Prince Ismaila (Ishmael) Braimah Ikharo

Remembrances

• Remembering a Prince
• For My Father: An Icon by Tahirah Ikharo
• The Legacy of Prince Ismalia Braimah Ikharo

Videos

2017 Birthday Celebration

Condolences & Tributes

“So sad to hear of the demise of uncle Delta. May his soul rest in peace.”
-Fati Efue

“A man who came and saw and conquered. A man’s man. Born great and lived great.”
-Husman

“May his soul rest in peace.”
–Dauda Zibril

“Sincere condolences to you over brother Ismail. He was always a giving person.”
-T. Bramah

“O Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him and give him strength and pardon him. Be generous to him and cause his entrance to be wide and wash him with water and snow and hail. Cleanse him of his transgressions as white cloth is cleansed of stains. Give him an abode better than his home, and a family better than his family and a wife better than his wife. Take him into Paradise and protect him from the punishment of the grave.

My heart is broken and no words can express the love I feel or how broken I am. It is with the deepest regret I write this tribute to my beloved brother Prince Ismaila (Ishmael) Braimah Ikharo (a.k.a. Delta). He was a man full of energy, mystic, positive spirit and most importantly a very goal orientated person that sees good in everyone. He was totally an embodiment of a family person. He was also a truly quintessential representative of what Royalty is all about as a true blue-blooded Royal Prince on both of his parents’ side of the isles with extra ordinary qualities. He had many options in life and he drew up his as a family focused based plan and followed it religiously throughout the days of his sojourn on this earth. He had no equals amongst his peers and totally a distinct Prince who was always willing to give a helping hand to others at the expense of his own needs. My early memory of this an enigma of a brother was dated back to 1965 when he will occasionally come around and play with me when I was in solitude and when no one else in the family would even acknowledge my existence. He was the first and only person to ever pass hands down to me in 1966 and I treasured that white shirt that goes down to my kneels. He will go on to build on this act of caring for me until his passing.

He was a visionary man before his time and a true trend setter which made him a true patriarch of the Ikharo family by default. He was the first Ikharo to earn both a bachelors and master’s degrees. It is worth noting that Ikharo Family had no university graduate prior to him, but he changed all of that. His act of benevolence and magnanimity transcended the Ikharo Royal family and beyond when in the 1980s he embarked on mobilizing Ikharos youth and some of his personal friends from Auchi to the United States of America to peruse the golden fleece to which I am one of the beneficiaries. His act of kindness greatly impacted my life in a very profound way more than I can admit. This singular act of kindness and his personal sacrifice is unparalleled in the history of Auchi and this make us the envy of others. With his investment in human capacity development, the Ikharo Royal family without any university graduate then can today boast of a multitude of sons and daughters with advanced degrees in many disciplines within Nigeria and across the globe all because of the vision of our illustrious brother, father, uncle and above all the rock of our family. God had used him as an instrument of change and a blessing to all humanity. He gave out scholarships to at least 8 Auchi sons and daughters in 1997. To him, I personally owe a debt of gratitude for ever and ever.

He led by personal example. I had countless conversations with him over the years and he remained very modest about his accomplishments. He was always lamenting on the rate of progress in the family and consequently, he was constantly looking for other projects to embark on for the family. I always reminded him to retire from his act of benevolence and to count on many blessings that God had used him to bring to the family. I had told him time and time again to look at where the family was in the 1970s as compared to where we are in 2020s in which the difference is like night and day. Again, I said that we are in a marathon relay race where one has to run his portion perfectly well and pass the baton at some point and let other members of the relay team carry on the race. I explicitly told him to start to direct us to take up family projects, as field general rather than he personally taking them on and he will often smile and reply that I was doing well and to keep it up. It was only this past July that he passed one of such request from a youngster in the family requesting for university sponsorship and I gladly accepted this assignment with grace and thanks.

As testament to his uniqueness, he sent me a selfie from his hospital bed with a message of someone requesting for assistance from him. What caught my attention was his selfie and I immediately called to check on him. He put forth a bold face and asked me not to not worry about him but to address the request of a financial assistance from the youngster which I obliged. His last text to me on Dec. 5, 2020 was” Thank you my dear. I am home now. Thank God.” Which seems as good bye and thereafter his health took U-turn after this message. I was not able to talk to him directly but to his amiable wife Madam Eve who stood by his side like the Rock of Gibraltar until his demise.

