For Alex Ibru

Permit me to use your medium to express my deepest sympathy to the immediate and extended families of late Mr. Alex Ibru, the board of directors, members of the editorial board, the entire management and staff of The Guardian newspapers.Aleco, as I fondly call him was an exceptional man and a caring aburo. We became closer when we both served as federal ministers in government in 1993 and thereafter when I became a member of The Guardian Editorial Board.My admiration for Alex stems from my observation of him as a God-fearing man, who was faithful also to his humanitarian principles. These attributes he exemplified in his establishment and operation of The Guardian newspapers. With the diminishing of the Daily Times newspapers in the 1980s of which I was the Group Legal Adviser, Alex revolutionised the newspaper industry when he started The Guardian in 1983. Till date The Guardian serves as a platform for giving voice to the voiceless and for defending the interests of the downtrodden in society.In my book, "A Rebel in Abachas Government," in chapter nine, I wrote about the closure of The Guardian newspapers and the courage in which it spoke out against lawlessness and oppression, even while Alex was a serving minister in that government. That was a profound example of Alecos dedication to truth and humanitarian values.Alex and I had similar passion against oppression and lawlessness which unfortunately made us suffer irreparable damage under the tyranny of the Abacha governmentmy son Oluwatoyin who just started out his legal career was assassinated and Alex thankfully survived an assassination attempt when he was shot several times and sustained a ghastly shot to the face. There is little doubt that Alex has made an indelible mark in Nigeria. I am glad that I made good friends with him in this world and like many Nigerians and Nigeria I miss him greatly.Olu Onagoruwa, 77, Olonode Street, Off Hughes Avenue, Alagomeji, Yaba, Lagos State
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