Nigerians Should Emulate Ibru’s Selfless Service, Says Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President Bukola Saraki, and his representative, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, and previous Senate President David Mark yesterday stretched out sympathies to the group of Olorogun Michael Ibru, who passed away on Tuesday, matured 85.

The sympathies poured in pretty much as one of his children, Obaro, identified with THISDAY the business goliath's last minutes, saying he passed on gently in his rest. He said his dad was their stone, including that he was a kind and liberal man.

An announcement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, said the president‎ likewise sympathized with the legislature and individuals of Delta State and the Urhobo kingdom specifically on the entry of their famous child and patriarch of the Ibru family.

The president said he went along with them in grieving "a proficient businessperson whose enlightening part in the corporate world and private segment in Nigeria would keep on inspiring eras to come".

Buhari said he trusted that Ibru would be for some time associated with his diligent work and devotion to business enterprise, which opened entryways of chances to numerous Nigerians and partners who interacted with his interests in the saving money, flight, tourism and the assembling segments.

The president encouraged individuals from his family and all who grieved Olorogun Ibru to respect his memory by always maintaining the estimations of magnanimous administration, between ethnic concordance, information and steadiness which he enthusiastically advanced through his effective vocation in the private division.

In his sympathy message to the Ibru family, Saraki said the country had lost a goliath and pioneer.

As indicated by an announcement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki said Ibru hugely affected humankind through his colossal commitments to the private division.

"Olorogun Ibru, as he was affectionately called, was a pioneer of awesome notoriety who contributed hugely in digging in private enterprise and business improvement in Nigeria," he said, including: "Basically, he was a pioneer in the craft of running fruitful business and changing neighborhood worries into worldwide brands."

The president of the Senate said Ibru began little, developed extraordinary and turned into an undisputed reference point in the country's business atmosphere and past. "I can say that he is one of the marvelous identities in our time who effectively deified themselves before saying farewell to this plane of presence. His preferences are uncommon. He might be distressfully missed," he said.

Ekweremadu in an announcement by his Special Adviser, Media, Mr. Uche Anichukwu, said he joined other good natured Nigerians to grieve the section of Ibru, portraying him as a praiseworthy statesman who paid his levy in country building.

"We have lost a symbol. This is a dismal occasion, not just for the Ibru family, which I hold dear, additionally for the whole country and Africa," he expressed, lauding Ibru as an exemplification of determination, industry, altruism and modesty who spearheaded numerous organizations, as well as assembled incalculable lives and touched groups in numerous positive ways.

"He should be deified by the country," Ekweremadu said.

The previous Senate president, Mark, said the spot of Ibru couldn't be neglected in the socio-political and monetary advancement of Nigeria as he depicted him as a man of uprightness and honor.

He said: "I grieve the demise of Ibru with a profound feeling of misfortune. I know the spot of Ibru in socio-political and financial development of Nigeria. He was a first industrialist who opened the conduit of business and universal exchange Nigeria."

Mark said Ibru separated himself as a man of uprightness, genuineness and extremely creative business person, including that he was a pioneer industrialist who extended his goodwill and altruism to the general public.

"Unarguably, Ibru left his positive impressions on the sand of time. We should miss this awesome man. We should miss his sagacity, enterprise and genius. He was an awesome Nigerian who increased the value of the general public," he said.

A previous legislative head of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, joined the grieving party yesterday, depicting Ibru as a quintessential industrialist who was comparatively radical; a man who had confidence in the respect of work and a statesman never to be overlooked.

In an announcement in Warri,‎ Delta State, the previous senator expressed that the patriarch of the Ibru family was father of the old Bendel State, taking note of that around 33% of the workforce in the private area, owed their survival and salary to him at the pinnacle of his modern ability.

"In spite of his boundless riches, Olorogun Michael Ibru never meddled with government or looked to force his will on others. To me, he was a quintessential statesman and father deserving of copying. His numerous legacies would keep on being loved by all," he said.

Ibru's chest companion and previous Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark, bemoaned the destruction of Olorogun Ibru, saying the nation had lost a first and one of the finest industrialists.

Clark, who addressed THISDAY on telephone, portrayed the advancement as an awesome stun and pitiful crossroads in the country's history.

