Former head of state, General Yakubu Gowon has paid tribute to the first elected governor of Delta State, Olorogun Felix Ovuodoroye Ibru, who died on March 12 this year aged 80. In a statement yesterday containing his tribute, General Gowon described late Felix Ibru as a very serious intelligent and business-minded person.

Gen. Yakubu Gowon

According to him, “It is not easy to forget the young architect that I met at the Army Headquarters in the early 1960s.  He exuded so much confidence and bubbled with nice ideas, including the idea of cheaper housing that he had come to sell to the Army.  After his presentation, I got to know him more because he struck me as an individual who would achieve great things in life.  Thus did I begin to pay close attention to the young man who grew to be known as Olorogun (Senator) Felix Ibru, the first elected Governor of Delta State.

“There is so much to say about this distinguished son of Nigeria and President General of the Urhobo Progress Union who lived a life that was worthy of emulation before he was called home at the age of 80.  At times like this, however, words are never adequate to convey the depth of feelings.

“I am not surprised that from the day of our first meeting, he remained true to himself and to his professional and political callings.  He was a very serious  intelligent and business-minded person, whose good human relations and communication abilities endeared him to me and to several other people. This was not a surprise, considering that he was an original stock of the highly talented Ibru Family.

“His large contribution to peace and the development of Nigeria was also not a surprise. Just as it was not a surprise that he was truly loved by his people. It is sad that he had to bow out at a time like this when, in spite of his age, he still had more to offer to his people and to Nigeria.

Meanwhile, funeral rites for the late Ibru will begin on Wednesday July 27 with an evening of  tributes at the Federal Palace Hotel and Casino, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos from 4.00p.m.

Service of songs will hold the following day Thursday, at Bishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, GRA, Ikeja, from 5.00p.m to 7.00p.m while on Friday, July 29 at 10.00a.m a commendation service will hold at the same church.