■ Okowa, Delta Speaker, senator, others mourn
From Paul Osuyi (Asaba) and Emmanuel Ogoigbe (Warri)
THE death of the first Executive Governor of Delta State, Olorogun Felix Ovuodoroye Ibru, who died yesterday, has been described as very painful and a great loss to Delta State and Nigeria.
Ibru died yesterday at the age of 80 years, at a Lagos hospital after battling an undisclosed ailment for five years.
Delta State governor, Dr. Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Charles Ehiedu Aniagwu, described the late Senator Ibru as a patriot and political icon who led the state in her embryonic stage.
He said would be missed by all whose lives he touched in many diverse ways in his very fulfilled life that was laden with achievements, noting that he was “a renowned politician, businessman and a highly revered octogenarian and among the very special people who made very significant and indelible contributions to their countries and humanity.”
Okowa joined his family, friends, associates, and fans across the world in mourning the exit of a legend and in giving thanks to God Almighty for his glorious life of service to Delta State, Nigeria and mankind at large.
“Senator Ibru’s life-long dedication and indefatigable commitment to serving the people of Delta State as well as the Urhobos worldwide where he served them meritoriously as Senator and as President of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) will be surely missed, Okowa said.
The governor assured the Ibru family that the former governor would always be celebrated and honoured by his proud countrymen, women and children for his unblemished service and exemplary career, which had inspired others to take up a life of selfless service to humanity.
Scores of the friends and associates of the late Ibru in Ughelli metropolis and his country home in Agbarho- Otor received news of his demise with great shock even as they wore mournful look.
A close family source said the former governor, who was born on December 7, 1935 at Agbarha-Otor in the Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State to Chief Peter Epete Ibru and Chief (Mrs). Janet Omotogor Ibru, died at about 1pm. He is survived by 6 children and many grand children.
The political career of Olorogun Felix, one of the four famous Ibru brothers started in 1983 when he contested for a senate seat and in 1991 he was elected as the first executive Governor of then new Delta State and was sworn-in on January 2, 1992.
His tenure was short-lived as he was removed on November 17, 1993, after General Sani Abacha swept aside the Interim National Government headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan, which was put in place following the annulment of the June 12 election.
Ibru also represented the Delta Central Senatorial District at the Senate between 2003 and 2007 and later led the Urhobo nation as the President General of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU).
Reacting to the death, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Monday Igbuya described the death of the octogenarian as painful.
The Speaker, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Henry Ebireri lauded Ibru’s great concern for the unity of Nigeria, the growth of democracy and development of Delta State.
“Olorogun Felix Ibru as a governor, senator, international businessman, philanthropist and politician gained the respect, trust and love of the entire country and he will be greatly missed,” he said.
Igbuya prayed Almighty God to grant the soul of the late politician eternal rest and grant members of the family the strength to bear the loss.
Reacting to the death of the former governor, the senator representing Delta Central in the National Assembly, Mr Ovie Omo-Agege, a legal practitioner, said he received the news of the death of late Olorogun Felix Ibru with a sense of great loss.
According to him, Ibru was a great son of Urhobo, who served the people meritoriously as President General of Urhobo Progress Union and senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“His demise is a great loss to the Urhobo nation, Delta State and Nigeria at large. He died when Urhobo needed men of his caliber to re-position the Urhobo nation in the politics of Delta State and Nigeria,” he said, adding that he would be greatly missed.
When Sunday Sun visited his personal residence at Ughelli and family house at Agbarho-Otor, a lot of sympathizers were in mournful mood even as some of them could not control their emotion as they wept profusely.