Alex Ibru
Encyclopedia
Alex Ibru was a Nigerian businessman, founder and publisher of The Guardian
newspaper, who was Minister of Internal Affairs from 1993 to 1995 during the military regime of General Sani Abacha
.
, founder of the Ibru Organization
.
Ibru was born on 1 March 1945 in Agbhara-Otor, in today’s Delta State. He attended the Yaba Methodist Primary School (1951-1957), Ibadan Grammar School (1958-1960), Igbobi College, Lagos (1960-1963) and Trent Polytechnic in the United Kingdom (1967-1970), where he studied Business Economics.
In 1983 he met with newspapermen Stanley Mecebuh of the Daily Times of Nigeria
, Dele Cole also formerly of that paper and Segun Osoba, formerly of the Nigerian Herald. With 55% funding from the Ibrus, they launched the The Guardian
in 1983, with Alex Ibru as chairman.
The Guardian had various pro-left academics on its board, with a clear bias towards Obafemi Awolowo
's Unity Party of Nigeria
, and the first editor Lade Bonuola was held to stringly support the UPN. On the other hand, Ibru was from a millionaire business family and Stanley Macebuh was right wing in his views, so the paper tried to maintain a balance.
The stated goals of the paper were to provide an independent and balanced view.
The success of the Guardian made it clear that there was an appetite for high quality journalism in Nigeria, and it was followed by news magazines such as Newswatch.
The military regime did not appreciate the paper's independence, and it was persecuted under military ruler General Muhammadu Buhari
(January 1984 - August 1985).
Ibru provided funding to the Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), established during the military regime of Buhari's successor, General Ibrahim Babangida
.
Ibru was Minister of Internal Affairs from 1993 to 1995 in the Sani Abacha government.
His appointment by Abacha was seen as a gesture of appeasement to the press.
In December 1993 there were violent clashes between the Ogoni and Okrika people in the slums of Port Harcourt in Rivers State
. Alex Ibru led a committee to tour Ogoniland and investigate the causes of unrest. Other members were Don Etiebet, Minister of Petroleum Reserves and Melford Okilo
, Minister of Tourism, The military administrator of the state, Dauda Musa Komo
, escorted the group. Embarrassingly for the military regime, during the trip a large crowd demonstrated in Bori
blaming Shell Oil
pollution for their problems.
Alex Ibru had told his staff on the Guardian that he would not get involved in partisan politics.
Despite this, the respected newspaper was highly critical of the Abacha regime.
On 14 August 1994 The Guardian offices were raided and shut down by the government, although Alex Ibru retained his post.
The newspapers were only allowed to reopen in October 1994 following an apology by Ibru for any offensive comments that may have appeared.
On 2 February 1996 his car was sprayed with machine gun fire from unidentified men who had trailed him in a deep-blue Peugeot. Both Ibru and the editor-in-chief Femi Kusa were flown to England for treatment of their injuries.
After Abacha's death in 1998, his Chief Security Officer Hamza Al-Mustapha
and others were charged with the assassination attempt.
Alex Ibru died on 20 November 2011, aged 66.
The Guardian (Nigeria)
The Guardian is an independent daily newspaper published in Nigeria by Guardian Newspapers Limited.The Guardian has been described as "Nigeria's most respected newspaper".-Foundation:...
newspaper, who was Minister of Internal Affairs from 1993 to 1995 during the military regime of General Sani Abacha
Sani Abacha
General Sani Abacha was a Nigerian military leader and politician. A Kanuri from Borno by tribe, he was born and brought up in Kano, Nigeria. He was the de facto President of Nigeria from 1993 to 1998....
.
Background
Alex Ibru was a son of Chief Janet Omotogor Ibru and brother of Chief Michael IbruMichael Ibru
Michael Ibru is a prominent Nigerian businessman from Agbarha-Otor, Delta State. He is the head of the Ibru Organization, one of the largest conglomerates in Nigeria. As a traditional chieftain of his homeland, Ibru bears the tribal honourific Olorogun and often uses it as a pre-nominal style...
, founder of the Ibru Organization
Ibru Organization
The Ibru Organization, established in 1956, became one of the largest conglomerates in Nigeria. By 1990 it had between 9,000 and 11,000 employees....
.
Ibru was born on 1 March 1945 in Agbhara-Otor, in today’s Delta State. He attended the Yaba Methodist Primary School (1951-1957), Ibadan Grammar School (1958-1960), Igbobi College, Lagos (1960-1963) and Trent Polytechnic in the United Kingdom (1967-1970), where he studied Business Economics.