Over the years, I have grown to appreciate him making personal sacrifice to make people around him better and great. He did not live for himself rather he lived for uplifting the Ikharo Royal Family and anyone else who was fortunate enough to come across to him as needy. I cannot stop reflecting on the many moral and civic lessons he taught me over service to family and humanity. I learned from him that education is the best legacy that you can bequeath to anyone and it is very empowering, liberating and he would often say to me it was not about him. When you succeed, find time to light your family’s fire, so that if your own fire goes out, they can also return the favor and light your fire back. There’s a risk of darkness if you’re the only light in your family. Let us individually, collectively find a way to light more fires in our family as a legacy, honor and tribute to our amiable brother, father, uncle, trend setter, counselor and mentor so that his effort would not be in vain. He was a true champion and Allah needed His Champion in Heavens hence he transitioned to Heaven.

I will be remiss, if I did not honor his dutiful lovely wife Hauwa Eve Ahmed Ikharo (a.k.a. Madam). I have never seen or had a sister in-law that shows unwavering love and support to her husband and his family unconditionally. She welcomed all of us and other individuals who were not family related into her home and graciously took care of them without ever complaining and to her, I say thank you and God Bless. To the children left behind: Princes Taslim, Tariq, Taulib and Princesses Tahirah and Tareah who thought your father was yours – Surely, Allah takes what is His, and what He gives is His, and to all things He has appointed a time…so have patience and be rewarded. Adieus, my Big Brother.”
-Momoh-Jimoh Ikharo

“May his soul rest in peace. He was a great man who, one way or another, touched the lives of many people in the United States and not just the Auchi community. He will be greatly missed by all. May all his sins be forgiven as he is now in the hands of the Lord forever.”
-William Michael-Adikhai

“Rest in peace. My condolences”
-Ayuba Garuba

“Chief Ismael was a great guy who was always there for everyone. He was very unassuming and down to earth. I recall how he assisted me in securing my first job in America in 1990, just a week after my arrival. He personally drove me to about 4 security companies to fill out job applications. That’s not all that he did to ensure that I was hired.”
-Constance Umoru Igiekhume

“May Almighty Allah forgive all his shortcoming and grant him Alijanat Firdaus. We pray that Almighty Allah comfort family and friends during this challenging period.”
-Omomo Abiri

“May his gentle soul rest in peace. He was a great man and he was very helpful to so many of us. May Allah grant him Alijanat and comfort his family.”
-Rianetu Imoekor

“Inna illahi wa inna illayhi rajun. Chief was truly a legend May Almighty Allah grant him Alijanat Firdaus. Chief will truly be missed.”
-Bryan Lecky

“Uncle was such a wonderful man. So supportive, caring, and always there to provide sound advice. May Allah forgive all his sins and grant him a safe entry into heaven. may Almighty Allah watch over the family that he left behind and grant them the strength to be able to move forward on his behalf. Ya Amin Allah.”
-Tala

“May Allah forgive him, have mercy on him, pardon him, and give him strength. May Allah be generous to him and cause his entrance to be widely open, and clean him from his transgressions as a white garment is cleaned of stains. May Allah give him an abode better than he has known, protect his body, increase his reward, take him into paradise, and save him from the trail of the grave and from the punishment of hellfire. Ya Amin Allah. “
-Maryam

“May the soul of our departed leader, father, uncle, and brother rest in perfect peace.”
-Douglas Umoru

“May Allah grant him peace. A great man indeed.”
-Inua Momodu

“My heartfelt condolences to the Ikharo family. Uncle was a man of few words and a great friend to my father. I have no words to qualify who he was to me. All I have to say now is may Allah grant him peace.”
-Hanson Oshiobughie

“‘Indeed we belong and indeed we will return to him.’ May Almighty Allah grant our uncle with Aljannah Firdaus. Amin. Words alone cannot quantify what our mighty legend has done for my family. He will be greatly missed.”
-Sadia

“Our dearly beloved uncle, father, grandfather, and brother, Chief Ishmael Braimah Ikharo a.k.a. Delta the Seriki of Samali of Auchi was a man sent by God Almighty to bestride this world like a colossus. He lived his life service to mankind and to the empowerment of humanity. You couldn’t have encountered this icon without feeling his positive impact and compassion flowing from him to all and sundry. He derived joy from helping people progress. He was a completely detribalized Nigerian who had friends from all walks of life. He always used to tell me that helping and assisting others in every way you would was the true essence of life and creation. He positively impacted the lives of the young, the middle aged, and the old. He changed the narrative of the Ikharo royal dynasty and many others too numerous to mention.

