By Our Correspondent

To set up a committee to liaise with familyDelta State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has described the late Olorogun  Senator Felix Ovuodoroye Ibru as the architect of modern Delta, saying that as the first civilian governor of the then young state, he did a lot of spadework to lay the foundation for its growth.

Late Olorogun Felix Ibru.

“Our late elder and statesman was a man of great achievement. He did not stop as a governor, he represented his people as a senator of the Federal Republic and went on to lead the Urhobo Progress Union as its President General. That tells you that he was a great achiever.

Okowa announced that a committee would be set up by the state government that would liaise with the family in the planning arrangement for the burial of the late former governor.Governor Okowa urged the family, particularly, the widow, Chief (Mrs) Matilda Ibru, to be very strong and remember that God has a reason for allowing it to happen at a time like this.

He then presented an official letter by the state government to the family which was received by Chief Goodie Ibru.

The Governor was accompanied on visit by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Monday Igbuya, and other members of the Assembly including Hon Samuel Mariere of Ughelli North Constituency 1 and Hon Oharisi of Ughelli North Constituency 11, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Hon Festus Agas, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Hon Tan Brisbe, Commissioner for Finance, Olorogun David Edevbie, Commissioner for Information, Hon Patrick Ukah, Special Adviser, Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, the Chairman of Ughelli North Local Government, Hon Kesiena Ibru, Chief Lawrence Oshiegbu, Managing Director of Obakpor Engineering Company, Olorogun John Oguma.

Earlier in his welcome speech, Chief Goodie Ibru, said the family very much appreciated the visit saying it shows the level of respect the Governor and the government of the state has for the Ibru family for which the family is grateful.

Earlier, Governor Okowa, while signing the condolence register, wrote: “We lost a great leader and a statesman. A great community leader, distinguished Senator and father of our young state. Adieu, our great leader”.

“He did so much to lay the foundation for our young state then. I recall that I was a Local Government Chairman when our late elder statesman was the governor of the state. My predecessors in office tapped from his wealth of experience, but now he is gone. So I can say that I feel the loss most”.

He stated this on Tuesday when he paid a condolence visit to the Ibrus at the family’s residence at GRA, Ikeja Lagos. He described the late former governor of the state as a man of great accomplishment, humble and caring and therefore loved by his people.