By Oluwaseun David
The Yoruba have a saying: “Àgbà tí kò kẹ́ àkọ́rí, yóò bá ọmọ wẹ́yìn lórí” — an elder who refuses to speak the truth will watch the younger ones stumble. In Yoruba philosophy, silence in the face of falsehood is betrayal, and a true elder is measured not by comfort, but by courage.
This proverb finds its living expression in Senator (Dr.) Jimoh Ibrahim, CFR, whose role in the 10th National Assembly has been marked by fearless truth, scholarly contributions, and impactful representation both at home and abroad. His politics is not one of rhetoric, but of visible action and bold intervention.
From empowerment to employment to human development, Senator Ibrahim’s work in Ondo South has been deliberate and transformative. His empowerment initiatives have touched farmers, artisans, traders, and youths, equipping them with tools to rise above subsistence and secure dignity. His employment interventions have produced tangible results — most recently, he facilitated jobs for four constituents into the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigeria Immigration Service. For the families involved, this was not politics; it was hope restored and a future secured. His investments in human development ensure that education, training, and opportunities reach the people he represents.
But Senator Ibrahim’s representation does not stop at the borders of Ondo South or Nigeria. He has carried the Nigerian voice with authority on global platforms. At the United Nations in New York, he opposed an unjust global tax on developing nations, warning that such a move would entrench inequality. At the IMF and World Bank in Washington D.C., he challenged the world to embrace data accuracy as the foundation of African development. In Marrakech, he introduced the bold idea of a climate debt swap, compelling wealthy nations to accept responsibility for their emissions.
In Geneva, he invoked the lessons of the 1648 Peace of Westphalia, reminding the world that sovereignty and peace must remain sacred. At the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Tashkent, he defended democratic sovereignty with clarity. At Oxford and Cambridge, he lectured with scholarly rigor, proving that Nigerian lawmakers can compete in the global marketplace of ideas. And at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in The Gambia, he advanced the cause of persons with disabilities, calling for stronger laws, better data, and inclusive education.
These interventions are not the words of a man seeking applause, but of one willing to court controversy because truth itself is often controversial. Senator Ibrahim has shown that true leadership is not silence, not complacency, but the courage to confront injustice wherever it appears — whether in Nigeria’s legislative chambers or in the world’s most powerful forums.
In the 10th Assembly, he has demonstrated that empowerment uplifts, employment sustains, human development transforms, and global representation dignifies. This is the philosophy that underpins his politics — a politics rooted in action, scholarship, and vision.
As Yoruba wisdom reminds us, “Àgbà tí kò kẹ́ àkọ́rí, yóò bá ọmọ wẹ́yìn lórí.” Senator Jimoh Ibrahim is the elder who has refused to be silent. He speaks, he acts, and he delivers. And in doing so, he ensures that Ondo South walks taller, Nigeria stands stronger, and the world listens more closely to the voice of a statesman.
Oluwaseun David
28/10/2025
Abuja
Aseyori Editor2
- September 28, 2025
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