, a member of his political family, and later an aide. It didn’t take long before I became very close to him. I remember in 2016, I played a key role in the preparation for his 50th birthday and the launch of his Rafiu Ibrahim Bilal Foundation (RIB_FOUNDATION), an event that brought people from all walks of life to Offa town, in Kwara South. I single-handedly prepared his citation, reviewed it severally with him, and read it at the occasion. It was the biggest role I took at that period. Many around him never wanted me to take it, but he never looked down on anyone. He was quick and categorical, “Abdul will do it.”

I read the citation to the admiration of everyone, including the then sitting Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, several members of the National Assembly, the sitting Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, his entire cabinet members, CBN Governor, heads of Commercial banks, captains of industries, as well as traditional rulers and religious leaders. For me, it was an honour unilaterally bestowed on me by the late senator.

Senator Rafiu has listening ears. He was a very understanding man who ensured none of his aides or team members was left out. In my early years with the political family, when largesse was shared, I would most times be left out or shortchanged. His former driver, Monday, (also deceased) was my only close friend in his house. We got talking and he encouraged me to bring it to Oga’s attention. I was very reluctant, but as if conducting a test on his humaneness, I summoned the courage, and sent him a message, pointing out my observations. All he would say was, “Don’t worry Abdul, I see and understand everything.” I would have thought it would take an eternity to address the issues, but to my amazement, it took only days. One of his right hands, Mr. Olasunkami walked up to me and stretched forth his hands. “Oga said I should give this to you.” On most occasions, it was always more than my expectation. I cried in admiration of his kindness and smiled to the bank.

He was never the one to undermine anyone. He accorded everyone a sense of belonging and ensured we were all carried along. I remember instances when he stopped his convoy to ask why Abdul was left behind at home. Shamsudeen Shola Bada or Gbenga Bakinde was always at the receiving end. On a particular occasion, Bada was instructed to make a U-turn – despite having traveled a very long distance – to come pick me up from my location after I missed the convoy.

Visit any part of Kwara South, and you find his footprints there. His interventions – in health, education, employments, entrepreneurial trainings, empowerments, electrification as well as scholarships for students and children he knew not their parents or backgrounds – will no doubt continue to speak after him. All these exclude personal support for individuals, families, groups, and organizations. Interestingly, Sen. Rafiu never stopped in his Senatorial district or among his political party members alone. His goodness knew not party lines. He was such a detribalized man, who cherished peaceful co-existence and the development of his people.

Senator Rafiu was exceptionally kind, generous, simple, approachable, and intelligent. Projecting his image was the easiest for me in my years of image laundry, simply because you hardly see people complain about his personality, manner, and lifestyle. Either at a gathering of people or on social media, there are neutrals ever ready to defend his course without any form of inducement whatsoever. Most times when I posted his activities, I went back to sleep. Even political opponents knew this. Despite the political machination rolled out to oust the PDP from office in 2019, they knew he was yet a favourite. The ruling party at the centre, APC, went as far as ensuring he was picked and kept in the custody of security operatives on trumped-up allegations, until after the election. The mood across Kwara South at that time was gloomy. This is no time for political talk, but there’s no gainsaying, he was loved. And let me also add that he earned it.

If there was any complaint I ever heard about him, it was about his unwavering loyalty to the Sarakis. It displeases political adversaries a lot, but he never budged. “I would rather quit politics than be disloyal to the heir of Baba Oloye, Dr Abubakar Olusola Saraki,” he said to me or anyone who cared to listen countless times. He was loyal till the moment he breathed his last and that again, stood him out.

With his demise, I’ve come to further witness the paradox of life. It’s heartbreaking that someone who helped people pay bills for medical treatment that saved them from the clutches of death couldn’t save himself or be rescued from sickness. The words of my principal, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, continue to play in my head, “If it was money, Rafiu would still be here with us today. We did everything we could, but Allah knows best.”

As I conclude this tribute, I’m overwhelmed with a wave of emotions and in tears. I know that even after this moment when I read this again or your footprints bring back your memory, I’ll still betray emotions. But then we take solace in the legacy you left behind. My benefactor, leader, and mentor, Late Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim, Bobaselu of Erin-Ile, may the Almighty Allah forgive your shortcomings and grant you Aljanat Firdaus. So long!

Abdulganiyu Abdulqadir writes from Ilorin, Kwara State.