President Bola Tinubu has paid glowing tribute to his longtime friend and political ally, Senator Abu Ibrahim, describing him as a man of rare courage who once risked imprisonment for his colleagues during the struggle for democracy following the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.
In a statement personally signed by him to mark Senator Ibrahim’s 80th birthday, President Tinubu recounted the incident that tested the formee Senator’s loyalty and character during one of Nigeria’s darkest political periods.
The President said Senator Ibrahim, who represented Katsina South in the Third Republic Senate, refused to accept his release from detention unless his fellow Senators, including Tinubu, were freed.
“When the authorities released him and left the rest of us in the cell, Abu refused to leave, insisting that all of us be released together,” Tinubu said. “That act of solidarity defined his courage and loyalty.”
Tinubu narrated how he and Ibrahim had first met in 1992 in the National Assembly—he as Senator for Lagos West under the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Ibrahim as Senator for Katsina South under the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC). Despite being on opposite sides of the political divide, their bond grew through a shared belief in democracy, justice, and good governance.
According to the President, both men, along with a few like-minded Senators, defied the military junta after the June 12 annulment by reconvening the Senate in Lagos to pass a resolution condemning the act and calling for the restoration of democracy. Their defiance led to their arrest and detention by security operatives.
Tinubu described Ibrahim’s conduct during and after the incident as a reflection of his character — principled, courageous, and selfless.
“Abu stood in the line of fire for democracy. His loyalty was never about convenience or politics but about conviction,” the President said. “That is the kind of patriot he is.”
The President also praised the Katsina-born politician’s steadfastness in subsequent years, highlighting his re-elections to the Senate in 2003 and 2011 and his vital role in the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013.
Tinubu said Senator Ibrahim was instrumental in the party’s merger negotiations and has since remained a strong advocate of unity and stability within the APC.
“Within the APC, Abu’s consistent advocacy for peace and national unity is noteworthy. He supported my aspirations to be President and was by my side throughout the campaign,” the President noted.
He added that since assuming office in 2023, Senator Ibrahim has continued to offer valuable advice toward the successful implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
President Tinubu described the former lawmaker as “a patriot, a trusted ally, and a brother” whose wisdom and democratic convictions remain invaluable to Nigeria’s political evolution.
“I join his family, friends, and associates in celebrating him. I pray that Allah grants him more years in good health to continue his service to the nation and humanity,” Tinubu concluded.
