December 17, 2011
Olorogun Felix Ibru
Sheraton
Club Secretariat
Ikeja, Lagos
Nigeria
Alex Ibru
Dear Olorogun Felix Ibru:
On this solemn day of funeral services for your fallen
brother, we in Urhobo Historical
Society wish to express our sorrow to the Ibru family for the loss of Alex Ibru. He was a star among those who
contributed to building up a tradition of meaningful
journalism on the African continent and in Nigeria. We believe
his legacy deserves to be preserved. Urhobo
Historical Society hopes to help in the chronicling of Alex's
contributions to Nigeria's culture and values of disciplined
journalism.
We are aware that because of his national fame, Alex Ibru's special contributions to Urhoboland may be minimized. Urhobo Historical Society wishes to
draw attention to his patriotic disposition towards his people
and his native Urhoboland. In
this regard, we would like to highlight two major achievements
of the late Alex Ibru. Professor
Bright Ekuerhare of Delta State
University at Abraka has assured
us that Alex Ibru was the man who
suggested the idea in the 1990s of an Urhobo
think-tank that would study and analyze Urhobo
political and social problems in a thoughtful manner. It was
on those grounds that the late Andy Akporugo
and Professor Ekuerhare
established Urhobo Study Group
which did so much for the Urhobo
people. Alex Ibru did his best to
fund and sponsor the valuable work of Urhobo
Study Group.
We would also want to draw attention to Alex Ibru's thoughtful siting of the The Ibru
Centre on the lands of his ancestors at Agbarha-Otor.
There are few places like The Ibru
Centre on the African continent. It provides a resort for
reflection and contemplation and for sober gatherings. We
recall with great satisfaction that a Thanksgiving Service of
Urhobo Historical Society was
hosted by Mr. Goodie Ibru, Alex's
immediate elder brother, at The Ibru
Centre in November 2004 . In the
same religious vein in which he founded and built The Ibru Centre, we understand that Alex Ibru made substantial contributions to
other religious vocations in Urhoboland.
It is fitting that the Ibru
Centre is now Alex Ibru's final
resting place. We salute Alex for his unsung patriotic
disposition towards the Urhobo
people.
We are aware that
the occasion of Alex's death must have created a very
difficult time for you. Your loss of another younger brother,
Bernard Ibru, was not long ago.
As the youngest of the Ibru
siblings, Urhobo traditions would
have wished that Alex survived his elders. But God, in Whom
Alex had supreme trust, knows what is best. On our part, we
believe that you will be comforted that Alex has left behind
some wonderful children. We pray that they will continue their
father's excellent work on earth and that they will strengthen
the Ibru legacy of service to
Nigeria and to their native Urhoboland.
Urhobo Historical Society
salutes you and your siblings for the good name that you have
given the Urhobo image and for
your service to the Urhobo people
and Urhoboland.
Sincerely,
Professor Peter Ekeh
Chairman
Urhobo Historical Society