Tinubu, Akpabio, Abbas, govs mourn Wigwe

President Bola Tinubu Sunday said he received the news of the death of Mr Herbert Wigwe and Mr Abimbola Ogunbanjo, and other members of the Wigwe family with deep shock and distress. Wigwe, who was the Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc. and founder of the How Foundation, died alongside his wife, son and […]

President Bola Tinubu Sunday said he received the news of the death of Mr Herbert Wigwe and Mr Abimbola Ogunbanjo, and other members of the Wigwe family with deep shock and distress.

Wigwe, who was the Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc. and founder of the How Foundation, died alongside his wife, son and Mr Abimbola Ogunbanjo, former Group Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc.

“After receiving an official confirmation of events, President Bola Tinubu receives with shock and deep distress the news of the passing of Mr Herbert Wigwe, top banker and entrepreneur, and Mr Abimbola Ogunbanjo, OFR, former Group Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc, along with members of the Wigwe family.

“Mr Herbert Wigwe, CON, was the Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc. and founder of the How Foundation.

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“President Tinubu mourns these exceptional Nigerian business leaders and describes their passing as an overwhelming tragedy that is shocking beyond comprehension.

“The president condoles with the Wigwe and Ogunbanjo families, the business community, and all those impacted by this harrowing incident. President Tinubu prays for the peaceful repose of the departed and asks God Almighty to comfort the multitude of Nigerians who are grieving and the families of the deceased at this deeply agonising moment,” the statement read.

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, in a statement by his media aide, Eseme Eyiboh described the death of Mr Wigwe as a big loss not only to the Nigerian banking and finance industry where he held sway, but also to the country as a whole.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, and his Deputy, Benjamin Kalu also conveyed their condolences in two separate statements by their spokespersons on Sunday.

A statement by Oguwike Nwachuku, Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State said his principal is still in shock over the ugly incident and yet to come to terms with the reality that Wigwe, his wife , his son and Ogunbanjo are no more.

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Sunday , described the incident as a devastating loss for the families, friends, and the entire business community in Nigeria.

Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, on Sunday, joined the rest of the country to mourn the tragic death of top banker, and some members of his family in an air crash in the United States.

The governor similarly sent his condolences to the family of Mr Abimbola Ogunbanjo, a former Group Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc, who died in the same crash.

Governor AbdulRazaq said the incident was a huge loss to not just the Nigerian business community but to the entire country and its people who would miss the immense impacts of the two businessmen.

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, also expressed shock and sadness at the news of the death of Dr Wigwe, his wife, Chizoba, son and others in the helicopter crash.

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji described the late Wigwe as a great friend of Ekiti State and a strategic partner and supporter of the state’s development programme.

Oyebanji also described Wigwe as a phenomenal philanthropist who served humanity eminently with his time, talent and resources, hence that he would be remembered for the impact he made on the lives of the people as much as his notable contributions to the development of the nation’s financial sector.

Similarly, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, Mr Peter Obi, yesterday expressed sadness over the death of Wigwe, his wife, son and others in a helicopter crash in the United States.

“I’m deeply saddened by the tragic news of the passing of my dear friend, Mr Herbert Wigwe, CEO of Access Holdings, along with his wife and son, and another close friend, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, former group chairman of NGX Group. This loss is profoundly felt across the nation,” he added.

 

By Baba Martins, Abbas Jimoh, Abdullateef Salau, Balarabe Alkassim (Abuja), Peter Moses (Abeokuta), Mumini Abdulkareem (Ilorin), Victor Edozie (Port Harcourt) & Raphael Ogbonnaiye (Ado-Ekiti)