First civilian governor of Delta State, Olorogun Felix Ovuodoroye Ibru, is dead.
The one-time Senator, who represented Delta Central Senatorial District, died after a brief illness at 80
The Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU) on Saturday confirmed the death.
Mr Josiah Ntekume, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) interim committee of the union in a statement in Warri said news of the death of the former Governor of Delta came as a shock to the Urhobo people.
”The death of Olorogun Felix Ibru today came as a shock to the Urhobo nation.
” A heart has stopped beating. A good soul has ascended to heaven. We part with our beloved former President-General of UPU and first Executive Governor of Delta in pain,” he said.
Ntekume prayed God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the great loss.
Ibru, a former senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a business tycoon, was born on December 7, 1935 to the family of Chief Peter Ibru in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta.
As a traditional chieftain of his homeland, Felix Ibru bears the tribal honorific Olorogun.
He often uses it as a pre-nominal style the title is also borne by many of the members of his large family in the same way.
As a student in Nottingham, he was elected the first Black President of the British Council with responsibility for Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Leicestershire.
In 1997 he was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws (LL.D) by the Delta State University and a Fellowship of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).
His political activities began in 1983 when he contested for a seat in the Senate, which he late won in 2003 representing Delta Central Senatorial; District.
He ran for the governorship of Delta in 1991 and emerged as the first civilian governor of the newly created state in 1992.
The business icon was survived by six children and many grand children.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State commiserated with the Ibru family.
Okowa, in a condolence message by his Chief Press Secretary, Charles Aniagwu, described Ibru as a patriot and a political icon who led the state in her “embryonic stage.”
The governor said that Ibru would be missed by all whose lives he had touched in many ways in his “very fulfilled and achievements-laden life.”
“On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I mourn the exit of a legend, political titan and first civilian governor of Delta, Olorogun Senator Felix Ovuodoroye Ibru.
“Senator Ibru’s life-long dedication and indefatigable commitment to serving the people of the state will be missed.
“His service to the Urhobos worldwide that he served as Senator and as President of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), will be missed,” Okowa said.
Okowa said the late Ibru was a renowned politician, businessman and a highly revered octogenarian.
He said that Ibru was among the very special people who made significant and indelible contributions to the country and humanity.
The governor joined the Ibru’s family, friends, associates, and fans across the world in mourning the ex-governor, assuring the family that the former governor would always be celebrated.
“He will be honoured by his proud countrymen and women for his unblemished service and exemplary career which had inspired others to take up a life of selfless service to humanity.”
The immediate past governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, described the death as sad while thanking God that Ibru lived an unblemished, rewarding life worth emulating.
Uduaghan, reacting to the announcement of the death, said: “Though it is saddening to lose a patriot like Chief Ibru, we are comforted by the fact that he set the stage for the new Delta as the first civilian governor of the state. Even though his regime was truncated, he was an unrepentant patriot who as Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria worked tirelessly to ensure that the unity of the country was non-negotiable.
“I recall with nostalgia, his role and fatherly interventions in our peace agenda as President General of the Urhobo Progressive Union where he brought to bear his characteristic humility.
“Though a sad loss, we are comforted that he left a legacy that would stand the test of time. He will be remembered for his principled and irrepressible position on issues of national importance. I commiserate with the Ibru Family, especially the patriarch, Olorogun Michael Ibru, and pray the Almighty God will give them the fortitude to bear this great loss.”
