Buhari, Saraki, Mark & others mourn Olorogun Michael Ibru
Nigerians
described the late patriarch of the Ibru family and chairman of the Ibru
Organization, as an 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.
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.”
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 has 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.
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.”
FOB
FOB
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