THE week-long funeral rites and activities for the late Access Bank Group managing director/chief executive officer, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, his wife, Chizoba, and son, Chizi, who were buried in the banker’s hometown, Omueke, Isiokpo in Rivers State, ended on Sunday, March 10 with an outing service.
On February 9, Herbert, Chizoba and Chizi Wigwe, alongside former group chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group), Abimbola Ogunbanjo, and two pilots were in the Airbus Helicopter EC 130B4, with registration number N130CZ, which crashed near Halloran Springs, California, United States (US)..
The exact cause of the crash is not yet known, but the weather was reportedly bad that day, with was a mix of rain and snow.
A preliminary report released by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) two weeks ago, however, said the chopper was seen by several witnesses in vehicles who reported it as a “fireball” before its eventual crash.
The service, which was held at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Lion of Judah Parish, in Isiokpo in Ikwerre Local Council, climaxed the ceremonies, a day after their burial, witnessed by personalities from all walks of life, including Rivers State Governor Siminilayi Fubara; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Federal capital territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike; billionaire businessman, Aliko Dangote, former emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II; Governors Alex Otti (Abia); Dapo Abiodun Ogun); Babajide Sawno-Olu; Douye Diri.
Others were former senate president, Bukola Saraki and former governor of Anambra State and Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in last year’s general elections, Mr. Peter Obi and a former governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi.
Tributes had poured in for Herbert from friends, captains of industry, family members and associates all through the week at various events.
The burial ceremony witnessed a spat between Fubara and Akpabio. In his remarks at the funeral service on Saturday, Fubara had said: “This one has to do with our political class, what is all this trouble all about. You want to kill, You want to bury, what is it all about.”
But Akpabio, in his own remarks and obviously in response to that, told the governor not to struggle for politics, if there is nothing in it, but to resign.
Akpabio stated: “What is the struggle all about? I will answer you. The struggle, we are not talking politics.
“In 2006, I wanted to be a deputy governor, so the then deputy governor invited me and told me that this office has no money, there is nothing in it. I don’t know why you still insist on removing me from here and taking over.
“So, the woman who went with me, said ‘Your Excellency, then don’t wait for impeachment, just resign since there’s nothing in it.’
“And he stood up and started punching the woman, and I told him, ‘Your Excellency, don’t punch her, she’s telling the truth. There’s nothing in the office that’s why I want it, because you’re too big for it.’
“So, your Excellency, Governor Fubara, if there’s nothing in the struggle, don’t struggle.”
The remains of the late Wigwes arrived in Rivers State on Friday, March 8 for burial, followed by a funeral service conducted at the RCCG parish in Isiokpo.
