In memory of the late Herbert Wigwe, wife Chizoba, and son Chizi, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu in company of notable Igbo sons and daughters on Sunday 17th March paid a condolence visit to Elder Shyngle Wigwe and the rest of the family. Also present at the visit are the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos, Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene, foremost Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote, Gen. Ike Nwachukwu (retd), former minister Ajumogobia, among others. This visit was also in line with Igbo tradition following the funeral of the three departed Wigwes.
Commiserating with the Wigwe family, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu said: ‘We want to let you know that our thoughts and minds are with you at this time. You are blessed. We give thanks to God. We are thankful that such a star and amazing personality with incredible credentials come from Igboland, Ikwerreland, Isokoland, Rivers state, and Nigeria.’
‘We are here today with many Igbo leaders to tell you that we give thanks to God. We thank you too for the efforts you made to train the children. You are a wonderful man, we respect you. It is said in the Bible that by their fruits you shall know them. Please we are sorry, we stay with you, we pray for you for courage and strength to recover from this.’
‘This is a traditional visit. Igbos all over the world know we are here today. We have come with a cow. That is what the tradition stipulates. We know you probably have all these but it is our tradition to show how we appreciate and love you and how we feel sad about the loss. May his soul rest in perfect peace.’
In his response, father of the deceased, Elder Shyngle Wigwe said: ‘I have to thank you. I am indeed grateful that you have come to visit us. I was really taken aback when you called yesterday that you were coming because we have not talked since the incident. I sent a message to my brothers to come and be by my side.’
‘As a child of God, I am happy with the will of God. I thank the Lord for giving me the gift of God in person of Herbert Wigwe for 57 years. When He pleased Him to take Herbert, he called him home. Naturally one will feel sad, shocked and disappointed but Herbert is not dead. He is posted to another realm. He just crossed. There is no point crying’, he remarked.
Elder Shyngle Wigwe preached to the guests, ‘We are in transit here. This is a temporary place. Death has no respect for anybody. Nobody has immunity to death. Everybody must die but what is important is where you are going. There are two exits – one end up with God and the other to the lake of fire. That’s what should be on people’s minds. Have you rejected His Only Son? My prayer is that no one here will go to help in the name of Jesus. There is no point crying for Herbert, pleasant in the sight of God is the death of His saints. It is important that we embrace Jesus.’
He recalled the moments which led to the unfortunate incident. ‘That is one lesson that I learned from Herbert. I had eye surgery in South Africa in January. He sent jet to pick me on 30th January back to Nigeria. Then he went to Namibia, then to Britain, and on the trip he never returned. That’s why the Bible teaches us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom. Such an evil will never happen in any man’s home to bury 3 children in one day. It is something you will not wish your enemy.’
‘By God’s Grace we will all end well. Thank you for coming. Thank you for your gift. Thank you for coming to show love to Herbert’, Elder Wigwe concluded.
During the condolence visit, Chief Iwuanyanwu used the opportunity to thank Alhaji Aliko Dangote for standing by the Wigwe family. ‘I know Aliko very well. He is someone I have great admiration for. Igbos will never forget you, Aliko. Thank you for showing us love. We are very grateful. We are going to show gratitude to you but not today because of the love you showed our brother. You are a friend that is better than a brother.’
