The Night of Tributes for the late Group Managing Director/CEO of Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe, unfolded in Lagos yesterday, featuring heartfelt contributions from influential figures such as the leader of the Tijjaniyya movement and 14th Emir of Kano, Mohammed Sanusi, as well as prominent captains of industry and political heavyweights.
Emir Sanusi, visibly moved, found himself breaking down on three occasions while sharing his tributes to Herbert Wigwe. In each emotional moment, Abia State Governor Alex Otti, Aig-Imoukhuede, and a compassionate aide offered solace. The aide even extended his traditional babanriga to shield the teary face of Emir Sanusi from the audience.
Recalling the tragic helicopter crash that claimed Herbert Wigwe, his wife Doreen, son Chizzy, and former Managing Director of Nigerian Exchange Group, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, in the US, the ceremony became a moment of remembrance.
In addition to Emir Sanusi’s heartfelt words, other dignitaries such as Vice President Kashim Shettima paid their respects to the departed soul. The event also witnessed the presence of notable personalities including Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President Dangote Group, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman Coronation Group, Henry Imasekha, Chairman/CEO – Berkeley Group Plc, among other dignitaries.
During the occasion, Emir Sanusi, with tears in his eyes, shared how Herbert’s benevolence towards him and his family led some to believe that he owned Access Bank, while Aig-Imoukhuede and Herbert were perceived as fronting for him.
He said:
“It was on a Saturday, I had no idea about what happened. I came to the airport waiting for a plane and I got a call from Bola Adeshola, and we were chatting. After two sentences, he said, Lamido you haven’t heard? “About two years ago, I put all my savings into a Trust for the education of my children, I have many and my priority as a father is to make sure that when I pass away, they will have good education. I told Herbert ‘I am placing you in charge of this Trust for the education of my children because I know that even if I die and did not leave any money, you will educate my children. “I thought I would die before Herbert.”
After that, he burst into tears. “When I had problems in Kano, I called him about six months before I was to leave Kano, and I said to him, ‘Herbert I know you will give all your best to solve all these problems, but I am convinced that this is what is going to happen.’ And he said to me ‘your highness, don’t worry, whatever happens, don’t worry we are here for you.’
“On the day I heard on the radio that I was dethroned, the night before it happened, I called and said I want to come to Lagos. The announcement was made at about 9am, by noon, Herbert had a plane at the tarmac in Kano. I put my family on that plane, no message, no phone call, I put them on that plane. Herbert received them, put them in a hotel, and later got them accommodation for months.
When I came we stayed there. “Some people believe I own access bank and Aig and Herbert are fronting for me. They gave me the cars and the drivers, they gave me security and a private jet and they ask for nothing and they don’t talk about it. I have lived in Lagos for four years, the house my family lives in was provided by Herbert.
“When I heard of his death, I said ‘in the coming weeks and months, people will get to know Herbert the human being’. They know him as a banker, as a business man, they don’t know him as a human being. He was always about others, not about himself. You can’t imagne how one human being could have been so many things to so many people.
“On the day before this happened, I was on a chat group when somebopdy made a few remarks about Herbert that I found offensive and I defended Herbert. I made my point very clear that this was totally unacceptable.
“A few days after Herbert died; a friend called me and sent me a message. He has sent a message to Herbert at about 3:20 am that morning (day of the crash), telling him how I had stood up and defended him and forwarded my entire message to him. ‘’Herbert replied at 3:28 am with one word ‘unbelievable’. He sent another message at 3:50 which was not delivered. From the presentation from the air traffic controllers, the crash happened at 3:30. So possibly, the last thing Herbert read was my message talking about him.”
