Tony Okocha, the chairman of the All Progressives Congress’s (APC) seven-member Caretaker Committee in Rivers State, has called the late Herbert Wigwe, the managing director and chief executive officer of Access Bank, a remarkable figure in his career.
Okocha made the statement while leading a group of APC caretaker committee members, party supporters, and the Niger Delta Development Commission, or NDDC, on a condolence tour to Wigwe’s village of Isiokpo, in the state’s Ikwerre local government area.
Speaking on Sunday at the palace of the Paramount ruler of the Isiokpo community, Okocha stressed the significance of Wigwe’s global influence, characterizing his passing as a loss to the world as well as to Isiokpo and Rivers State.
Okocha, who also serves as the NDDC Management Board Representative for Rivers State, pleaded with the people to have faith in God for a good successor.
He promised the Isiokpo people that the late Herbert Wigwe’s funeral arrangements would be fully participated in by the NDDC.
Speaking to reporters outside the traditional Isiokpo ruler’s palace, Okocha stated, “As a people we felt we should identify with them in their moment of grief, just as we would have identified with them in their moment of joy.
“We went to send our heartfelt condolences to them over this very terrible and irreplaceable death.
“The late Wigwe was an icon, he was a giant in his chosen career. He was an astute banker and somebody who distinguished himself in the banking industry and of course, a great entrepreneur.
“Somebody who has been in the business of providing employment and funds for the younger generation.
“So, it’s indeed a very painful one that we could lose such a hero to the very wicked pans of death, it’s so painful.
“I represented the Niger Delta Development Commission, of course that’s the reason I’m here, I’m their representative.
“My chairman is actively participation in the burial obsequies as announced already taking place in Lagos from tomorrow. They can’t all be here at the same time.” He added.
Speaking on behalf of Isiokpo, Nna Matthew-Aleru replied that she was grateful for Chief Okocha’s visit and that the community was deeply saddened by the sudden death of Herbert Wigwe, his wife, and their son.
He said, “We wish this visit was for some other thing. We wish the visit was for the commissioning of a project or the flag off of a project, and not for sad news such as this.”
