Wigwe buried with wife, son in private cemetery as dignitaries extol his legacies

Wigwe buried with wife, son in private cemetery as dignitaries extol his legacies

• Gov Fubara says power struggle meaningless

 

The remains of Dr. Herbert Wigwe, co-founder and Chief Executive of Access Bank Group, his wife Chizoba and 29-year-old son Chizzy were on Saturday buried in a private cemetery of a palatial home he built inside the Wigwe University in Isiokpo, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.

They had died in the ill-fated helicopter that crashed between the boundaries of Nevada and California in the United States after 11-hour flight from London on February 9, 2024.

Governor of Rivers State and chief host, Siminalayi Fubara, challenged the political class to reflect on the essence of a power struggle when it is not deployed in impacting society positively.

“Here lies our brother, his wife and son; everyone has come to celebrate them. It means even in the short period that they lived, they lived impactful lives. They made great contributions to humanity.

“Here is a man, though not a politician; he made his money through our investments. He had the world in his palm financially. He even controlled the political class. This takes me to my question to the political class: What is all this struggle all about? You want to kill and bury, to what end?

“But today, with all the power financially, he couldn’t control life. Is it not enough for us to ask ourselves, why are we struggling? Why are we not making enough impact in the lives of our people? Please, let the political class reflect on this.”

Also speaking at the funeral, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who attended the funeral ceremony at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Lion of Judah Parish, Isiokpo, described Wigwe as a great mentor who positively impacted the younger generations to greatness.

The Senate President noted that Wigwe’s passion for human capital development prompted him to support many in acquiring tertiary education across the world, as well as establishing a university in his hometown.

He said the late Access Bank boss had left behind indelible legacies that would be difficult to equate in the education and financial sectors respectively and enjoined all to imbibe the positive virtues of the late billionaire.

“I believe he was a great mentor. He mentored a lot of younger people and he was a serious role model to the future generation that you can build from nothing and get to greatness.”

A former Speaker of the House of Representatives and immediate past Governor of Sokoto State, Waziri Aminu Tambuwal, said Wigwe gave his best to the financial sector in Nigeria.

Dignitaries who attended the funeral service include a former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, Governor of Abia State, Mr Alex Otti, a former Central Bank Governor, Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Mr Peter Obi, Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections.

Others are President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Aigboje Aig-Imuokhuede, co-founder of Access Bank; Pastor Umo Eno, Akwa Ibom State Governor; Dr Kayode Fayemi, former Governor of Ekiti State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, a former Minister of Transportation; Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri; Mr Celestine Omehia, a former Governor of Rivers State; Senator Seriake Dickson, a former Governor of Bayelsa State; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, Mr Timi Alaibe, a former NDDC Managing Director; and Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Publisher of Thisday Newspaper.