The President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejiafor, has described the death of Alex Ibru as a big loss to the nation and the media world.
In a statement made yesterday in Lagos and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Oritsejiafor said that the news of his death came as a rude shock.
He noted that Ibru would be remembered for his contributions to political and social development of the country through The Guardian, his newspaper and the Trinity Foundation.
“The foundation is a platform he used in channeling his massive philanthropy, giving support to the poor and the needy. His Ibru Centre, which promotes ecumenism and religious harmony, remains one of his enduring legacies in Nigeria,” he noted.
The clergy, who described Ibru as a good man, paid tribute to him for quitting the cabinet of the late Gen. Sani Abacha “during the most trying time of the country”.
“Like the Biblical Moses, Ibru chose to suffer with the masses of this country than to continue enjoying the spoils of office in an oppressive regime. And he did pay dearly for this honorable decision as an attempt was made on his life.
“It is very likely that the effect of this horrified experience might have contributed to the prolonged illness that eventually took Alex away from us,” Oritsejiafor added.
Also, the Lagos State Publicity Secretary of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Apostle Israel Oku, described the Ibru as a man who touched peoples’ lives in so many ways, even to the last minute.
Oku told NAN he would appeal to Ibru’s first son and members of his family to ensure that they kept the legacy of their father.
“The senior son should step into his father’s shoes. He should start where the father stopped; they should continue with the work at the centre–which is very important to the church,” he said.
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