Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU) declares three-day mourning in honour of late Chief Felix Ibru,
Mon Mar 14, 2016 02:35:pm Gist
2.4K By sosa hills
THE apex socio-cultural organ of Urhobo people worldwide, Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) has declared three-day mourning to honour its former President-General and first civilian governor of Delta State, Olorogun Felix Ibru, who died last Saturday in Lagos.
UPU also directed all Urhobos, home and abroad to fly the union's flag at half mask beginning from Tuesday (today).
The former governor who hails from Agbarha-Otor in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State died at 80 after brief illness.
UPU interim President-General, Chief Gabriel Ofotokun in a statement said late Ibru was a strong pillar to the Urhobo people whom he once represented as its President.
The statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the UPU, (interim committee), Chief Josiah Ntekume and made available to The AUTHORITY also charged the people to use the period to pray for the Ibru family.
"The President-General of the UPU interim committee has declared a three-day mourning in honour of the departed Olorogun Felix Ibru throughout the Urhobo Nation beginning from today.
"He has also directed that UPU flag should be flown half mast both at home and in the diaspora", the statement said
Ofotokun commiserated with the family of Ibru, the Urhobo Nation and the entire people of Delta and prayed God to give them the strength to bear the loss.
Meanwhile, Urhobo Monitoring and Development Group (UMDG) has also commiserated with the family of Late Senator Felix Ibru describing the former governor of the state as an astute politician and businessman who put the Urhobo people on the pedestrian of honour.
A statement signed by the group's National President, Prince Kingsley Oberuruaria said Ibru's demise was a big blow to the Urhobo people and Nigeria at large.
While commiserating with the family, he charged the children to toe the path of honour which their father laid.
Oberuruaria said, "We received with shock the death of Urhobo pride and shining light, Senator Felix Ibru with a heavy heart. His death becomes more painful now that his fatherly advice and direction is more need in Urhobo land. This is a great loss to every one of us and Nigeria in general.
"Olorogun's brief stay as governor of Delta State was fruitful and yet to be surpassed by previous administrations in the state. To us, he was Urhobo Ododo who toiled hard to ensure Urhobo was on the world map. We shall greatly miss him."
On his part, APC governorship candidate in the last governorship election in Delta State, Olorogun O'Tega Emerhor described late Ibru as a true Nationalist and elder statesman.
Emerhor, who also hails from Ughelli North said, "The news of passage of the first Executive Governor of Delta State, Olorogun Felix Ovuodoroye Ibru, came to me as a great shock.
"He was a great nationalist, a democrat who championed the course for good governace as a Senator and contributed to deepen of our democracy, distingushing himself both in private and public service."
The APC governorship candidate noted that as a governor, he was the architect of modern Delta state and was able to unite all section of the state on assumption of office.
"And as the President General of the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU he placed Urhobo nation's interest above self.
"His demise at this critical time is a great loss to the Urhobo nation, Delta State and Nigeria at large. His death has created big leadership vacuum at a time in our nation when we needed men of his calibre to chart a new course politically", Emerhor stressed.
UPU also directed all Urhobos, home and abroad to fly the union's flag at half mask beginning from Tuesday (today).
The former governor who hails from Agbarha-Otor in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State died at 80 after brief illness.
UPU interim President-General, Chief Gabriel Ofotokun in a statement said late Ibru was a strong pillar to the Urhobo people whom he once represented as its President.
The statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the UPU, (interim committee), Chief Josiah Ntekume and made available to The AUTHORITY also charged the people to use the period to pray for the Ibru family.
"The President-General of the UPU interim committee has declared a three-day mourning in honour of the departed Olorogun Felix Ibru throughout the Urhobo Nation beginning from today.
"He has also directed that UPU flag should be flown half mast both at home and in the diaspora", the statement said
Ofotokun commiserated with the family of Ibru, the Urhobo Nation and the entire people of Delta and prayed God to give them the strength to bear the loss.
Meanwhile, Urhobo Monitoring and Development Group (UMDG) has also commiserated with the family of Late Senator Felix Ibru describing the former governor of the state as an astute politician and businessman who put the Urhobo people on the pedestrian of honour.
A statement signed by the group's National President, Prince Kingsley Oberuruaria said Ibru's demise was a big blow to the Urhobo people and Nigeria at large.
While commiserating with the family, he charged the children to toe the path of honour which their father laid.
Oberuruaria said, "We received with shock the death of Urhobo pride and shining light, Senator Felix Ibru with a heavy heart. His death becomes more painful now that his fatherly advice and direction is more need in Urhobo land. This is a great loss to every one of us and Nigeria in general.
"Olorogun's brief stay as governor of Delta State was fruitful and yet to be surpassed by previous administrations in the state. To us, he was Urhobo Ododo who toiled hard to ensure Urhobo was on the world map. We shall greatly miss him."
On his part, APC governorship candidate in the last governorship election in Delta State, Olorogun O'Tega Emerhor described late Ibru as a true Nationalist and elder statesman.
Emerhor, who also hails from Ughelli North said, "The news of passage of the first Executive Governor of Delta State, Olorogun Felix Ovuodoroye Ibru, came to me as a great shock.
"He was a great nationalist, a democrat who championed the course for good governace as a Senator and contributed to deepen of our democracy, distingushing himself both in private and public service."
The APC governorship candidate noted that as a governor, he was the architect of modern Delta state and was able to unite all section of the state on assumption of office.
"And as the President General of the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU he placed Urhobo nation's interest above self.
"His demise at this critical time is a great loss to the Urhobo nation, Delta State and Nigeria at large. His death has created big leadership vacuum at a time in our nation when we needed men of his calibre to chart a new course politically", Emerhor stressed.
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