The Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has postponed its press week activities as a result of the death of the publisher of The Guardian Newspapers, Mr. Alex Ibru.

The publisher who was the former Internal Affair Minister during the military administration of Late General Sani Abacha, died Sunday, this week, while the NUJ celebration was on.

The state chairman, Comrade Norbert Chiazor, who had billed the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Gbenga Adefaye, Governor Adams Oshiomole’s Special Adviser on the Media, Tony Iyare, and a former House of Representatives member, Patrick Obahiagbon as guest speakers, in an announcement described Ibru’s death as “a big blow.”

The chairman, who shifted the celebration for another week, opened a condolence register at the union’s secretariat in Asaba even as he urged the national leadership of the union to impress it on media houses to carry black masthead to mourn him.

Meanwhile, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and the state commissioner for information, Chike Ogeah, in separate statements have commiserated with the union and its members over the loss.

According to the Governor, Alex Ibru was a man of many parts who excelled wherever he found himself leaving behind trails of credibility and integrity. “I am shocked and pained by this death. A man of humility, credibility and high integrity has passed on”, he stated.

Governor Uduaghan, in a statement issued by  Chief Press Secretary to the Governor  Sunny Ogefere noted that late Ibru was a pride to the Urhobo and Delta State, who promoted peace and unity of Nigeria particularly with the Ibru Centre, an international ecumenical centre founded by him to enhance inter and intra religious affairs.

Besides, he said that Ibru’s The Guardian which has become the flagship of the Nigerian media revolutionised the industry with the injection of the academia into the media thereby compelling the intelligentsias to play part of the critical role of the watchdog of the society.

The Governor recalled Ibru’s tenure as Minister of Internal Affairs, stressing that in spite of the public office, Ibru did not interfere even when The Guardian was critical of the government he was serving. According to him, this was “an exceptional mark of integrity and discipline on the part of the late publisher”.

He condoled with the Ibru family, The Guardian and the friends and colleagues, urging them to take solace in the fact that Alex Ibru lived a peaceful and fulfilled life. Governor Uduaghan prayed God Almighty to grant his soul eternal rest.

According to Commissioner for Information, Chike Ogeah the passing on to the great beyond of Mr. Alex Ovuemu Ibru, came as huge shock to the government and people of Delta State as well as to him and my family.

He said even though he did not practice journalism as an on field reporter, he has had a profound impact on the emergence of modern journalism in Nigeria when he brought The Guardian to the media landscape in 1983.

Ogeah said his newspaper redefined journalism practice in the country while his style and principle of letting experts have unfettered control of the management of The Guardian introduced a new dimension in media management – freedom and independence in editorial judgment.

“We are proud of this accomplished son of Delta State and take solace in the fact that his legacy is entrenched in the Nigerian media space and has already outlived him’’, he stated.