"My family and the Ibru's family are close. Indeed his (Michael) mother and my mom are first cousins. Plus, they were close partners both in business and social life," he said.

He said the perished was an awesome Urhobo supplied with astuteness and lowliness, who put stock in one Nigeria.

While appealing to God to reassure his family and wish him unceasing rest, the Ijaw national pioneer however ordered Nigerians to imitate the caring and excellent life the perished drove in his life time.

A previous Minister of Police Affairs, Chief Broderick Bozimo, who likewise poured encomiums on the withdrew business investor, said with the passing of Ibru, Nigeria most likely had lost one of her awesome, fruitful and energetic national.

He approached the Ibru family and close partners to acknowledge the unsalvageable misfortune, including: "We ought to take comfort for the great excellent life drove by the business Icon."

The Delta State All Progressives Congress (APC) Woman Leader, Dr. Janet Oyubu, in an announcement lamented the downfall of Ibru, whom she portrayed as an incredible mainstay of the Ibru family, Delta State and to be sure Nigeria overall.

"No one can address God Almighty for taking the cherished child, since he is the maker of paradise and earth furthermore the proprietor of our spirit," she said.

A few other conspicuous Delta natives, including Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Olorogun Otega Emerhor, Chief Frank Kokori and Hon. Evance Ivwurie had calming words for the family yesterday, depicting the passing of their patriarch as an awesome misfortune to the nation.

The representative speaking to Delta Central, Omo-Agege, said the way out of Ibru was a noteworthy misfortune to Nigeria.

As indicated by him, "Olorogun Michael was a scaffold developer and quintessential supporter for good administration. He exceeded expectations in each feature of life. He was the real engineer of the Ibru business realm that lifted our kin from destitution."

Emerhor, a chieftain of APC and its Delta State governorship competitor in the 2015 decision, depicted the demise Ibru as a crucial misfortune to the Urhobo country, Delta State, Nigeria and the worldwide business group.

"Olorogun Michael Ibru was a pioneer whose phenomenal business discernment and administration inventiveness made a standout amongst the best and persevering business realms in Nigeria, which till date, remains a worldwide brand," he said

Kokori, another pioneer of Delta State APC and previous Chairman of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), depicted Ibru as a business magnate who enlivened numerous Nigerians.

"Michael Ibru was a motivation to each forthcoming agent in Delta State specifically and Nigeria overall. He resembled Dangote. He was the leader of the Ibru family and you can perceive how he prepared all his relatives to be unassuming. For somebody with such a great amount of riches to be as modest as Ibru demonstrates to you the sort of individual he is. The more youthful era ought to gain from his modesty," he said.

Ivwurie, the part speaking to Ethiope East State Constituency, Delta State House of Assembly, said he was disheartened over the news of the death of Ibru.

"I wish to pass on my own ardent sensitivities to the Ibru administration, while the general population and the body electorate of Ethiope East go along with me in communicating our true sympathies to the general population of Agbarha Otor in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State and the general population of the Urhobo country at this heartbreaking minute," he expressed in a sympathy message to the Ibru family.

Son: He Died in his Sleep

THISDAY wednesday gathered that Ibru died peacefully in his sleep.
In an interview at the Ikoyi family residence in Lagos, the deceased’s son, Obaro Ibru, said his last moments were nothing out of the ordinary as he performed the same rituals he did every day before he passed on.

He said: “My dad said his prayers before he slept as he had always done. My sister who had stood behind him in the past seven years was with him.
“His last moments were peaceful and he passed on in his sleep. He went peacefully and graciously.”

While describing the deceased as a humble man, Ibru said he was a rock and a unifier who brought out the best out of people.

He said: “He was very selfless. He was a fisherman. He was a pioneer in many industries including servicing, telecoms, farming, finance and his impact was felt all round.”
While stressing that their mum is strong, he added: “Our dad created many industries from the scratch that stood the test of time.

“I feel great that I could share his wealth of love with others, even those adopted. I am honoured to be one of his sons.
“He adopted many children including Majesty (pointing at a little boy who was playing around) who lives with us.

“He provided free education scholarship for students under the Michael and Cecilia Foundation, which carters for primary, secondary and university education at our village in Agbarha-Otor, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.”

On preparations for his burial, he said the family was yet to fix a date.

Source: Thisday