20th November, 2011
The Chairman and Publisher of The Guardian newspaper, Mr. Alex Ibru, is dead, his newspaper announced today. He was 66.
The newspaper said the former Minister of Internal Affairs between 1993 and 1995 died at about 1.30 p.m. today of an undisclosed ailment.
“Chairman, Publisher of The Guardian, Dr. Alexander Uruemu Ibru has passed on. He died at about 1.30p.m. on Sunday, November 20, in the course of an illness. He was 66. Burial arrangements will be announced soon by the family,” The Guardian said in a statement.
The news of Ibru’s death triggered messages of sympathy from many Nigerians.
According to Mr. Jide Johnson, Head of Department of Mass Communication at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba, Alex Ibru was an icon who will be missed by all Nigerians, especially the media industry.
“He was one of the pioneers of contemporary print media ownership, an icon and media mogul that transformed journalism as a profession in Nigeria. He will be missed by all,” he said.
Human rights activist and Convener, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, Comrade Debo Adeniran, described Ibru’s death as unfortunate. He described him as a man who improved the society better than he met it.
According to him, it is sad that he did not see the end of his case against Al-Mustapha and others.
“It is a loss to the nation; it is a loss to the human rights society and it is a loss to the media,” he mourned.
Mr. Yinka Odumakin, National Publicity, Afenifere Renewal Group described Ibru’s death as a big loss to the nation, adding that the deceased was a foremost industrialist.
National President, Women Arise, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin described the death of Ibru as very painful, saying that he used the media to better the lots of the common man.
“We have lost a reliable Nigerian. Nigeria has lost an illustrious and patriotic man. His death should be a wake-up call to others practising journalism. We condole with his family,” she stated.
Lagos lawyer, Festus Keyamo said he was shocked over the demise of Ibru. Keyamo said that Ibru came from the family of entrepreneurs, adding that Nigerians would remember him for the role he played in changing the nation.
Mr. Alexander Uruemu Ibru was born on 1 March, 1945 in Delta State, south south Nigeria. He was the youngest of the famous Ibru brothers who hailed from Agbhara-Otor, in today’s Delta State and whose entrepreneurship made the name almost synonymous with business in Nigeria.
He attended Yaba Methodist Primary School (1951-1957), Ibadan Grammar School (1958-1960), Igbobi College, Lagos (1960-1963) and the University of Trent (formerly Trent Polytechnic) (1967-1970) where he studied Business Economics.
In 1983, Alex Ibru met with newspapermen, Stanley Macebuh of the Daily Times of Nigeria, Dele Cole, also formerly of that paper and Segun Osoba, formerly of the Nigerian Herald. With 55 percent funding from the Ibrus, they launched the The Guardian in 1983, with Alex Ibru as chairman.
On 2 February, 1996, Ibru’s car was sprayed with machine gun fire from unidentified men who had trailed him in a deep-blue Peugeot in Lagos shortly after his departure from the Abacha’s government in 1995.
Both Ibru and the editor-in-chief, Femi Kusa were flown to England for treatment of their injuries. Many people believe that he never fully recovered from the injuries.
After Abacha’s death in 1998, his Chief Security Officer Hamza Al-Mustapha and others were charged with the assassination attempt.
After working briefly in the family business under the tutelage of his older brother and patriarch, Micheal C.O. Ibru, Alex Ibru launched out on his own and soon became one of the most successful young businessmen in the country.
Ibru was the Chairman of Trinity Foundation, the vehicle through which he did his massive philanthropy, giving support to the poor and the needy. He was also the founder of the Ibru Centre which promotes ecumenism and religious harmony.
Alex Ibru was a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Club International. He was Minister of Internal Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and member of the highest Provisional Ruling Council, PRC, from 1993 to 1995. As a minister, he introduced far-reaching reforms in the management of Nigeria’s prisons and the Immigration Service.
He left the Sani Abacha-led government on principle, after which an attempt was made on his life, allegedly on the orders of the ruling junta. The case on that attempted murder is still in court.
He is a recipient of D.Litt honoris causa of the University of Port Harcourt.
A man extremely passionate about Nigeria and a compassionate promoter of joy of humanity, Ibru’s philanthropy, his outstanding entrepreneurship, contributions to the development of the mass media in Nigeria and commitment to selfless service stood him out all through his life.
By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja, Kazeem Ugbodaga & Simon Ateba