*Akpabio describes Herbert Wigwe as international citizen, iconic figure
*Fubara guarantees to immortalise late banker, maintain college
*Wigwe left an enduring legacy, says Tambuwal
Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
It was a sober second yesterday as Nigerians from all walks of life and foreigners gathered at Isiokpo group in Ikwerre Native Authorities Space of Rivers State because the Co-founder and Chief Govt Officer of Entry Financial institution Holdings, Mr. Herbert Wigwe; his spouse, Chizoba, and their 29-year-old son, Chizzy, have been laid to relaxation in a personal cemetery situated throughout the premises of the Wigwe College.
The trio of Herbert, Chizoba, and Chizzy Wigwe, alongside former Group Chairman of Nigerian Change Group Plc (NGX Group), Abimbola Ogunbanjo, in addition to two pilots, died within the Airbus Helicopter EC 130B4 with registration quantity N130CZ, which crashed close to Halloran Springs, California, United States, on February 8, 2024.
Whereas the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio described the late banking guru as a world citizen and iconic determine, Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State promised to immortalise him and in addition maintain his Wigwe College.
On his half, a former Governor of Sokoto State and member of the Nationwide Meeting representing Sokoto South, Senator Aminu Tambuwal famous that Wigwe left an enduring legacy.
By 9.30am yesterday, dignitaries have been nicely seated on the Lion of Judah Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Isiokpo group, awaiting the arrival of the stays of the deceased.
Instantly the stays of Herbert, his spouse, and son arrived on the church premises in three ambulances, adopted by a convoy and musical band group, at about 11: 08am, everyone on the venue of the service wore a mournful look.
Some have been sighted crying profusely, lamenting the nice loss to the nation.
Distinguished dignitaries on the occasion embrace Senate President, Senator Akpabio; Governors Fubara (Rivers), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Alex Otti (Abia), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Eno Umo (Akwa Ibom); President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; presidential candidate of Labour Get together (LP) within the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi; Chairman of THISDAY/ARISE Media Group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena; Co-Founding father of Entry Financial institution, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede; Founding father of Stanbic IBTC Financial institution, Atedo Peterside; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for Economic system, Olawale Edun; former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki; and former Governor of Sokoto State, Tambuwal.
Others embrace: Group Managing Director/Chief Govt Officer of Zenith Financial institution, Ebenezer Onyeagwu; Group Chief Govt Officer of Assure Belief Holding Plc, Segun Agbaje; Chairman of Entry Financial institution, Paul Usoro (SAN); former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; former Governor of Central Financial institution of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; former Delta State governor, James Ibori; former Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; former Rivers State governor, Celestine Omehia, amongst others.
In his remarks, the Senate President, Senator Akpabio, who spoke on behalf of the federal authorities and the Nationwide Meeting, described Herbert Wigwe as a world citizen and iconic determine who invested closely in lives and fed many individuals throughout the globe.
Akpabio additionally described the late Wigwe as an important mentor, saying that he mentored numerous youthful individuals.
The Senate President added that the late banking icon was a critical position mannequin to the long run technology “you could construct from nothing and get greatness and with onerous work you possibly can obtain greatness.”
Akpabio stated: “The college he has left behind was due to his ardour for schooling. He helped and educated lots of people. As I stated, so many are enshrined in his coronary heart as a result of he despatched so many to instructional citadels internationally. Leaving this schooling for us, the college is not only for Nigerians however your entire international group.”
Talking additional, Akpabio described Wigwe as a world banker, who left a legacy in schooling that he might be remembered for in years to come back.
He stated: “Isn’t how lengthy you lived however how nicely and the affect. Right here was a younger man who left a lot affect that generations unborn; he gave meals to so many individuals in Nigeria and globally. Many international locations in Africa, in Dubai, different locations, he was in China, he did quite a bit.
“He put meals on the desk of so many individuals on the earth. So, I regarded him as a ‘World Citizen,’ an icon of the world that we’ve got misplaced. Sadly, he died collectively along with his spouse and first son,” Akpabio added.
