*Ibori, Saraki, Omo-Agege, Ogboru, Edoja others pay tribute
*We called him talk-na-do—Senator – James Manager
President Muhammadu Buhari has joined other Nigerians to mourn Senator Felix Ibru, the first governor of Delta State, who died at the weekend.
In a condolence message on behalf of the Federal Government, Buhari extended his condolences to the Ibru family and the Urhobo nation.
Mr. Femi Adesina, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, said in a statement in Abuja Sunday that the President also condoled with the people of Delta State and Chief Ibru’s friends and associates.
He urged all who mourn Chief Ibru to take “solace in the awareness of his fulfilled life of great accomplishments.”
The statement said Buhari joined them in mourning Ibru, who made remarkable contributions to the progress and development of Nigeria during his long career as an architect, businessman, politician, community leader and philanthropist.
Chief James Ibori, former governor of Delta State, described the death of Olorogun Ibru as a great loss to the Urhobo nation, Delta State, Nigeria and the world at large.
In a statement by Tony Eluemunor, his Media Assistant, Ibori said Ibru was one of the few polyvalent achievers the world has ever seen.
He said Ibru stood out as an architect, educationist, businessman, politician, a Senator, Governor and President of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU).
Also, Senate President Bukola Saraki expressed sadness over Olorogun Ibru’s death.
Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity Yusuph Olaniyonu in Abuja, described Ibru’s death as painful and a great loss to the people of Delta State, Niger Delta region, the political class and the entire nation.
Others, who mourned him at the weekend were Senator James Manager, who served in the Ibru cabinet between 1992 and 1993; serving and former legislators from the state; Leo Ogor, the Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, among others.
Similarly, Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, Mr. Ovuozorie Macaulay, Olorogun Taleb Tebite, Chief Fred Majemite, Chief Denis Omovie, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori, Solomon Edoja, Mr. Sunny Onuesoke, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor and Mr. Steve Ovedje also paid tribute to the late Ibru.
Senator Manager said: “I was his boy and Commissioner for Social Development, Youth Sports and Culture. He was a great statesman, effective administrator, a man who brought a lot of dignity to governance.
“We used to call him talk-na-do. Whatever he said he would want to do. Delta under him would have gone far ahead of other states but for the coup of November 17, 1993. He is a man that we will greatly miss.”
Majority Leader of the Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Tim Owhefere, described the former governor as a “frontline politician, who nurtured the modern day Delta State into what it is today as our first governor.”
Solomon Awhinawhi, Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Defence, described the late Ibru as a father, saying: “He was always there for me and he would always call me Ikurusu, which was my late father’s name.
“He even volunteered to write his own tribute when he heard of my mother’s death because he was very close to my family, particularly my dad. But see what the cold hands of death have done to our first governor, who had played a vital role in my entire life.”
Ogor said: “We have lost a man of truth and a political gladiator. He was a bold man, filled with an uncommon courage not easily found in this clime. Deltans have lost a man of action laced with bravery.”
A member of the House Representatives representing Warri federal constituency, Mr. Daniel Reyenieju, described the late Ibru as a man with a stable political character saying, “the former governor was a consistent politician, who stuck to only one political party at every given time throughout his political career.”
A rare breed — Urhobo Social Club
Foremost Urhobo socio-cultural group, Urhobo Social Club, Lagos, was among the early callers at the Agbarah-Otor, Delta State, hometown of the Ibrus, to commiserate with them.
The delegation included the Club President, Chief Simeon Ohwofa; First Vice President, Chief Chris Umukoro; Second Vice President, Prince Austine Enajemo-Isire; Chairman, Board of Trustees, Chief Johnson Barovbe and Chairman, Think Thank Group, Chief Samson Okuesa.
It said: “Olorogun Ibru is a rare breed. He is in every way an enigma. His life and person is difficult to describe in one breath. As a career architect, his designs and structures are landmarks and monuments.
“As a businessman, he was a high-ranking member of the Ibru organisation. As a politician, he was reliable, notable, recognisable and respected. In his personal capacity, Olorogun Ibru was a good man.”
In his message, by Efe Duku, his senior legislative aide, Chief Great Ogboru said the late Ibru left worthy imprints in peoples’ hearts and history in private life, business and public service.
The Senator representing Delta Central senatorial district, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, said: “His exit is a major loss to Nigeria as a whole. He was a great leader. As a civilian governor, he constructed the foundations of a democratic Delta State.
“As a distinguished Senator, he was a bridge builder and quintessential advocate for good governance. He excelled in every public office. He was a major architect of the Ibru business empire that lifted our people from poverty.”
Former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Senator Aguariavwodo said: “He has been a governor, a Senator, President General of UPU, and a business mogul. He was like a father to me; my political mentor. He indeed served his people very well.”
Former Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Macaulay, said: “Olorogun Ibru was a father figure to many; a broad-hearted man. He laid the foundation and did the architectural work for the take off of the state.”
Olorogun Tebite said: “Felix Ibru is our political father, a man we respect in the politics of Delta and Urhobo. He died at the time we needed him most, but who are we to challenge God? He is the maker of all things.”
Chief Majemite said: “Olorogun Ibru was a great leader, quintessential statesman and an illustrious son of the Urhobo. Despite his towering status, he still came down to serve his people as UPU President-General.
“I recall him saying, ‘I have always stood by my people, eager to always serve them, even though there were times I have reservation on how I was not treated fairly’.
“It is on record that he had more bills to his credit than any other living or dead Urhobo Senator, and even had an award to that effect.”
Olorogun Omovie said: “He served the Urhobo nation, Delta and Nigeria with all sense of responsibility. As first Governor of Delta, he laid the foundation for the development of the state.”
Chief Oborevwori said: “His death shook the state like dynamite thrown into the river,” lamenting that “the death of Olorogun Ibru has created a big vacuum in the politics of Delta State.”
Mr. Sunny Onuesoke, who is a maternal cousin of the Ibrus, said: “He was a great man. His death is a big loss to the Urhobo nation and Delta State. He will be missed greatly by all of us in politics.”
Mr. Steve Ovedje said the late Olorogun Ibru was a political pathfinder: “an architect of Delta politics.”
Describing his death as a great loss to Urhobo, former member representing Ethiope East constituency in the National Assembly, Chief Edoja, said:
“He is a scion of the Ibru family, who sacrificed everything to ensure the creation of Delta State.
“Ibru laid the foundation for the little development recorded in the state and we shall miss his enduring legacy of tolerance and the message of the Big Heart of Love among Deltans, which is the epithet for Delta State.”
For Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, Ibru was a perfect gentleman, who never soiled his fingers with public funds during his stewardship as first executive governor of Delta State.
Emerhor, who spoke through his Director of Media and Political Communication, Dr. Fred Oghenesivbe, in a statement, said: “Ibru governed the state in a responsible manner and exhibited uncommon leadership qualities during his tenure.”
-Vanguard
