WITH the death on Sunday of Alexander Uruemu Ibru, the nation has lost a consummate newspaper proprietor, prodigious entrepreneur, nation builder and humanist. Ibru passed on last Sunday after an undisclosed illness. Born on March 1, 1945 into the famous Ibru family in Agbhara-Otor in todays Delta State, he had his early education at the Yaba Methodist Primary School, Lagos (1951-1957) before proceeding to Ibadan Grammar School (1958-1960) and Igbobi College, Yaba, Lagos (1960-1963). He later attended University of Trent (formerly Trent Polytechnic) (1967-1970) where he studied Business Economics. After a stint in the family business under the tutelage of his elder brother and family patriarch, Michael Ibru, Alex eagerly explored the business world and became, at an early age, one of the most successful businessmen in the country. He was the Chairman of Rutam Motors, a vehicle distribution firm established in 1967. The company, which acquired the rights to sell Mazda, Saviem and Tata Jeep brands, was later appointed a Peugeot distributor. He founded The Guardian in 1983 with a mission to make it one of the best English language newspapers in the world. Amid other accomplishments, Ibrus essence could best be gleaned through the brand of his brainchild, The Guardian, which, soon after its establishment, became a colossus in the titanic battle against military dictatorship and for advancement of freedom. The late publisher assembled an array of cerebral writers and media managers of varied ideological persuasions, which arguably made the paper a balanced medium and a force to reckon with in the nations media industry. The newspaper is credited with elevating intellectual debate and discourse to new heights, thus affording scholars, technocrats and professionals across ideological divides an arena for informed input into public issues.His decision to serve in a military government headed by former dictator, Sani Abacha, as Minister of Internal Affairs between 1993 and 1995, in the wake of the protracted June 12 crisis, was, according to him, informed by a noble desire to contribute to nation-building and resolve a grave national political crisis. Former Ogun State Governor and friend of the late publisher, Chief Segun Osoba, in his tribute, described him as "a first class patriot whose love for the country was boundless." Yet, Ibrus decision to serve in that government came out as a gross miscalculation that marked the low point in his otherwise brilliant life. This was later underscored by the fact that, though the late icon was credited with initiating far-reaching reforms in the nations immigration and prison services, he later took a momentous decision to resign his position as the human rights abuses of the Abacha regime escalated.In 1996, Ibru had a close shave with death when gunmen, suspected to be agents of the state trailed him in a deep blue Peugeot salon car and shot him with an AK-47 rifle. He was immediately flown to England for treatment. Ibru was described by his employees as amiable and fatherly. His past and present editors spoke of the independence they enjoyed to practise their trade. "I may be the publisher," he was once quoted as saying, "but you are the professionals." This, coupled with his belief that his newspaper was the "voice of the people" which "belongs to Nigerians" and "a public trust," The Guardian has become one of the truly independent newspapers in the country. Remarkably, Ibrus romance with the government at a critical period in the nations history did not affect the editorial policy of the newspaper. Rather, the paper became one of the leading voices in the struggle for the enthronement of democracy, advancement of human rights and the fight against military tyranny. This stance was believed to have angered those who sent gunmen to assassinate him. It was thus not surprising when on August 14, 1994, The Guardians offices were raided and shut down while he was still a minister in the government. Friends described him as an unassuming and level-headed person whose stupendous wealth did not affect his humility. He was reputed to be comfortable being in the company of ordinary people. The late publisher contributed to the establishment and growth of human rights bodies that, at critical times, led the fight against misrule and tyranny. Through his Trinity Foundation, he was said to have directly touched the lives of the poor and the needy. It is also noteworthy that he cherished his relationship with his creator, through the establishment of Ibru Centre to advance the study of religion and religious harmony. No doubt, the demise of this titan marks the depleting ranks of the elite who are passionate about attaining excellence and using what they have for the advancement of their fatherland.
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