Tributes As Wigwe, Wife, Son To Be Buried Today

Preparations have been finalised for the funeral of the former Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings, Dr. Herbert Wigwe, scheduled to take place in his hometown of Omueke in Isiokpo, Ikwere Local Government Area of Rivers State today, Saturday.

Accompanied by a large motorcade, his body departed from the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa in Ikwerre LGA, on Friday at approximately 1:33 pm, heading directly to his father’s residence in Omueke, Isiokpo.

Recall that Wigwe’s relatives had insisted that their kin should be laid to rest in his native town.

In Omueke, they pledged to employ ancient customs and rituals to uncover the circumstances surrounding his passing.

Numerous community members have donned black attire in anticipation of Wigwe’s arrival, while married women from Isiokpo congregated at the community entrance to offer prayers, beseeching God to ward off the specter of premature death and the loss of esteemed individuals from the locality.

As the women, numbering over 200, gathered, some sprinkled water on the ground, while others seated themselves on the grass, overcome with emotion, offering prayers in their native dialect as they warmly received the body.

One of them said, “We have just completed a three-day fasting which ended today. We have been fasting from 6am to 9am which ends today.

“We are not happy at all. Our son, Herbert, was taking care of us, widows and children in this area. Every Christmas, he brings bags of rice and other foodstuff to every family here.

“We are praying God to remove the spirit of untimely death and stop our prominent people from dying. We are pained.”

The Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area, Dr Samuel Nwanosike, and elders of the community received his body when it arrived in Isiokpo on Friday morning.

Speaking to newsmen, Nwanosike described Wigwe’s death as a great loss, saying, “He had a large vision not only for his people but the entire Ikwerre ethnic nationality.”

He said the people would find a way to immortalise him.

Meanwhile, about 30 private jets conveying dignitaries ranging from governors, ministers, prominent politicians, captains of industries, top traditional rulers, are expected to grace the occasion to pay their last respect to the financial mogul and philanthropist.

The Port Harcourt International Airport is already experiencing heavy traffic as some visitors and community folks have started arriving.

As of the time of filing this report on Friday evening, preparations are in top gear for a wake to be held at Wigwe University, which he founded.

The university which has reached an advanced stage of completion shares the same fence with late Wigwe’s palatial residence in the serene community.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command has taken significant steps to reinforce security arrangements to ensure a peaceful and well-organised burial ceremony for the late Herbert Wigwe, his wife, and son.

This was contained in a statement issued in Port Harcourt by the spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko and sent to newsmen on Friday.

Iringe-Koko said operatives, including Mobile policemen, would be deployed from various units, including tactical command and undercover personnel, due to the expected large gathering of mourners.