Business career
Alex Ibru was appointed chairman of Rutam Motors.In 1983 he met with newspapermen Stanley Mecebuh of the Daily Times of Nigeria
Daily Times of Nigeria
The Daily Times of Nigeria is a newspaper with headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria.At its peak, in the 1970s, it was one of the most successful locally owned businesses in Africa....
, Dele Cole also formerly of that paper and Segun Osoba, formerly of the Nigerian Herald. With 55% funding from the Ibrus, they launched the The Guardian
The Guardian (Nigeria)
The Guardian is an independent daily newspaper published in Nigeria by Guardian Newspapers Limited.The Guardian has been described as "Nigeria's most respected newspaper".-Foundation:...
in 1983, with Alex Ibru as chairman.
The Guardian had various pro-left academics on its board, with a clear bias towards Obafemi Awolowo
Obafemi Awolowo
Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo was a Nigerian politician, trade unionist, author and statesman. A Yoruba and native of Ikenne in Ogun State of Nigeria, he started his career as a regional political leader like most of his pre-independence contemporaries and was responsible for much of the progressive...
's Unity Party of Nigeria
Unity Party of Nigeria
The Unity Party of Nigeria was a Nigerian political party that was dominant in western Nigeria during the second republic. The party revolved around the political leadership of Obafemi Awolowo, a sometimes polemical but effective administrator. However, the party's main difference with its...
, and the first editor Lade Bonuola was held to stringly support the UPN. On the other hand, Ibru was from a millionaire business family and Stanley Macebuh was right wing in his views, so the paper tried to maintain a balance.
The stated goals of the paper were to provide an independent and balanced view.
The success of the Guardian made it clear that there was an appetite for high quality journalism in Nigeria, and it was followed by news magazines such as Newswatch.
The military regime did not appreciate the paper's independence, and it was persecuted under military ruler General Muhammadu Buhari
Muhammadu Buhari
Muhammadu Buhari was a military ruler of Nigeria and an unsuccessful candidate for president in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 presidential elections...
(January 1984 - August 1985).
Ibru provided funding to the Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), established during the military regime of Buhari's successor, General Ibrahim Babangida
Ibrahim Babangida
General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida CFR DSS mni , popularly known as IBB, was a Nigerian Army officer and military ruler of Nigeria...
.
Ibru was Minister of Internal Affairs from 1993 to 1995 in the Sani Abacha government.
His appointment by Abacha was seen as a gesture of appeasement to the press.
In December 1993 there were violent clashes between the Ogoni and Okrika people in the slums of Port Harcourt in Rivers State
Rivers State
Rivers State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria. Its capital is Port Harcourt. It is bounded on the South by the Atlantic Ocean, to the North by Imo, Abia and Anambra States, to the East by Akwa Ibom State and to the West by Bayelsa and Delta states...
. Alex Ibru led a committee to tour Ogoniland and investigate the causes of unrest. Other members were Don Etiebet, Minister of Petroleum Reserves and Melford Okilo
Melford Okilo
Melford Obiene Okilo had a long and distinguished career as a politician in Nigeria from the start of independence in 1960 until shortly before his death in 2008....
, Minister of Tourism, The military administrator of the state, Dauda Musa Komo
Dauda Musa Komo
Lt. Colonel Dauda Musa Komo was Administrator of Rivers State, Nigeria from December 1993 to August 1996 during the military regime of General Sani Abacha....
, escorted the group. Embarrassingly for the military regime, during the trip a large crowd demonstrated in Bori
Bori
Bori is a town and arrondissement located in the N’Dali commune of the Borgou Department of Benin....
blaming Shell Oil
Shell Nigeria
Shell Nigeria is the colloquial name for Royal Dutch Shell's Nigerian operations carried out through four subsidiaries—primarily through Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited...
pollution for their problems.
Alex Ibru had told his staff on the Guardian that he would not get involved in partisan politics.
Despite this, the respected newspaper was highly critical of the Abacha regime.
On 14 August 1994 The Guardian offices were raided and shut down by the government, although Alex Ibru retained his post.
The newspapers were only allowed to reopen in October 1994 following an apology by Ibru for any offensive comments that may have appeared.
On 2 February 1996 his car was sprayed with machine gun fire from unidentified men who had trailed him in a deep-blue Peugeot. Both Ibru and the editor-in-chief Femi Kusa were flown to England for treatment of their injuries.
After Abacha's death in 1998, his Chief Security Officer Hamza Al-Mustapha
Hamza al-Mustapha
Hamza al-Mustapha was the Chief Security Officer of General Sani Abacha, military head of state of Nigeria from November 1993 to June 1998. After Abacha's death he was arrested and tried for murder and attempted murder...
and others were charged with the assassination attempt.
Alex Ibru died on 20 November 2011, aged 66.