US helicopter crash victims, Wigwe, family’s bodies arrive Rivers for burial (PHOTOS)
*Personalities who have condoled: Sultan, Tinubu, Dangote
The bodies of late Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe, his wife, and son have arrived in Nigeria for burial.
The bodies of the Wigwes arrived at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Rivers State, from the United States America, US on Friday March 8, 2024, according to a media report.
Wigwe, 57, died in a helicopter crash in the United States on February 9. His wife, Chizoba, and son, Chizi, also died in the crash.
Also, the former President of Nigeria Exchange Group, Mr. Abimbola Ogunbanjo, was in the fatal crash.
Since their death, tributes have continued to pour in for Wigwe as sympathizers recalled his deeds while alive.
The funeral of the trio will be held on Saturday at Isiokpo, his hometown, in Ikwerre LGA of Rivers State.
Personalities have not stopped paying tribute to late Wigwe.
Wigwe will be remembered for his patriotism of unity, progress, peaceful co-existence – Sultan
The Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, revealed the unreported role that late Herbert Onyewumbu Wigwe played during his lifetime that was not known to many.
Group Photograph: Father of deceased, Elder Shyngle Wigwe, with Sarkin Fulani of Lagos, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Bambado II, Leader and other members of Sultan of Sokoto’s delegation on Friday March 1, 2024.
He said he was patriotic and contributor to unity, progress and peaceful co-existence among people of various ethnic and religious backgrounds in Nigeria, aside being a known philanthropist of high repute.
The Sultan made this revelation via a condolence letter addressed to “The Family of Late Herbert Onyewumbu Wigwe, CFR, Lagos”, dated 15th February, 2024 but delivered to father of the deceased, Elder Shyngle Wigwe, a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), by a high-powered delegation led by Sarkin Fulani of Lagos, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Bambado II, in Lagos on Friday March 1, 2024.
According to the letter, Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar, who has stopped at nothing to see all Nigerians across ethnic and religious boundaries succeeding together in peace and unity, it was touching “tragic loss of Herbert Onyewumbu Wigwe, CFR, his wife Chizoba and son Herbert Jnr in a helicopter crash in United States on Friday 9th February, 2024.”
Addressing the Wigwe family in the letter, the Sultan described the death as “a great loss not only to you the immediate family but to the entire nation, the corporate world and humanity in general.
“We share in your grief as you mourn the passing of an internationally recognized businessman and a philanthropist of high repute.
“He will be remembered for his patriotism of unity, progress, peaceful co-existence and economic development of our great country Nigeria.
“We therefore wish to convey our heartfelt condolences to you over this monumental loss and urge you all to take heart, knowing that God Giveth and God Taketh. May God in His infinite mercy grant you the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss, amen,” the letter read.
Wigwe, others’ a death rude – Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu described the death of Mr Herbert Wigwe, Mr Abimbola Ogunbanjo, and members of the Wigwe family as a rude shock.
The President prayed for the peaceful repose of the departed and asked “God Almighty to comfort the multitude of Nigerians who are grieving and the families of the deceased at this deeply agonizing moment.”
Dangotes pays tribute
Aliko Dangote said that he would name the biggest road at the Dangote Refinery after the late co-founder of Access Bank.
Dangote, who described Wigwe as one of his mentees, said the late banker played a key role in ensuring that the Refinery project was successfully completed.
