Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has revealed that the state plans to immortalize the late Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Access Holdings, Dr. Herbert Wigwe.
Speaking at the night of tributes organised on Tuesday by the Port Harcourt City One Love Family to reflect on the life and times of Wigwe, the governor said the late banker led an impactful life, affecting society positively.
He described the death of Wigwe as a double loss saying apart from happening at a time when he was the governor, the late banker was his in-law.
Fubara said: “For me, it is a double loss, not just as the governor of our dear state, still standing, but as an in-law. Herbert is from Isiokpo, my wife’s mother is from Isiokpo. As a matter of fact, they are even close, they’re relatives. So, you can see that this loss is really deep for my own family.
“But I have come to understand something about life. Those ones that God has favoured, that have the blessings of God that God really cherishes, he doesn’t like them to stay too long on earth because he doesn’t want them to get corrupt. But the wicked ones, the cruel ones, that you are praying for to die, will stay and they will not die.
“So, you should understand that what has happened to our brother and his family, yes, immediately, when it happened, we started feeling the pains, but at the long run, we would understand the message that God has just sent to us. It sounds painful but it has a special message.
“We have come to this world with nothing, we will leave this world, no matter how rich you are when you die, you will also leave with nothing. So, it is for us to appreciate the mystery of life, understanding that, what is most important is the number of persons that are still behind when you’re not there and say positive things about you.
“Not the ones that are drinking with you immediately, not the ones that join you to attend occasions and hail you. But how many, when you’re no longer there, can say oh, he is a good man, he’s a great man. For me, Herbert has come, he saw and he’s conquered. He has completed his work on earth. Our prayers should be, wherever he is going, because we can’t see, but let it be at the right place in heaven.
“I want to enjoin every one of you, as much as it looks difficult, let’s have that faith that the only one that can comfort us in this kind of situation is God and he is going to fill that gap for us.
“Don’t lose faith in God. We will, as a government, do everything within our power to immortalize some of the legacies of our dear brother. We have said it before and we are also making the commitment again publicly here before the Port Harcourt One Love Family.
“But you also owe Herbert something. He believed in this course, ensure that you do not deviate. That’s the truth. Today, we are all proud of this family called Port Harcourt One Love Family”.
The governor appealed to the people not to lose their direction but to keep sustaining the features of the Port Harcourt One Love Family.
He said: “It is unfortunate that it has happened. But the State will participate fully in all processes of the burial. We have just been informed that it will start next week, 4th to 8th, we are still expecting more information but we will participate and give the best of the State.”