IBRAHIM: Life Has Not Been The Same Since His Death

Alhaji Ibrahim Ramat Yakubu is the only surviving male sibling of the late Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Mohammed. He spoke with MURTALA MUHAMMED in Kano on the life and times of his elder brother.

WE are wallowing in poverty,” Ibrahim Ramat Yakubu lamented, as he spoke on his elder brother. Ibrahim told The Guardian that despite his blood relationship with the late head of state, he and his two female siblings are still struggling to cope with the reality of the death. “The family of the late head of state does not deserve such hardship.”

While reflecting on the memories of his late brother, Ibrahim said: “Murtala was a father, brother and everything to me. When he died, I felt I had losteverything, because he was my mentor and guardian. Murtala loved his family, his mother and his siblings.”

For Ibrahim, what distinguished him was that he was not only generous; he touched almost every life he encountered. “When he was in the military, even before he became head of state, anytime he visited Kano, he usually gave out everything he had on him. He was blessed with that spirit of love, generosity, kindness and care. Apart from being highly religious, he never joked with his people.”

Ibrahim said, “Murtala contributed immensely to our community. He assisted many to secure jobs, particularly in the security agencies. He was the person that sent me to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage. And one very important value I personally gained from him was his words of advice and mentorship. He will always tell me: ‘Ibrahim you have to go to school o! Don’t joke with your education o’. His passion for education was great, it is something I will never forget in my entire life.”

Still reflecting on life 40 years after the demise of Murtala, Ibrahim said, “after his death, everything changed. I feel I don’t have anybody again. I am seriously suffering and we don’t have the assistance of anybody. We just hope the government will see our condition and find time to assist us the way they have assisted our brother’s children.”