By Olasunkanmi Akoni
LAGOS — As Nigerians continue to pour encomiums on late Mr. Alex Ibru, Publisher of The Guardian Newspapers and a former Minister of Internal Affairs, Lagos State chapter of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, said yesterday that with his death, Nigeria has lost a principled gentleman who made his utmost contribution to the progress of the country.

Similarly, Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, described the sudden death as “highly unfortunate, and irreparable.”

Publicity Secretary of ACN, Lagos State, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, in a tribute described Ibru as a quintessential, honest Nigerian who remained strong on the paths of principles and integrity, even when he was demanded to compromise great virtues for selfish interests.

ACN prayed that God will grant the deceased an eternal rest and that his labour in upholding truth and justice in Nigeria should not be in vain.

The party said: “We are saddened by news of his death, which brought back memories of his persecution in the hands of the government he served for the simple reason that he did not compromise his integrity and that of his paper.

“While we commiserate with the immediate family, his friends, associates and indeed, The Guardian newspapers, we pray God to grant him eternal repose. We pray that the solid impressions he made on the Nigerian state, especially on principle, honesty and integrity will bear great fruits in the years ahead.”

Reacting to the death of Ibru, the speaker said he was one great Nigerian patriot who devoted his wealth of experience and personal wealth to leave Nigeria better than he met it.

According to the speaker, the death of the Guardian publisher, Mr. Alex Ibru at 66 is rather sad and very unfortunate.

He said: “ As a highly successful business mogul, who pumped huge resources of his into the establishment of one of Africa’s most credible group of newspapers from 1983, to date, there is no doubt that the Guardian newspapers’ Publisher will long be remembered as one great Nigerian, who left Nigeria, as far as the media development goes, far better than he merit.

“Before he ventured into newspaper publishing in 1983, what was largely available here was mostly government owned media, seen as not – too – critical of government actions.  The coming of the Guardian news papers however changed that perception and brought an intellectual bent to the practice of journalism in Nigeria.”

Commiserating with the Ibru family and Guardian press, the speaker stated that the entire members of Lagos State House of Assembly were with them in their moment of their grief.

“It is our prayer that the Almighty God would grant members of the illustrious Ibru family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.  May his gentle and very patriotic soul rest in perfect peace,” he said.