•Buhari, Clark, Saraki, Mark, Ekweremadu, others mourn
•The vacuum is difficult to fill — Clark
•Darkness has fallen on the business community — Mark

By Henry Umoru, Peter Egwuatu, Festus Ahon, Joseph Erunke, Levinus Nwabughiogu &  Perez Brisibe

MORE tributes, yesterday, poured in for the late patriarch of the Ibru family and chairman of the Ibru Organization, Olorogun Michael Christopher Onajirhevbe Ibru, with a cross section of eminent Nigerians describing him as a patriot, bridge builder and trailblazer, whose death has left a vacuum that will be difficult to fill.

We’ve lost a great entrepreneur – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari, while extending his condolences to the family of Olorogun Michael Ibru, said the late business guru would be long remembered for his hard work, entrepreneurial efforts and dedication.

A statement by his Spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, read:  “President Buhari equally commiserates with the Government and people of Delta State and the Urhobos in particular on the passage of their illustrious son and patriarch of the Ibru family.

“The President joins them in mourning an accomplished businessman whose edifying role in the corporate world and private sector in Nigeria would continue to inspire generations to come. President Buhari believes that Michael Ibru will be long remembered for his hard work and dedication to entrepreneurship, which opened doors of opportunities to many Nigerians and associates who came in contact with his investments in the banking, aviation, tourism and manufacturing sectors.

“The President urges members of his family and all who mourn Olorogun Ibru to honour his memory by constantly upholding the values of selfless-service, inter-ethnic harmony, knowledge and perseverance, which he passionately promoted through his successful career in the private sector.

Former, Federal Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Clark, said his death is a great loss to the people of Urhobo, Delta state and Nigeria in general.

Olorogun Michael Ibru

Describing the late Michael Ibru as a modest, strong and accomplished businessman, Chief Clark stressed that it would be difficult to fill the vacuum he has left behind. “He was a philanthropist, a great property developer, oil and gas industrialist and a brilliant man of many parts. He brought fishery into Nigeria and fishery was synonymous with Michael Ibru and if that was still on, the issue of people not having food to eat will not occur.”

Chief Clark who spoke with Vanguard noted that the late Ibru was dragged in to contest for governorship position in the defunct Bendel State and was later a member of the Constituent Assembly, adding, “ there was a time he was the greatest business man. He was the head of the Ibru dynasty, senior brother to Felix, Alex and Goodie. By his death, Urhobos, Deltans and Nigerians have indeed lost an illustrious son. It will be difficult to fill the vacuum.”

He was a trailblazer who immortalised himself—Saraki

Senate  President Bukola Saraki described  Olorogun Michael Ibru as a trailblazer.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, the Senate President  said the late Ibru was a colossus and trailblazer, who impacted on humanity tremendously and positively.

Said Saraki: “Olorogun Ibru, as he was fondly called, was a pioneer of great repute, who contributed immensely in entrenching private entrepreneurship and business development in Nigeria. Simply put, he was a trailblazer in the art of running successful business and transforming local concerns into internal brands. He started small, grew great and became an undisputed reference point in the nation’s business firmament and beyond.”

“He was a businessman, philanthropist, educationalist and community leader whose unassuming and humble lifestyle often belied his immense achievement, great wisdom and uncommon managerial acumen. He practically transformed Agbarha-Otor, his home town with several development projects.

Darkness has fallen on the business community—Mark

Former Senate President David Mark, in a statement by his Media Assistant, Paul Mumeh, lamented that late Ibru departed to the great beyond at a time when his managerial and administrative skills were needed to navigate through the current economic and socio- political challenges facing the nation.

He said with the death of Michael Ibru, darkness has fallen on the business community and the demise of one of the nation’s pioneer indigenous business moguls is a huge loss to the nation because the late Ibru matriarch also lived an exemplary life worthy of emulation.

Senator Mark urged the government of Delta state to immortalize Ibru for his immeasurable contributions to the development of the society.

Senator Mark said: “ I mourn the death of Ibru with a deep sense of loss. I know the place of Ibru in socio- political and economic evolution of Nigeria. He was a foremost industrialist, who opened the floodgate of commerce and international trade in Nigeria.

“Ibru distinguished himself as a man of integrity, honesty and very resourceful entrepreneur . He was a pioneer industrialist who extended his good will and philanthropy for the benefit of the society.

