Dignitaries Bid Herbert Wigwe, Wife, Son Farewell Amid Tears As Trio Laid To Rest At Isiokpo (+photos)

BY ABU-SATAR HAMED

Tears welled up in many faces on Saturday, March 9, 2024, during the Funeral Service for Late Herbert, Chizobam, and Chizi Wigwe in Isiokpo, Rivers State.

The departed couple’s surviving children, putting on a courageous face, were also in attendance to bid their loved ones adieu.

Herbert Wigwe, his wife Doreen, son Chizzy, and former Managing Director of Nigerian Exchange Group, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, were victims of the ill-fated helicopter crash in the US on February 9, 2024.

The atmosphere at the funeral of the trio, at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Lion of Judah Parish in Isiokpo, Rivers State, was filled with intense emotions.

The trio was later buried after the emotional filled service in the late businessman’s hometown, Omueke, Isiokpo in Rivers State.

Among the dignitaries that gathered in the oil-rich state for the late Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, his wife, and his son at the burial service include Senate President Godswill Akpabio; FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike; business guru, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, former Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, Gov. Alex Otti, Gov. Dapo Abiodun, former Senate President Bukola Saraki; Gov. Babajide Sawno-Olu, former Anambra State Gov. Peter Obi, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, and other notable captains of industry.

Others are Governors Sim Fubara (Rivers), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Peter Obi, Governor of Akwa Ubom state, Umo Eno; Governor of Imo state, Hope Uzodinma, and the King of Okochiri Kingdom, Ateke Tom, former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi: 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who were also at the event.

Also present were the immediate past Bayelsa Governor, Senator Seriake Dickson, former Ekiti Governor, Kayode Fayemi, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, who is the chief security officer, CSO, of the burial ceremony, and Dr. Godknows Igali, a former Nigerian Ambassador.

Members of the clergy, traditional rulers from the Omoeke, Wigwe’s hometown, and monarchs from Isiokpo in general were also in attendance.

The Outing Service for the late GMD of Access Bank Plc, his wife, and son, also took place on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Lion of Judah Parish, in Isiokpo, Rivers State.

The outing service marked the culmination of a week-long burial ceremony for Herbert Wigwe, his wife, Chizoba, and son, Chizi.

Wigwe’s death remains one of the most shocking in the Nigerian banking industry.

Earlier, several friends, captains of industry, family members, and associates paid tributes to the late banking guru and his wife and son.

Leading the tributes at an event in Lagos on Monday, March 4, 2024, a tearful Aliko Dangote described Wigwe as his brother and friend.

“He was a pillar of support to me, and my family,” an emotional Dangote told the gathering in Lagos in a speech in which he renamed the road leading to the Dangote Refinery after Wigwe.

Representing President Bola Tinubu at the event was Vice President Kashim Shettima. He described Wigwe as a beacon of hope that left at an odd time.

“Herbert left us in winter before the season of bloom. Spring was just about to arrive at his last location, the United States when the Lord called for him,” Shettima said.

Shettima also said that the late Wigwe was an early bloomer who transformed the Nigerian banking industry, recalling his visionary leadership and unwavering dedication to his community.

Also speaking, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Wigwe, said that Wigwe embodied the true spirit of Lagos State, saying the nation’s commercial nerve centre won’t forget him.

According to Sanwo-Olu, Wigwe was a “completely detribalised” person whom “Lagos will not forget”.

Eulogizing her late father on the night of tributes on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, Tochi Wigwe said Herbert was committed and doting.

“In this moment, for the first time, your words resonate deeply within me. No longer do I want to tilt my head and squint my eyes in confusion. You were simply extraordinary.

“You urged me to reach new heights I never even imagined. Whenever doubt clouded my mind, you would chuckle knowingly and say, ‘You really just don’t know whose child you are, you’ll soon find out.’ And once again, you were right: I’ve come to find out.

“I could never fathom how you managed to do it all; it seemed inconceivable. Turning everything you touched to gold while remaining an unwavering anchor for your family and friends”, Tochi said.

A former Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, was almost inconsolable as he mounted the podium to pay tribute to his “brother” Wigwe.

Sanusi could not hold his tears as he narrated how late Wigwe helped him when he was dethroned as Emir.

He regretted that Wigwe had to die before him, saying, “I was thinking I would die and leave Herbert. We have all heard about him, about his loyalty”.

Recall that Herbert, Chizoba, and Chizi Wigwe, alongside former Group Chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group), Chief Abimbola Ogunbanjo, as well as two pilots, were all in the Airbus Helicopter EC 130B4 with registration number N130CZ, which crashed near Halloran Springs, California, USA.

The exact cause of the crash is not yet known, but a preliminary report released by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) two weeks ago said the chopper was seen by several witnesses in vehicles who reported it as a “fireball” before its eventual crash.

It was gathered that witnesses reported that the weather on the fateful day of the helicopter crash was a mix of rain and snow.

*Elhadj (Chief) Abu-Satar Idowu Hamed is the Baaroyin of Ilaro-Yewa & Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, StarTrend Int’l magazine and online – startrendinter@gmail.com 08038525526, 08055657329