Nigerians was thrown into Mourning when it was reported that MD/CEO of Access Bank Holdings, Dr. Herbert Wigwe was on board with about five others believed to be his wife, son and Abimbola Ogunbanjo, the group chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group), when the helicopter crashed.
Sources said the chopper was headed to Las Vegas when it crashed near a border city between Nevada and California on Friday night.
It was also noticed that Herbert Wigwe and the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, were absent at the Access Bank Lagos Marathon on Saturday.
The governor was represented by his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat.
US officials had said the helicopter crashed near Nipton on the edge of the Mojave Desert late on Friday evening.
Meanwhile, the Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki and other well meaning Nigerians have said that they were shocked and devastated over the death of Herbert Wigwe, his family, and Ogunbanjo.
In a press statement by the governor, made available to the journalists on Saturday in Benin, he said, “The news of the passing of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Access Bank Holdings, Dr. Herbert Wigwe, who died in a helicopter crash in the United States of America has left me extremely shocked and devastated.
“We also unfortunately lost Wigwe’s wife and son as well as the former group chairman of Nigeria Stock Exchange, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, in the crash.
“The tragic incident is painful and heart-wrenching and we pray for God’s abiding comfort in this profoundly difficult time.
“Wigwe was a colossus in Nigeria’s financial sector, leading Access Bank to become an international brand that placed Nigeria on the global map of first-class financial services.
“I commiserate with the Wigwe family, the Ogunbanjo family, Access Bank Holding, the Nigeria Stock Exchange, friends, and associates and pray that God will grant all the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Atiku, Ibori Mourn:
Former Vice President and Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 general elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has expressed sadness over the death of the Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings, Herbert Wigwe.
Wigwe, alongside his wife, son and three others were reported to have died in a helicopter crash in the United States of America on Saturday morning (Nigeria time).
The accident also claimed the former group chairman of Nigeria Stock Exchange, Abimbola Ogunbanjo.
Atiku in a condolence message on his verified Instagram handle on Saturday night described the incident as a great loss.
According to him, “I’m deeply saddened to hear about the unfortunate incident that led to the loss of Herbert Wigwe, Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, and his family.
“Indeed, Herbert Wigwe, consummate banker, education promoter, and philanthropist, numbered his days. On behalf of my family, my heart goes out to their loved ones and everyone affected by this unfortunate incident. May their souls rest in peace.”
On his part, a former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, also described the accident as a tragedy while commiserating with the families of the deceased.
Ibori wrote on his verified Instagram handle, “Noooooooooooooooo Herbert! What a tragedy! Chizoba(Ibo), Herbert, true soul mates even in death!! Rest well comrades! Rest well!!”
Meanwhile, Edo state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, who said he was devastated by the death of the banker, described the helicopter as a high regrettable crash.
Obaseki in a statement said, “The news of the passing of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Access Bank Holdings, Dr. Herbert Wigwe, who died in a helicopter crash in the United States of America has left me extremely shocked and devastated.
“We also unfortunately lost Wigwe’s wife and son as well as the former group chairman of Nigeria Stock Exchange, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, in the crash.
“The tragic incident is painful and heart wrenching and we pray for God’s abiding comfort in this profoundly difficult time.
“Wigwe was a colossus in Nigeria’s financial sector, leading Access Bank to become an international brand that placed Nigeria on the global map of first class financial services.
“I commiserate with the Wigwe family, the Ogunbanjo family, Access Bank Holding, the Nigeria Stock Exchange, friends and associates and pray that God will grant all the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”