Nigeria has lost one of its prominent politicians, Bukar Abba Ibrahim, who died at the age of 75 at a Saudi-German Hospital in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. He was a former governor of Yobe State and a senator representing Yobe East.
Bukar Abba Ibrahim was born in October 1950 in Goniri, Gujba local government area of Yobe State. He attended Government College in Maiduguri and Ahmadu Bello University, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Quantity Surveying in 1975. He later pursued post-graduate professional training in the United Kingdom and became an associate member of the Nigeria Institute of Quantity Surveyors.
He began his political career as a civil servant in Borno State, where he rose to the position of Commissioner of Works. In December 1991, he contested and won the gubernatorial election in Yobe State under the banner of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). He held that position until November 1993, when the military took over the government.
He returned to power in 1999, after the restoration of democracy, as the governor of Yobe State under the All People’s Party (APP), which later became the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP). He was re-elected in 2003 for a second term and was one of only four incumbent ANPP governors to retain their seats.
During his tenure as governor, he implemented several reforms and projects, such as the creation of 13 new emirates, the establishment of Yobe State University, the construction of roads, bridges, hospitals, schools, and irrigation schemes. He also supported the adoption of Sharia law in the state and the promotion of peace and security.
In 2007, he was elected as a senator for Yobe East and served for three consecutive terms until 2019. He was a member of several committees, such as the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Senate Committee on Environment, and the Senate Committee on Agriculture. He was also a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling party in Nigeria.