He was a man that was clearly ahead of his time. He was a true legend and his legacy shall continue to live with those who he left behind. I am proud to be directly associated with this great man. (He was my late mother’s direct and last sibling.) He truly came, saw, and conquered. Adieu to our great uncle and scion of the Ikharo royal dynasty of Auchi. (His grandfather Abubakar Ikharo was the Otaru of Auchi from 1905 to 1919 and his father, Braimah Kaisaraki, was the then Daudu of Utsogun quarters in Auchi. His mother, Meremu Ikharo, was a direct daughter of the illustrious King Afegbua of Okpella in Etsako East local government in Edo state. He was truly blue-blooded and royalty par excellence. May his gentle soul continue to rest in Aljanah Firdaus and may Allah SWT forgive his shortcomings and comfort his family, friends, and well wishers.”
-Abubakar Haruna

“There are masquerades and there are Ijeles. When an Ijele enters the stage, the masquerades disappear. Chief Ismail Braimah Ikharo Ikelebe was an Ijele. His carriage and actions were that of an Ijele. He meant what he said and said what he meant. Some he pulled to success and others he pushed. He preached personal sacrifice and sacrificed himself. Success was his matter, now you achieve it is your matter. The brightest [light] that shone in the path of many. A trailblazer. The curtains have closed and the stage is quiet. The Ijele has taken his bow. As he goes home, heaven’s lights forever shin his path and earthly shadows fly away. Adieu, my uncle. Adieu, my high prince.”
-Nasiru Ikharo

“Some people are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust on them. Chief, in his own way, was born great. From day one, he has always been open to all, willing to help in any circumstance. He burned he candle at both ends in solving people’s problems. His front doors were open 24/7 to people from all walks of life. He cut across all ethnicities. Chief was a man who never shied away from problems. Always thinking ahead and solving the next problem if the first attempt fails. He was a life transformer. He transformed so many lives that came his way. The following qualities describe who he was: a risk bearer who would always take the bull by the horns, a counselor, a brave man, and above all a lover of peace. Though you are gone, we are still a team. God will be with you till we meet again.”
-Akimu Ahmed

“What a loss! A man whose door was truly opened 24/7. His was opened to us in the early 80s. He was a helper and a listener. I called him the Mayor of Oakland. A truly great man that was a pillar to anyone that came to him! And that smile is unforgettable! He has pulled and pushed so many! My condolences go out to the family! The heavens have gained a great soul and we will ponder his good deeds and how selflessly he helped those in need. You will forever be remembered! Almighty God give your family the fortitude to bear this great loss! May your great soul rest in paradise! Amen.”
-Philomena Agbontaen

“Allah SWT made him one of the best of this world. We pray He grants him the best of the hereafter. Amen.”
-Kano Ikharo

“The demise of our chief is tragic and unfortunate. My sympathy goes to the family and the Auchi community. Anyone who knew him knows about his willingness to assist people. May God grant him peace.”
-Li

“May Allah forgive our uncle his errors and grant him peace for his selfless service. He was a man whose impact cut across immeasurable boundaries. His efforts to make whoever comes across his way have a better life, which by extension was like a chain reaction that indirectly changed lives and put a smile in the faces of relatives, friends of his benefactors. May Allah count him among the group of people that He promised paradise who not only feed the poor but help them get out of poverty. What can benefit him now are his good deeds while on earth. Let’s continue to have him in our prayers.”
-Inusa J.

“Truly a legend. May the Almighty God grant him eternal rest.”
Paul Obaze

“This is the passing of a true legend. Let us come together and celebrate the his life and everything he represented. May Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala place him in the best of all Jana and give his family the will to endure this very difficult time.”
-Zak

“A true pillar and a legend in our family. My dearest uncles it’s so sad to see you go. They do not build me like you anymore. A true originator not a duplicator. May his legacy never be forgotten. May his soul rest in eternal peace. We will continue to celebrate your life with joy and remembrance of the great deeds you did in our community and Auchi kingdom. You will never be forgotten. My deepest condolences to the Ikharo family.”
-Hassan Lecky

“May Allah accept our prayers for Delta Ishmael Braimah Ikharo.”
-Abdul-Kareem Okeye Ikharo