By our reporters

ALTHOUGH he was ill for about 21 days before he passed on, late media tycoon and Publisher of The Guardian Newspapers, Dr. Alex Uruemu Ibru, remained humble till death, Olorogun Felix Ibru, his elder brother, said Monday.

Speaking to Vanguard at the 17 A, Alexander Drive, Ikoyi, residence of the deceased, Felix Ibru, the first civilian governor of Delta State, said Alex Ibru was a principled person. “Alex was the same Alex till his last moments. Anybody who knew should know that he did not cease from the Alex that everyone knew till he died.”

Felix Ibru spoke as eminent Nigerians and groups continued to shower tributes on the deceased, who died on Sunday, aged 66.

Among those who mourned the media czar and urged the citizenry to emulate his virtues are Senate President David Mark; former military rulers, General Yakubu Gowon and Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd); former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; former governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Agagu; former Minister of Power and Steel during the Abacha military regime, Elder Wole Oyelese; Police Affairs Minister, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade; and former Chairman of Punch Newspapers and President of Newspapers Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Chief Ajibola Ogunshola.

Governors Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Babangida Aliyu (Niger) Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun); Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Peter Obi (Anambra) and Theodore Orji (Abia) also paid glowing tributes. So also were the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, consoling Mrs. Maiden Ibru at the Bourdillon residence of the late Chairman/Publisher of The Guardian Newspapers, Chief Alex Ibru, during a condolence visit to the family in Lagos, on Monday.

Eminent persons throng Ibru’s Ikoyi home

Meanwhile, eminent Nigerians yesterday thronged Alex Ibru’s Ikoyi residence to condole with the family. Governors of Lagos and Delta states, Mr. Babatunde Fashola and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan were among the early callers.

Others are former Head of Interim Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan, former governors of Ogun and Cross Rivers States, Chief Segun Osoba and Donald Duke, Senators Omar Sanda and Ike Nwachukwu, Chief Akintola Williams, Senators Oluremi Tinubu, Ganiyu Solomon, Bashorun J. K. Randle; General Alani Akinrinade, Chief Don Etiebet, Chief John Oyegun, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, former Minister of Transportation, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, former deputy governor of Lagos State, Princess Adebisi Sosan and Mr. Nduka Irabor.

Signing the condolence register, Gowon wrote: “May his soul, the soul of Alex rest in perfect peace in the lord. On behalf of the family and all other associates I commiserate with the Alex family.”

I’ ll miss his smiles – Oscar Ibru

Speaking on the death of Alex Ibru, Olorogun Oscar Ibru, said he would miss his uncle’s smiles.

“He lived a good and careful life. He was very God-fearing and a simple gentleman. Simplicity is one of the attributes that you cannot take away from him. Humility was his watchword. And he lived according to his expectations. I can say it anywhere that he loved everyone, but he so much liked me specially.

“He will always tell you that keeping money to yourself is not the good thing to do, but to use it and help those in need. I will always remember his smiles,” he said.

Mark, Atiku, Ekweremadu mourn

Senate President David Mark, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu have all described the death of the Publisher of Guardian Newspapers, Chief Alex Ibru as very painful and a great loss to the country.

Senate President David Mark, who also noted that he was a visionary who saw the future, said that Ibru was a distinguished captain of industry who touched the lives of many positively.

In a condolence message to the government, people of Delta State, the bereaved family and the Guardian group of newspapers, Senator Mark stressed that the late Ibru would be remembered for his principled and irrepressible position on national issues especially as they affected the well-being of Nigeria and her citizens.

Late Dr. Alexander Uruemu Ibru

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, the Senate President said: “He was an unrepentant patriot and nationalist who put Nigeria first. He was a rare gem who stood to be counted when it mattered.

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, described Ibru as a unique and quintessential newspaper proprietor, whose standard towers above many. He added that Ibru had left behind the legacy of a fiercely independent newspaper, which is read by many.

In like manner, Ekweremadu, who described his passage as sad and grievous, stressed that Alex Ibru was a complete gentleman and patriot who gave his best possible to Nigeria.

I am grief-stricken – IBB

Former Military President, Gen Ibrahim Babangida, said the news of Ibru’s death had struck him with grief.

In a personal statement yesterday, Babangida noted that Ibru’s death came to him as a surprise and shocking because he never heard that he was ill, adding that he was a dear friend who knew the value of true friendship and was ready to go the whole length to sustain such relationship.

‘’My heart was grief-stricken when I heard of the death of my good friend, Chief Alex Ibru, with whom I had over 40 years of close acquaintance. I was shocked because I never heard of any illness or health difficulties through my several telephone conversations with him.

‘’It was therefore agonizing for me to learn of his sudden death. It hurts. It pains. It immediately brings forth nostalgic feelings of all our exchanges and interactions all through life. Alex was a simple man. His simplicity explains his philosophy of life and the way he engaged those who have opportunity to encounter him throughout his sojourn in life.

‘’I am aware that quite a number of people might not know the real Alex Ibru. He was one man who believed strongly in the unity of Nigeria and was ready to sacrifice his all to sustain that ideal. Despite his belief in the unity of the country, he remained a principled man in all his engagements.

‘’Way back in 1971 when we first had close encounter, his concern for the stability and oneness of the country after the grueling experience of the civil war, was statesmanlike.

“Outside the corridors of power, Alex was one Nigerian who would offer the best plausible and selfless advice to anyone without any colouration of self interest.”