Wigwe: Senate demands comprehensive investigation, mourns

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The Senate observed a minute’s silence on Wednesday in memory of the late Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings, Herbert Wigwe, who died in a helicopter crash in the United States of America on Friday.

Wigwe had died in the crash along with his wife, Chizoba, and his son, Chizi.

The crash also claimed the life of the former group chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group, Abimbola Ogunbanjo.

In a resolution it passed in Abuja, the Senate called for a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the accident, specifically asking the Nigerian government to collaborate with the US to ensure that thorough work was done.

The Senate further resolved to send a delegation to the burial of Wigwe when it was announced.

The Senate’s decisions came following a motion of urgent public importance moved by Senator Allwell Onyesoh (Rivers State), urging his colleagues to extol the virtues of Wigwe.

Several senators, while contributing to the debate, praised Wigwe’s exemplary lifestyle of professionalism and philanthropy.

In his submissions, Senator Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto-South) described Wigwe as a “pan-Nigerian and one of our best hands in the financial system of our dear country.”

Tambuwal recalled that Wigwe was born in Oyo State and had his secondary education at Federal Government College Sokoto.

“While I was the governor of my state, he visited me. He asked my uncles what he would do for them. They appealed to him to sponsor them to Hajj. He gave them 10 seats as Christians for them to go on Hajj. That was Herbert Wigwe for you.”

“We spoke last on the 1st of February. He said he called to say hello to me because we had not seen each other for a while.

“He wanted me to visit him and inspect the Wigwe University project. Well, that day will never come,” Tambuwal added.

Senator Gbenga Daniel, in his contribution, said Nigeria had lost a personality that would be hard to replace.

Daniel, a former Governor of Ogun State, also drew the attention of his colleagues to the death of Abimbola Ogunbanjo in that helicopter crash

“We also lost in that accident a very distinguished Nigerian, Abimbola Ogunbanjo Bimbola. We mourn the Wigwes and Ogunbanjo, and we pray to God to grant their souls eternal rest,” he said.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance, and Other Financial Institutions, Senator Adetokumbo Abiru, spoke similarly, saying that Wigwe and Ogunbanjo were “brilliant professionals.”

On his part, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Ahmed Wadada, noted that Wigwe’s impact was felt beyond banking.

He recalled, “He was everywhere doing anything that could add value to humanity. He ventured into areas other people were afraid of.

“At one point, he wanted to acquire Afribank, which never worked. He later went on to acquire Intercontinental Bank at a time when nobody wanted to go close to that bank.

“He took Access Bank beyond Nigeria and wanted to acquire 65% of Standard Chartered Bank in Africa.”

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, summing up the debate, said Wigwe was a “pan-Africanist who took Access Bank beyond the shores of Nigeria.”

He added, “He died along with his dear wife, son, and another illustrious Nigerian, Abimbola Ogunbanjo.

“We can’t question God for all that happened. He paid school fees for indigent students and Hajj fares for people.

“His legacies will never be forgotten.

May their souls rest in peace.”

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