The late Pa Gabriel Bayode Musa Aribido was not a politician. He was not a celebrity. But he was, by all accounts, a pillar of the Ekinrinade community in Kogi State.
He died at the age of 90 years. And his passing brought different families from different tribes to pay their last respect to a man who contributed immensely to their growth.
On the day Frenovara’s documentary team was in Kogi State to capture the life and legacy of Pa Gabriel Bayode Musa Aribido, the Area Commander of Police John Abia Bassey arrived from Akwa Ibom State Command to pay his respects.
The Family Connection
ACP Bassey is not a stranger to the Aribido family. His late brother was married to the first daughter of the deceased patriarch.
Speaking during the visit, ACP Bassey spoke highly of the family his late brother had married into.
“It is a blessing for my brother to have married from this family,” he said.
The words carried weight not just as a condolence, but as a testament to a relationship that has lasted across decades and distance.
A Personal Visit, Not a Formality
What made the visit notable was its personal nature. ACP Bassey did not send a representative. He did not issue a statement. He traveled from Akwa Ibom to Kogi State to sit with the family, listen, and honor a man who had helped shape the Ekinrinade community.
Pa Gabriel Bayode Musa Aribido, aged 90, was described by community members as one of the brains behind the growth and development of Ekinrinade.
His son is the current Ala of Ekinrinade.
For ACP Bassey, this was a moment to honor not just the patriarch of the Aribido family, but also the man whose daughter had married his brother.
What the ACP Said
Though the full video interview is still being finalized, the ACP was clear about his regard for the Aribido family.
He spoke of the character of the late Pa Gabriel Bayode Musa Aribido, the blessing of the family union, and the importance of honoring relationships that span states, ethnicities, and generations.
“When there is a genuine connection, distance does not matter. Family is family.”
A Legacy of Growth in Ekinrinade
Beyond the family connection, Pa Aribido was remembered for his contributions to the Ekinrinade community.
Locals describe him as a man whose efforts helped shape the community into what it is today. His son now sits as the Ala of Ekinrinade, continuing a legacy of leadership and service.
The presence of ACP Bassey—traveling from Akwa Ibom to Kogi—was a reflection of the respect Pa Aribido commanded across state lines.
What Happens Next
Frenovara was present during the visit as part of a documentary on the life of the late Pa Gabriel Bayode Musa Aribido.
The full video interview with ACP John Abia Bassey—including his extended reflections on family, community, and the legacy of the deceased—is currently in post-production and will be published on Frenovara’s official YouTube channel.
Frenovara’s Note
This article is based on observations made during documentary filming in Kogi State. The Frenovara team extends its condolences to the Aribido family, the Ala of Ekinrinade, and ACP John Abia Bassey on the loss of their patriarch and family relation.
ACP John Abia Bassey of Akwa Ibom traveled to Kogi to mourn with the family of late Pa Gabriel Bayode Musa Aribido, whose son is the Ala of Ekinrinade.