Michael Ibru Finally Interred in Delta

Sylvester Idowu in Warri
Agbara-Otor in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State was turned into a Mecca of sorts as the remains of the renowned industrialist, Olorogun Michael Onajirevbe Ibru, were yesterday committed to mother earth in his country home in the community.

Prominent dignitaries that witnessed the burial included former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme, Governors Ifeanyi Okowa and Godwin Obaseki of Delta and Edo States as well as former Federal Information Commissioner and Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, among others.

Speaking at the funeral service at the All Saints’ Cathedral Church, Anglican Communion, Okowa charged all the people of the state to unite to allow development spread round the state.

While commiserating the Ibru family, the governor also appealed to them to stay united and live as one family, noting that their living together would bring honour and respect to the late Michael Ibru.

The governor described the late Ibru as a man who touched the lives of so many people in the state, country and the world at large, calling on all well meaning Nigerians to emulate the exemplary life of the business tycoon.

“I want to plead with each and every one of us, no matter what might have gone wrong that it is time for us to unite and truly forget the past because it is only then that we would be able to say that we have done that which our father, Olorogun Michael Ibru has asked us to do.

“There is no doubt that he has impacted the lives of people in Delta State and the world, and I am glad that a lot of good things have been said about him. He was a great man and still a great man even in death.

“A lot of people are rich but they are arrogant with their riches. That is not the life that we expect people to live, and it is my plea to those who live, especially the extended family of Ibru family that the best we can do is to ensure that we stay humble in all that we do. A very humble heart is a loving heart. Every humble heart is for unity and for peace.”

On his part, the Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria, Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh, during his sermon, appealed to all Christians to reconcile all their problems with God before “the final day of rest.”

In his sermon taken from the book of Matthew 11:28, Okoh described death as a permanent rest that is free from all of life’s worries and calamities.

He reminded all that gathered to pay their last respects that they should do all they can to make their life straight with God, saying that the time is short and they must therefore act now to safe themselves from the clutches of death.

While describing Michael Ibru as a great man who had lived a fulfilled life and had touched a lot of lives, Okoh appealed to the family to keep the legacy of their father alive, adding that the only way they can do that would be for them to live together as one indivisible family.

Also present at the funeral service included the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) leader in the state, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, former Chief of Army Staff, Major General David Ejoor, among others.