Three state governors, a former governor, a serving minister and a former minister, were among prominent Nigerians who on Friday paid condolence visits to the family of the renowned banker and philanthropist, Dr. Herbert Wigwe, who lost his life in a tragic helicopter crash in the United States on Friday, February 9th 2024.
Wigwe alongside his wife Chizoba, first son Chizi and former Chairman of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Bimbo Ogunbanjo all met their end in the ill-fated flight that crashed along the California- Nevada border.
Among the dignitaries who visited on Friday were the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara; Abia State Governor; Dr. Alex Otti; Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo. Also sending a video via his X account was former Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Olusegun Aganga.
Other dignitaries present at the house of the Wigwe’s included the Chairman & Editor-in-Chief of THISDAY Media Group and ARISE News Channel, Prince Nduka Obaigbena; former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke; former Managing Director of defunct Oceanic Bank, Cecilia Ibru, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter, Rev. Stephen Adegbite, and Dr. Joseph Nwobike.
Also at the residence, was the paramount ruler, HRM King Blessing Wagor Wagidi XL Nye Nwe Ali of Isiokpo Ancient Kingdom, who led other title chiefs, including Nwobike, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, to the house.
Keyamo came in a coaster van alongside the Manqaaging Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku and some management and members of staff of FAAN.
Aganga, in a condolence message he released on his social media platform X, formerly Twitter, said that Wigwe’s death was a national tragedy, going on to encourage Nigerians
His tweet read, “This tragic and devastating crash reminds us all to live each day as if it was our *LAST DAY*, doing good, loving our neighbors as ourselves because no one knows when the Angel of Life will withdraw that precious gift of Life which we sometimes take for granted”
In his condolence message, Eno wrote: “To my brother Herbert, you came and impacted your world and left it better than you met it. May your memory live forever. May God grant everyone particularly your aged parents the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. Rest in peace my brother”.
Also, Fubara in his condolence message wrote, “what a great loss, the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh. May their souls rest in peace. Amen.”
In his message, Otti wrote: “In everything, we are admonished to give thanks. Thank you God for the rare gift of Herbert and his wife and son. They were inseparable, even death could do them no separation. May their souls rest in peace.”
In his message Keyamo wrote, “My brother, you left my office in Abuja before you embarked on this fatal trip. You promised to return but alas you left us. The dreams we spoke about will never die. Adieu.”
For her part, Kuku in her condolence message wrote, “the man with the dreams, you may have left us but your dreams remain with us. Writing this is hard but your legacy will forever continue. I looked forward for more deliberation but the Lord knows best.”
Wale Igbintade
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