By Charles Kumolu

Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has described the late Olorogun Felix Ibru as the architect of modern Delta State, saying that as the first civilian governor of the state, he did a lot of work to lay the foundation for its growth.

Okowa stated this, yesterday, in Lagos when he paid a condolence visit to the Ibrus at the family’s residence.

He described the late Ibru as a man of great accomplishment, humble and caring and loved by his people.

His words: “Our late elder statesman was a man of great achievement. He did not stop as a governor. He represented his people as a senator of the Federal Republic and went on to lead the Urhobo Progress Union as its President-General. That tells you that he was a great achiever.

“He did so much to lay the foundation for our young state then. I recall that I was a Local Government Chairman when our late elder statesman was the governor of the state. My predecessors in office tapped from his wealth of experience, but now he is gone. So I can say that I feel the loss most.”

Okowa announced that a committee would be set up by the state government to liaise with the Ibru family in planning the burial arrangement  of the late former governor.

Earlier, Governor Okowa, while signing the condolence register, wrote: “We lost a great leader and a statesman. A great community leader, distinguished Senator and father of our young state. Adieu, our great leader,”