We have lost an icon— Ekweremadu

Also mourning the late Ibru, Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu who described his death as a big loss to the entire nation and Africa, said that with his death, an icon has gone.

Ekweremadu, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Uche Anichukwu, said that Michael Ibru  was an exemplary statesman, who paid his dues in nation-building and should be  immortalised.

His words: “We have lost an icon. This is a sad event, not only for the Ibru family, which I hold dear, but also for the entire nation and Africa. The late business magnate was an epitome of determination, industry, philanthropy, and humility. He not only pioneered many businesses, he equally built countless lives and touched communities in many positive ways. He deserves to be immortalised by the nation.

He has paid his dues—Okezie, Taiwo

To the Chairman, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, PSAN, Mr. Boniface Okezie:

“Chief Michael Ibru was a business icon, who cannot be forgotten in Nigeria. He has paid his dues for this country with his numerous businesses especially in Lagos. He deserves a national honour from the federal government. He has contributed immensely to the development of the Nigerian capital market. The business community, no doubt, will miss the great philanthropist.’’

Also, Mr. Oderinde Taiwo, Chairman, Proactive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, PROSAN, said: “Ibru was one of the foremost business men in Nigeria, a guru in the business community. His life history was that of business development. He contributed his own quota towards the development of the capital market and Nigeria in general. The younger generation will miss him and they should emulate him for his active role in empowering people through job creation.  He was a lover of the nation and lived a life worth of emulation.’’

A great iroko has fallen —Tebite

While describing the death of Olorogun Michael Ibru as unfortunate and painful, Olorogun Taleb Tebite said: “This news of the death of Olorogun Michael Ibru came to me as rude shock. Is very painful that he died at this critical time when our country is facing economic recession.

“A great iroko has fallen again in the Urhobo nation. Olorogun Michael Ibru, as a fish magnet and business guru, brought a lot of industries to Urhobo land, which created jobs for our youths; he made so many people.”

He was an enigma — Majemite, Oborevbori, Edojah

Chief Fred Majemite said: “Olorogun Michael Ibru was an enigma, a legend and the best of a family man. He came, he saw and conquered.

“He was a colossus who bestrode the length and breath of our nation in all its ramifications – be it business, education, health or housing. He was a master of all and he will be remembered for his foray into fish business and brewery.”

To Chief Sheriff Oborevbori, “Olorogun Michael Ibru’s death is a colossal loss to Delta State, Urhobo Nation and Nigeria as a whole. I have lost a great constituent; a man that created jobs for many youths right from the 70s till date. I pray God to grant the family, Urhobo Nation, Delta State the fortitude to bear this great loss.”

Hon. Solomon Edojah, a former member of the House of Representatives, described the late Michael Ibru as an hero to the Urhobo nation.

“During the creation of Delta State, he coordinated everything from his Ikoyi residence and was always at the assistance of the Urhobo people whenever they run to him. In his days, the Urhobo Nation was in the driving seat of the Nigeria economy. A selfless person and an hero to the Urhobo nation, he would be missed dearly.”

He was a bridge builder —Omo-Agege, Emerhor, Egbo,  Onuesoke

Senator Ovie Omo-Agege in his reaction said; “the exit of Olorogun Michael Christopher Onajirhevbe Ibru (OFR) is a major loss for Nigeria as a whole. He was a great leader. A business mogul, who contributed to the economic growth of Nigeria.

“Olorogun Micheal was a bridge builder and quintessential advocate for good governance. He excelled in every facet of life. He was the major architect of the Ibru business empire that lifted our people from poverty. He gave himself completely in the service of our people. Without a doubt, we have lost a giant”.

On his part, Olorogun O’Tega Emerhor said: “The demise of Olorogun Michael Ibru, the patriarch of the great Ibru family and business empire, the Otota of Agbarha Otor Kingdom is an irreplaceable loss, to the Urhobo Nation, Delta state, Nigeria and the global business community.

National Leader of Urhobo Nationality Council, UNC, Olorogun Jaro Egbo, said the late Olorogun Michael Ibru was a great man who bestrode the business community for over five decades like a colossus. ‘’He was one of the greatest entrepreneurs in the African continent who pioneered frozen food business and was contemporary of Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu and Alhaji Sanusi Dantata.’’