EMINENT Nigerians, including former business associates of the late Publisher of The Guardian, Mr. Alex Ibru, yesterday continued to extol his virtues as they visited his Ikoyi residence to commiserate with his family members.Among those who visited yesterday were the first governor of Lagos State, Sir Mobolaji Johnson, erstwhile Chief of General Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, Maj.-Gen. Olu Bajowa and a member of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.Others were Governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shehu Shema, who was represented by his Special Adviser, Ibrahim Dankaba; a former member of staff at The Guardian, Mr. Tunde Thompson; veteran journalist Alhaji Alade Odunewu and Mr. Ray Ekpu of Newswatch magazine; Group Managing Director of Diamond Bank, Alex Otti; Bishop, Anglican Diocese, Lagos West, Peter Adebiyi Awelewa; former President, Nigerian Association of Chambers and Commerce Industry, Mines and Agriculture, John Odeyemi; and President, Urhobo Social Lagos, Emmanuel Evue.'Alex Ibru's death is a loss to the family and the nation at large. He was the man that developed The Guardian up to the standard which it is before he died. He has left his footprints on the sand of time. The nation has lost a great son and publisher of a newspaper like The Guardian, which is still the flagship of Nigeria. Even if the government does not immortalise him, what he had done will forever remain a legacy and that is enough to immortalise him'. ' Johnson'Alex, this is painful! You left us so soon; we grief but Almighty God knows best'. ' Ukiwe'He was a brilliant businessman. He saw the need to start a newspaper at a time Nigeria needed one and he took advantage of the talent that were available at the time. I am proud that I am one of them'. ' Thompson'Alex Ibru was a decent man, absolutely decent role model. We should all ensure to sustain the legacy he left behind'. ' Alade-Odunewu'Mr. Alex Ibru left a great legacy by establishing The Guardian Newspapers. He was also a gentleman in every sense of it and also a great employer of labour. His footprints in the field of journalism will be there forever.' - Dabiri-Erewa'Alex Ibru was a very nice fellow. I knew him in the church circle. He gave the Anglican Church a large portion of his land and property in Agbarha-Otor where we organise retreat. Any time we are there, he made arrangement for our comfort. Alex will be remembered for his meekness, kindness and humility.' ' Awelewa'Mr. Alex Ibru left an indelible mark in journalism. He made one of the best contributions to the development of the media in the country. There is no great journalist or writer of this era that does not know or appreciate his contribution.' - Ekpu'Alex was a good man and a great philanthropist. He was a good friend of mine, I was with him in America when he was making preparation to establish The Guardian which eventually became an institution in the media industry today.' ' Bajowa'The death of Mr. Alex Ibru was unfortunate. He was a great publisher of publishers and employer of employers'. ' Otti'Alex Ibru was a great business man and a great philanthropist. He was blessed and God through him blessed other people. Despite his enormous wealth and riches, he remained a simple and humble man until he died.' ' Odeyemi'His death is a colossal loss to the country, the Urhobo and the entire Niger Delta community. His contribution to the development of mankind transcends the shores of Nigeria. If Nigeria has many people like Mr. Ibru, definitely, we would have moved beyond where we are today as a country.' - EvueIn a statement from the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo's family, the Bible Society of Nigeria and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the trio described the late publisher as an accomplished man, a patriot and gentleman.The statement reads: 'On behalf of the Matriarch of Awolowo and the entire members of the Dynasty, I write today to share with you the grief of the colossal loss of your illustrious son, husband, father, a distinguished Nigerian, a media guru and a perfect gentleman, Alex Ibru.'I shall be wasting words by saying that I was shocked when the news of his passage to the great beyond got to me.'Alex was my beloved school-mate as he was three years behind me at the famous Ibadan Grammar School. We later in life became so close so much that when he was about to establish The Guardian Newspapers, he told me.'I praise the Almighty God for a life underscored with service to God and humanity that he spent.'Also, Rev. B. Odutola on behalf of the Bible Society said: 'The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.' Isaiah 57:1-2 (NIV).'I received with shock and disbelief the sudden death of Chairman of The Guardian Newspapers, Mr. Alex Ibru. This, indeed, is a great loss to the Ibru's family, Christendom and Nigeria at large. It is also our loss too as friends of The Guardian.'Your fearless, in-depth, objective and accurate report of events have set you apart as the flagship of Nigerian journalism. We also recognise and appreciate your immense contributions and support to evangelism in the country through the Ibru Centre, a weekly pull-out in The Guardian on Sunday.Prof. Attahiru Jega on behalf of INEC said: 'It is with profound shock and grief that I received the news of the transition of your beloved husband and one of the leading lights of the Nigerian media industry, Dr. Alex Uruemu Ibru. I commiserate deeply with you on the passage of this most noble personage and uncommon patriot. By his transition, the Nigerian nation, not just the Ibru family, has lost one of the best of her noblest.'The inimitable Ibru was a rare breed. With his founding of the flagship The Guardian stable in 1983, he pioneered the intellectual ferment in the Nigerian media. Paradoxically, that also marked the beginning of the liberal press culture by which ordinary Nigerians have come to acquire a strong voice for self-expression, which is a vital ingredient of the liberal political dispensation that we enjoy in this country today.'Beyond his proprietorship of The Guardian, the reputation of the late Dr. Alex Ibru for uncompromising principle was legendary. His record of public service remains among the most distinguished of his generation. Besides, his large heart for kind deeds and his passion for spiritual benevolence were renowned.
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