By OPEYEMI GBEMIRO

Gov. Ahmed Ododo of Kogi has renamed the Kogi State Specialist Hospital, Lokoja, as Ibrahim Idris Specialist Hospital in honour of the late former governor’s contributions to the development of the state.

Ododo announced this on Thursday at the 40th-day prayer for the repose of the soul of the former governor, popularly known as Baba Ibro, held in Abejukolo, Omala Local Government Area.

The governor described the late Idris as a distinguished statesman, whose leadership and service left an enduring mark on the state.

He said the decision was aimed at preserving the legacies of leaders , who contributed to the growth and development of Kogi.

“Therefore, as the Chief Servant of Kogi, I am pleased to announce that the Kogi State Specialist Hospital in Lokoja will henceforth be known as Ibrahim Idris Specialist Hospital, Lokoja, in honour of this distinguished former governor and in recognition of his contributions to the development of our dear state,” he said.

Ododo also called on the people of the state to embrace unity, noting that the presence of people from different political, ethnic and religious backgrounds at the prayer demonstrated Idris’s ability to build bridges across divisions.

He urged the people to rise above their differences and embrace their shared identity and common destiny, stressing that unity is essential for collective progress.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Organising Committee for the 40th-day prayer, Mr. Musa Amodu, thanked the governor for his support toward the burial arrangements and the prayer programme.

Amodu said Ododo had continued to support the family since the former governor’s death, including providing financial assistance for the burial arrangements and sponsoring the 40th-day prayer.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Idris governed Kogi from May 29, 2003, to January 2012 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and was one of the state’s longest-serving governors.

He won the March 2008 governorship re-run election and remained influential in politics and business after leaving office.

He died in the United Kingdom on Sept. 20, 2026, at the age of 77, following an illness, and was buried on Sept. 25 at Gudu Cemetery, Apo, Abuja. (NAN)