The siblings of the late Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, say their grief runs deep because he left “so much to do undone” and departed before his work for family and country was complete.
The siblings described him as “the hinge on which our family turns” and a stalwart of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at both regional and national levels.
In their tribute, the siblings also recalled Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed’s life as a loving father, devoted brother, and servant of the people.
“As a family, we are broken; and for some of us, that grief will linger forever. While we grieve, we pray. And while we pray, we immortalise his presence in our hearts,” they said.
His siblings said they draw strength from their faith, believing “while we love him, Allah loves him more.” They described his death as a “good demise,” while noting that he passed while serving the country, “fighting a jihad in the true sense of the word, so that tomorrow would be better.”
The siblings reflected on his journey from teaching to politics, and praised his loyalty to the NDC and his ability to give both his public duties and family life “their due.” The outpouring of tributes, they added, had been overwhelming. The siblings cited one Facebook post that described Murtala Ibrahim Muhammed as “a formidable opponent… well researched”. This praise, according to the siblings outweighed any written eulogy.
In a poetic piece titled “If We Cry”, the siblings of Dr. Murtala summed up their loss, saying the tears they shed are a reminder of the fragility of life and the emotional bonds they shared. They closed their tribute with a pledge to keep his memory alive through prayer, confident that “he’s smiling at us.”