Describing the incident that led to the loss of life of the enterprise guru as a tragedy, the Senate President stated: “I pray Nigeria ought to by no means witness this once more, and will it by no means occur to any household. If solely you have been near him, you could possibly perceive the power, the vivaciousness that Nigeria has misplaced. Herbert Wigwe was an important man; he was a pal to all – a person who smiles with out query, who touches lives with out asking.”
In line with Akpabio, “Typically God provides indicators that say those who God loves most, he takes them younger. He was doing every part in a rush. You see the unbelievable construction for his retirement house for his household in Lagos, even the attractive college – top-of-the-line in the entire of West Africa, that he has concluded.”
He continued: “For all of us who’re mortal, this loss of life could be very painful. We aren’t going to cry in at some point alone; we are going to cry for therefore many days. If you bear in mind the truth that his inheritor, Chizzy, was already an iconic determine, a gifted younger man, extremely educated from the perfect college, ready to take over the empire from his father, and but he’s no extra, you’ll cry.
“If you suppose that the spouse who may have been right here to mourn with us joined him, then you’ll cry. Then you’ll ask your self, identical to Governor Fubara stated, what’s the battle all about?” Akpabio queried.
Earlier in his speech, the governor of Rivers State, Fubara, assured that the state authorities will immortalise the late Herbert, including that the state will make sure the success of the Wigwe College, which he famous was the one funding hooked up to the identify of the monetary guru.
The governor expressed the necessity for individuals to affect society, particularly within the lives of the needy, including that life is a journey that may sometime get to its vacation spot.
Governor Fubara stated: “I’ve this query at all times in my thoughts. What’s life all about? Yesterday evening, we sang a hymn saying ‘Fading away from the solar within the morning’, and I concluded that life shouldn’t be the a million years that we lived, however even when we spend an hour, let the hour be impactful. He has made an important contribution to humanity.”
Fubara lamented: “Right here lies our brother, his spouse, son. Everybody has come to have fun them; it means even within the brief interval that he lived; he lived an impactful life.
“The following query needed to do with our political class: What’s all this bother all about? You wish to kill, you wish to bury, what’s all of it about? This can be a man, not a politician; he made his cash by way of us – our funding. He has the world in his hand; he managed even the political class however at the moment, with all of the powers financially, couldn’t management life,” the governor stated.
Talking additional, Fubara stated Wigwe’s loss of life had prompted him to query his fellow political class on why they’re struggling for energy greater than making impacts on the lives of the individuals.
“This one has to do with the political class; what are all these struggles all about? You wish to kill, you wish to bury, what’s all of it about?” he queried.
Governor Fubara nonetheless thanked his counterpart in Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
“I felt a bit sad as a result of he (Sanwo-Olu) took a shine; he’s been very supportive of the programme proper from the start, all through the programme in Lagos and he’s not even a Rivers man. It is not going to be full if I don’t point out Alhaji Aliko Dangote for his assist,” Fubara added.
Fubara assured that: “We as a state, which by the particular grace of God that I symbolize, I’m the host, no one can take that away from me. I wish to say that our brother has completed his work, although shortly. We, as a authorities, will do every part with the Wigwe Basis to immortalise one factor that has his identify, which is Wigwe College.
“We’ll do every part inside our energy to ensure that the dream will proceed to dwell simply as he had deliberate it. It’s a tough scenario for many people. It’s affecting me; I’m an in-law right here. We should do every part to maintain the identify of our brother,” the governor stated.
“At this essential time, it isn’t the gang right here that may console you; the one person who gives you eternal comfort is God and God will that hole for you,” he added.
Talking to THISDAY on the occasion, Tambuwal, stated Herbert left an enduring legacy.
“Herbert Wigwe was somebody who was at his prime, doing his finest and giving his finest to the monetary service of Nigeria. However we can’t query God. It was his time; the Almighty God had referred to as upon him; he had answered the decision.
“Our comfort is that he did very nicely and has left a really lasting legacy.”
On the finish of the church service which ended at about 2.pm, the stays of the Wigwes have been laid to relaxation on the premises of the Wigwe College.
