By Francis Sadhere
The Delta State Governor, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa has extolled the virtues of the first civilian governor of the state, late Senator Felix Ibru, calling on Nigerians to emulate his lifestyle .
Governor Okowa made the call on Wednesday at the funeral service of late chief Felix Ibru at the Diocese of Ughelli, All Saints Cathedral Church, Delta state.
He said, “I want to admonish all Deltans that in their daily living they should arrive to do good all the time. For the body that you have does not belong to you. Do not abuse it and do nor abuse the privilege given to you by God. We should all live the best we can and try to be the best of assistant to each other and the world would be a better place.”
Governor Okowa stressed that the late Ibru who was the first civilian governor of the state united the people at a time when things were rough and tough.
“I am sure that going through his work on earth as human beings, at least we can appreciate the lot that he did.
“It was in that lot, that he not only became the first civilian governor of the state, he also represented the people of Delta South in the Senate and he did a marvelous work in the Senate of the federal republic of Nigeria. Thereafter returning home to become the President General of the Urhobo nation. We thank God because that, obviously was a wonderful life,” Okowa said.
Okowa said those who have associated with the late Ibru would describ him as a jolly good fellow.
while condoling with the Ibru family, Governor Omowa said, “the people of Ughelli north have lost a great son. The Urhobo nation has lost a son and a leader and as a state, we have lost one of our very best.
“We condole with the Ibru families, particularly with the wives, Mathilda and Caroline and the children. I know that he is not gone for nothing. His good will continue to be with us as he is above. I believe his death will bring peace to us all and the Ibru family in Jesus name.
“What we do with our lives on earth matters a lot. We are here gathered in large numbers today because he lived a good life, and because as governor, he did nor allow the challenges of time, 1992, to tear us apart. If we were torn apart then, obviously we would not have come from Delta South, North and central in large numbers to bid him farewell,” Okowa further added.
Continuing Governor Okowa said, “The question is, those of us that are alive, those of us that play politics, is what do we do with our lives? I think there are great lessons to learnt from the life of late Olorogun Felix Ibru.
“A life of reconciliation, a life of friendship. I remember that very special smile that you can find only in him. It is important that we realize that what we do with our lives here counts a lot.
In 2nd Corinthians 5:10, we are told that we must all appear before the judgement seat of God. That everyone must receive the things done to his body according to what he has done. Whether it be good or bad.”
Late Felix Ibru the first civilian governor of Delta died on March 12, 2016 at the aged of 80.
Ibru was also a senator in the fifth assemby between 2003 to 2007 and also a former President-General of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU).
He hailed from Agbarha-Otor in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta.
The late Ibru was later buried at his home town, Agbarha-Otor at exactly 2:45pm.
