The 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has described the death of Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings, Herbert Wigwe as one of the most painful and tragic in the nation’s recent history.
Wigwe, his wife, Chizoba, and son, Chizzy, were buried in a private interment in his hometown Omueke, Isiokpo in Rivers State on Saturday.
The trio died alongside former Group Chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group), Abimbola Ogunbanjo, as well as two pilots, when an Airbus Helicopter EC 130B4 with registration number N130CZ, crashed near Halloran Springs, California, on February 9, 2024.
The burial of the Wigwes was graced by top political and business leaders in Nigeria, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio; former Senate President Bukola Saraki; Rivers governor, Siminalayi Fubara; Abia governor, Alex Otti; Ogun governor, Dapo Abiodun; Lagos governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; former Rivers governor, Rotimi Amaechi and Nyesom Wike; Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote; former Emir of Kano, HRH Muhammadu Sanusi II; and former Anambra governor, Peter Obi.
In a statement, Obi said, “Today, I joined other mourners to attend the final funeral ceremony of Herbert Wigwe, his wife Chizoba Wigwe, and his son, Chizi Wigwe at Isiokpo, Rivers State. This is the culmination of the week-long burial program in their honour.
“This death remains one of the most painful and tragic in our recent history. These three kind souls who left us very sadly and painfully had in their lives contributed immensely to our society and would have continued to do so for the rest of their full life spans, had they lived long enough.
“Having known Herbert and Chizoba before they got married, and known them to date, it is more shocking and painful to say goodbye to them at this time, especially considering the nature of their death.
“May God who it pleased to call them home at this time, in this sad and tragic manner, grant them eternal rest and their families, and all of us who mourn them, the fortitude to bear this sorrowful and irreplaceable loss.
“My family and I will remain in earnest prayers for their immediate families, that God will comfort them.”