The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Lagos Chapter, has joined voices across the country in mourning the death of Olorogun Oscar Ibru, describing him as “a rare embodiment of Niger Delta’s finest virtues” and “a light dimmed too soon.”
In a tribute signed by Chairman, Prof. Hope Eghagha, and Secretary, Prince Emmanuel Anderson Ogan, PANDEF Lagos said the late business magnate was not just an Urhobo icon, but a unifying force whose influence cut across ethnic and political boundaries.
“His departure is not merely the loss of a man—it is the dimming of a light that once illuminated paths of progress, unity, and visionary leadership across our region and beyond,” the statement read.
PANDEF Lagos praised Olorogun Ibru’s legacy as a businessman, philanthropist, and cultural ambassador, stating that his life’s work offers a template for the transformation of the Niger Delta.
“He was Urhobo by birth, but Niger Delta by spirit – embracing Ijaw, Isoko, Ibibio, Ogoni, and others with equal warmth and unwavering solidarity.”
The forum recalled Ibru’s impact in creating spaces where “boardrooms became melting pots of tribes,” and his commitment to uplifting the forgotten through philanthropy and economic empowerment.
Beyond mourning, PANDEF’s tribute also served as a clarion call for renewed leadership and unity in the Niger Delta. The group urged traditional rulers, political leaders, youth groups, and civil society to rise above ethnic divisions and recommit to the ideals Ibru stood for.
“Let his passing be the spark that reignites our commitment to a united, prosperous, and self-determined Niger Delta. The progressive ideals that Olorogun Ibru championed -economic empowerment, regional integration, and political maturity – must now be reclaimed with urgency,” the forum declared.
PANDEF Lagos hailed Ibru as “a man of influence and inclusion,” noting that his boardroom welcomed all, his counsel crossed tribal lines, and his philanthropy knew no borders.
“He was not just a man of means—he was a man of meaning,” the statement noted, adding, “In his death, we find a rare moment of collective mourning that binds us together in shared reverence.”
The forum extended its deepest condolences to Oskar Ibru’s wife, children, and the extended Ibru family, thanking them for sharing him with the world.
“A son of the soil has returned to the earth, but his legacy must rise in us,” PANDEF said, urging Niger Deltans to honour the icon’s life with action, not just tributes.
