I have just had the time to watch, in details, some of the programs and events celebrating the life and time of the man whose name (and banking heroics) has become a popular theme on most lips in Nigeria – Herbert Wigwe, especially because of the tragic end of his life, his wife’s and son’s, on February 9th, 2024. Life is a big irony! That same day, we had celebrated the 50th birthday of a beloved friend, and it was, for us, a very good day; but for the Wigwes, Access Bank Plc, and everyone that knew Herbert, including Africa’s richest man (Aliko Dangote), that day would haunt them for a long time to come – the day they lost a son, a brother, a friend, an encourager, an enabler, a reliable and trusted associate, etc.
Incidentally, I ran in the Access Bank sponsored Lagos City Marathon on February 10th – the day after Herbert’s death, not knowing what had happened the night before. What a life! We were running and having fun in the marathon that Herbert’s company bankrolled, while, elsewhere, some people were wailing and sorrowing over the same Herbert, his wife and son! What an irony! But then, such is life! The earth is constantly rotating and revolving; so, when it’s bright and sunny here, it’s dark and scary somewhere else. And, with another rotation, positions are reversed. That’s life! May the LORD keep us through it all, in JESUS MIGHTY Name. Amen!
I had written some six articles about Herbert Wigwe, directly or indirectly, since his passage, and I had tried to be balanced in my estimation of who he was, even though I never met him nor ever heard anything unpleasant about him in his lifetime. However, after listening to all the testimonies given of him, here is my final conclusion on Herbert – ‘the fearless one’: he was a GOOD SOUL, a kind hearted and truly great man. If he did anything wrong as a banker, ‘Nigeria’ (as currently constituted) did it to/through him! ‘Nigeria’ (with her sleaze, nepotism, religious bigotry, and deliberately rendered-inefficient/ineffective systems) corrupts the best of us, and encourages even the saints among us to put their hands into iniquity. Whoever had/has anything against Herbert Wigwe should blame it on Nigeria FIRST! Herbert himself was a GOOD SOUL!
Before you disagree with me, please, consider how you got your driver’s license, international passport, C of O, NIN (which they’re still troubling us about), TIN, BVN, etc, and you’ll understand how ‘Nigeria’ institutionally/systematically corrupts even the GOOD ONES. Why did I call Herbert a GOOD SOUL? Apart from the other fantastic eulogies showered on him, anyone that his competitors and rivals can call, “Good, Brother, Friend, Exceptional, etc.”, must have been a rare breed indeed. I’m persuaded that Herbert was!
Finally, learn from this: Herbert Wigwe was born on 15th August 1966. He was a Nigerian banker and businessman. He was the Group Managing Director and CEO of Access Bank Plc, one of Nigeria’s top five banking institutions, after succeeding his business partner, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede. Wigwe started his career at Coopers & Lybrand and Guaranty Trust Bank before joining Access Bank in 2002 as the company’s Deputy Managing Director. He became the Chief Executive Officer of the bank in January 2014. He died in a helicopter crash on 9 February 2024 in the United States on his way to attend the Sunday’s Super Bowl LVIII (58th) championship in Las Vegas.
Isn’t it a dreadful irony that he didn’t make it to the 58th Super Bowl Championship, just as he didn’t make it to his 58th birthday?! Hmmmmmm! HOW?!!!!!!!!! Life, o life! What is life, except that which is done for GOD and humanity! The best of life is at best vanity. Live simply! Live GODLY!
May JEHOVAH NISSI cover, comfort, strengthen and uphold the Wigwes, and everyone affected by the tragic demise of the trio.
Rest well, Herbert, Chizoba and Chizi.
It is well!
DA