The greatest Herbert Wigwe Tribute – A must read

The Night of Tributes for Herbert Wigwe reminds me of the title of a popular Telemundo series, 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑅𝑖𝑐ℎ 𝐴𝑙𝑠𝑜 𝐶𝑟𝑦. Never in the history of Nigeria have we witnessed such open tears from such richly blessed Nigerians as we watched during the Night of Tributes for Dr. Wigwe. The world witnessed for the first time the public tears of an emir. Imagine a former emir and a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the richest Nigerian barely able to hold their tears on the podium while the world is watching. It is difficult to watch without shedding tears as each person whose life has been touched by Dr. Wigwe attests to his outstanding humane qualities. It is important to also point out some appalling tales by moonlight written and shared on some social media by backstabbing nonentities who cannot be entrusted with ordinary meat in their mamas’ pots, let alone be trusted with the entire fortune of a friend, trying to link the success of a great detribalized mind to their individual and collective failure. Do you know my biggest takeaway from the highly emotional tributes in honor of the late Dr. Herbert Wigwe? Only poor people are tribalists! If you are a tribalist, it means you are poor. In fact, you are not just poor financially; you are emotionally, psychologically, physically, and spiritually poor!!! Read what the former Emir says about Dr. Wigwe.

“𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗼, 𝗜 𝗽𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆.”
“𝗜 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱, ‘𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁, 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗜 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗳 𝗜 𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻.”

While some rabble-rousing hoi pollois are busy spreading rumours and unconfirmed stories of what they don’t know about the personal and business exploits of the late Dr. Wigwe, his associates, the crème de la crème of Nigeria’s household names, are busy celebrating an outstanding life spent in the service of humanity without recourse to tribal sentiments. A couple days before the Night of Tributes, precisely on 4th March, his professional colleagues at Access Bank Plc, the banking industry in Nigeria, and professional friends had organised “Celebrating Professional Excellence in honour of Dr. Herbert Wigwe. The four-hour event was divided into six segments, and speakers were accordingly grouped: The Young Herbert; Herbert the Banker; Herbert the Entrepreneur; Herbert the CEO; Herbert the Builder; and Herbert the Ambassador. A look at the arrays of the super-rich, highly educated, brilliant brains, superbly influential, internationally renowned, politically successful, and ‘wigwely’ blessed elites who graced the podium at both events is a reflection of the sense of camaraderie, civility, integrity, professionalism, and humanism of Dr. Wigwe. Among other dignitaries at the heart-wrenching events are the current Vice-President of Nigeria Kashim Shettima, Professor Yemi Oshinbajo, immediate past Vice President of Nigeria; Alh. Aliko Dangote, Gov. Dapo Abiodun, Abia State Gov. Alex Otti, Gov. Sanwon-Olu, Wale Edun, Yemi Cardoso, Akinwunmi Adesina, Segun Agbaje (CEO of GT Holdco); Mr. Abubakar Jimoh, Mrs. Mfon Usoro, Paul Usoro, Cathy Echeazor; and Dolapo Ogundimu, Ronke Kuye, Gbenga Oyebode and his wife, Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode, Tony Elumelu, and Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, friends and family members of Dr. Wigwe.

It was Anthony J. D’Angelo who said, “𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.” Another major takeaway from the Night of Tributes for Dr. Wigwe is the fact that he treasured his relationships. The affirmation is seen in the outpouring of emotions, affection, and support from his professional, political, business, personal, family, and international relationships. Starting with Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo, former governor of Gombe, a northerner and a Muslim to Tunji, his driver for more than twenty years; Efoli Ekot and Sola Faleye, his personal assistants to Tochi Wigwe, his daughter. While some morbid zones of paupers are busy trying to link the late Wigwe to the current dire situation of the country, his collegiate of savants are shedding tears because of the effects of his absence on the nation’s economy. “𝗜𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁.” Guess who said that? No, the statement didn’t come from one of 𝑑𝑒𝑚 tribal bigots. It came out of the mouth of the richest man in Nigeria and, most likely, the richest man in Africa. And that’s not all! While only a candlelight procession may mark the demise of some of the rumour-mongers into oblivion, great men are planning to immortalize Dr. Wigwe. Hear, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

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“𝗧𝗼 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱, 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲, 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱; 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟭𝟮𝟬 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗯𝗲 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱 ‘𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗪𝗶𝗴𝘄𝗲.”

The rich are hardly tribalists. In fact, you can never be rich as a tribalist. You can only spread the poverty of tribalism among your kind. Rich minds are too sophisticated for tribalism. Tribal sentiment is never a consideration in their relationships or in their plans to extend the frontiers of relationships. Tribalism is detrimental to progressive and capitalist thinking. Tribalism is the cultural element of shortsighted fools. Rich minds must connect, integrate, and interact with others from different walks of life to achieve their ambitions, while poor minds limit their circle to their cocoons. Pull-Him-Down syndrome is the cynical-psycho-pathological jealous disease in the biological makeup and medulla oblongata of poor minds. The poor don’t want any poor to get out of the circle of poverty. For the rich, there is no barrier. No one is dispensable. To the poor, no one is indispensable, especially when you are not from their tribe of poverty-stricken bigots. And the rich know how to toy with the tribal mentality of the poor. Oh yes, especially during the electioneering period. I know your tribal blood will rise if I tell you that the Lagos State government has promised to name somewhere on Lagos Island in honor of Dr. Herbert Wigwe. Ah, I know what you are thinking: “𝐶ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑𝑢, 𝑜 𝑏𝑢𝑟𝑢 𝑝𝑢𝑝𝑜,” 𝐸𝑙𝑢𝑝𝑒𝑒 27! Tribalists! Chinedu is a Lagos boy. For your information, Dr. Herbert Wigwe was born in Lagos. The governor of Lagos, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, states.

“𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝗷𝗼𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗟𝗮𝗴𝗼𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲.”
“𝗛𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗴𝗼𝘀 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘀 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲, 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗱, 𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗘𝗸𝗼 𝗯𝗼𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘂𝘀.
“𝗜𝗳 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵, 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗮𝗴𝗼𝘀 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗼 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝗴𝗼𝘀 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱.”

The Stoic philosopher Lucius Annaeus Seneca states, “𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴.” Dr. Herbert Wigwe may have stepped out of this earthly life, but his circle of great minds will forever keep his flag flying high as a beacon of hope for generations yet unborn. The circle of poverty-stricken morons can keep on fanning the ember of tribalism and pass on the torch to those who have decided to remain poor. Only poor people spend time fanning the embers of tribal sentiments, bigotry, and rumour-mongering. 𝐷𝑒𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑦 𝑦𝑎𝑏 a trustworthy man while your family cannot entrust you with the key to your dad’s wardrobe. Instead of going online to busy yourself reading and researching the unique qualities of great achievers like Dr. Herbert Wigwe, you are busily committed to building your myopic circle of poor tribal warlords. Imagine what Dr. Herbert Wigwe was committed to achieving, as stated by his close pal, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede:

“𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹.”

Lest I forget, thank you, Darey Art Alade (a graduate of my alma mater, the Department of Creative Arts, University of Lagos), for the rendition of Frank Sinatra’s ‘’I did it my way’’, one of Herbert’s favorite songs. It is well!

Dr. Rasheed Otun,
University of Louisville,
Louisville, Kentucky, USA