Guardian publisher, Alex Ibru, passes on.

The media circle was jolted Sunday as
the news of the death of the Chairman
and Publisher of Guardian newspapers,
Mr. Alex Ibru, hit the newsrooms.
In a statement released by Guardian,
Ibru, the youngest of the famous Ibru
brothers, died at about 2.30pm yesterday
aged 66.
The cause of the death was not
disclosed, but THISDAY learnt that he had
been terminally ill for years now and had
even prepared his burial space in
anticipation of his demise.
He founded The Guardian in 1983 with a
mission to make it one of the five best
English language newspapers in the
world.
He was made Minister of Internal Affairs
and member of the highest Provisional
Ruling Council by the military government
of Gen. Sani Abacha in 1993 but resigned
in 1995 as the government became
unpopular.
After his exit from government, an
attempt was made on his life, allegedly
on the orders of the Abacha government,
a case which is still in court and for which
Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, the then
Chief Security Officer to Abacha, is
standing trial.
President Goodluck Jonathan, in his
reaction, said Ibru “contributed
immensely in shaping Nigeria’s media
industry, setting the standard for the
industry with the publication of high
quality newspapers”.
“This man, whose life recorded a pattern
of good works, has definitely gone too
soon. Many will remember him for
founding The Guardian Newspapers,
which set the tone for independent and
balanced journalism in Nigeria. Those
who knew him closely will remember him
for his life's work of quiet philanthropy,”
Jonathan said.
He said Nigeria had lost an astute
businessman and a committed
nationalist “who willingly accepted to
serve the nation when the odds may have
dictated otherwise”.
Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel
Uduaghan, expressed shock at Ibru’s
death, describing it as “painful”. Ibru was
from the state.
“I am shocked and pained by this death.
A man of humility, credibility and high
integrity has passed on,” he said.
The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) said it
received “with a heavy heart” the news of
Ibru’s passage.
“The Guardian is his lasting legacy; the
indelible epitaph,” the editors said in a
statement signed by NGE President,
Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, adding: “As an
individual, he gave of himself selflessly in
the service of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria as a minister of Internal Affairs.
He was a notable philanthropist,
promoter of peace and religious
tolerance.”
The Newspaper Proprietors’ Association
of Nigeria (NPAN) described Ibru, who
was a member, as a "Champion of
Justice".
The NPAN President and Chairman of
THISDAY Newspapers, Mr. Nduka
Obaigbena, said in a statement issued
last night: "It is with great sadness that
the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of
Nigeria received the news of the passing
of one of our esteemed members, Chief
Alex Ibru, the founding publisher and
chairman of the Guardian Newspapers.
"Chief Alex Ibru reshaped the Nigerian
Newspaper landscape with the founding
in 1983, of The Guardian Newspapers
which had as its mission, the desire to be
among the five best English language
newspapers in the world.
"The emergence of the newspaper also
came with improved conditions of service
for journalists employed in the stable.
He not only ensured that the newspaper
lived up to its motto of 'conscience
nurtured by truth', the newspaper under
his watch fought against oppression,
dictatorship, and bad government for a
progressive Nigerian state founded on
justice.
"He was unarguably one of the most
outstanding businessmen in the country
who made his mark as part of the famed
Ibru brothers whose pre-eminence in the
business and economy of Nigeria can not
be understated.
"Alex ibru also lent his wealth of
experience to Nigeria when he served as
Minister of Internal Affairs between 1993
and 1995.
Nigeria will surely miss this Champion of
Justice."
Hon. Nduka Irabor, who edited one of The
Guardian titles in the 1980s, described
Ibru as a “very, very self-effacing man”.
He said: “Publisher, as I became wont to
calling him, was driven by a passion to
serve mankind and succeed in whatever
undertaking they might be. He recognised
potentials and talents and never failed to
nurture or promote such. Alex Ibru’s style
was unique and inspiring.”
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State
said the country had lost one of the pillars
of modern journalism in Nigeria.
“After the epic contribution of the media
to the anti-colonial and post-colonial
struggle for the building of Nigeria, The
Guardian founded in 1983 by Mr. Alex
Ibru could be said to have defined the
agenda of the democratic struggles
particularly from the early 80s,” he said.