Immediate past Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has described the late Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, Dr. Herbert Wigwe as a man of integrity, stating how the deceased didn’t ask for favours while he was Vice President.
Osinbajo stated this on Thursday at the combined Service of Songs for Wigwe, his wife, Doreen and their son, Chizi, which held at the RCCG Resurrection Parish, Lekki, Lagos.
The former Vice President while paying his tribute recalled how the late Wigwe keeps checking on him while throughout his eight years in office without singling out a day to ask for favours.
“I have known him for so many years. I’m not even sure how many years. While I was in office for the entire eight, Herbert called me practically every other month, just to say, ‘How are you doing?’ never asking for a favour. But two months before I left office, he called me and said he needed to see me. So, I thought, he must have some issue and he came with a notebook.
“I was very surprised because Herbert never comes with a notebook and he said that he wanted to know what my plans were after I left office. I laughed over it and he insisted and took note very diligently of everything that I said I wanted to do. Thereafter he visited me no less than three times before I left office.” he said
Narrating his last moment with Wigwe, Osinbajo said “The Thursday before he died, he called me on Tuesday and said he was going to come see me in Abuja on Thursday and he did. We spent about three hours reviewing practically everything, the university, the philanthropy (initiatives) he was involved in, everything.”
Describing Wigwe as an individual who values and walks the talk when it comes to friendship, Osinbajo stated, ““I don’t think any event in recent times for me in particular has made it clear how important friendships and relationships are. Herbert was one who walked the talk of brotherhood and friendship.”
Consoling the bereaved children, the former VP said, “No amount of words can heal your hearts but that you are not alone in your grief. This tragedy has troubled so many, both young and old. A deep dark cloud hangs over our hearts.
“This event has confronted me and many of us with our own mortality. One thing I will like you to know especially, the children. The manner of death is not as important to God; John was beheaded, Stephen was stoned to death, Elisha died of an ailment. What is important to God is the difference between dying and perishing.”
Dignitaries at the service of songs include Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote; Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State; Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede; Senior Pastor of This Present House, Tony Rapu; lead pastor of the Trinity House Church, Lagos, Ituah Ighodalo; Senior Pastor of the House On The Rock church, Paul Adefarasin and his wife, Pastor Ifeanyi Adefarasin and a former Access Bank chairman, Dr Dere Awosika, among others.
