By joshua 
Woke up in the early hours of yesterday Wednesday, August 25th, just after my morning devotion, I picked my phone to know if there are pending calls and messages whilst I was asleep.
The first message threw me off the bed…that I lost my balance. In my state of confusion, silently praying that the message I just read was not true. Sadly, after few calls, chats and sms, the worst was confirmed.
Our very dear, loving, and resourceful Leader and Elder; Prof. Matthew Idowu Ajibero, had gone to be with the Lord. I’m still in shock and pain, wondering why God decided to call him home at a time when his fatherly counsel, uncommon dedication and unusual commitment to the growth and development of Owe Land, Okun Nation and Kogi state is most needed.
Indeed, the untimely death of Prof. Matthew Ajibero is not only an irreparable loss to the entire Ajibero family, but also to every son and daughter of Oweland. His passion for and sacrifices to the personal growth of any and every Owe person, as well as the political, economic, infrastructural and institutional development of Oweland was arguably unparalleled.
All through his illustrious academic career, most distinguished public service odyssey, excellent community interventions and religious engagements, Prof. Matthew Ajibero lived a life of total, selfless sacrificial service to God and humanity. From Bayero University, Kano, where he rose to the peak as Head of Department, to University of Ilorin as Librarian, and Kogi State Government, as Rector, Kogi Polytechnic and two-term Special Adviser on Education, and Higher Education to Governor Idris Wada, Prof Ajibero distinguished himself creditably as quintessential academic, compassionate administrator, resourceful, pragmatic leader, and inimitable team player. At every stage in his most successful academic career, he facilitated the admission of many Owe sons and daughters, as well as youths from Okun Nation and Kogi West into the Universities and Polytechnic he worked and superintendent. As Adviser on Education, and Higher Education to His Excellency, Governor Idris Wada, Prof. Ajibero deployed his academic brilliance, intellectual prowess, serially acknowledged creativity and ingenuity in the realisation of his core objectives and mandate, which also impacted positively, and greatly in the advancement and development of education in Kogi state.
Though painful that Oweland, Okun Nation, Kogi West Senatorial District and Kogi state have lost a visionary, selfless and altruistic personality at a time when we all desire his legendary drive and enviable passion for the promotion of peace, unity, and meaningful development across our various communities, we take solace that he lived a most fulfilling, rewarding, and impactful life. In all his endeavor, engagement, service and relationship with people, he lived a life of unimaginable humility, unrestrained personal sacrifices and empathy, and unapologetic desire and quest for the growth and development of Oweland and other neighbouring communities within Okun Nation and across the entire state.
It is my prayer that our Creator will grant him eternal peace as he rests in the Lord’s bossom. Also, I pray that God Almighty will grant his immediate family, the entire Ajibero family, and we all, the grace to bear the irreparable loss, Amen.
HON. YUSUF TAJUDEEN
Member representing Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency
National Assembly
Abuja.
Wednesday, August 25th, 2021.