The former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu San-us II said he thought he would leave Herbert Wigwe behind in this life.
Sanusi broke down in tears last night while paying tribute to lategroup chief executive officer of Access Holdings Plc, Herbert Wigwe.
Addressing the crowd present for the night of tributes to Herbert, Sanusi said “I was thinking I would die and leave Herbert. We have all heard about him, about his loyalty.”
He recalled how the late banker stood by his side all through his travails after being removed as Emir of Kano by former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.
According to Sanusi, Herbert assured him of his unflinching support and loyalty.
To match words with action, Lamido said Herbert provided a plane for him at the tarmac in Kano to convey him to Lagos.
“When I had problems in Kano, I called him about six months before I was told to leave Kano. I said to him, ‘Herbert I know you are doing all your best to solve all these problems, but I am convinced that this is what is going to happen.
“He said to me, ‘Your Highness, don’t worry. Whatever happens, don’t worry. We are here for you.’ On the day I heard on the radio that I was dethroned, I called him and said I wanted to come to Lagos.
“The announcement was made about 9 am, by noon Herbert had a plane at the tarmac in Kano. The plan then was to take me into exile for many years. I put my family on that plane and sent them to Lagos, with no phone calls. Herbert received them and put them in a hotel.
“Later, he got them accommodation. For months, when I came, they stayed there. Your Highness, if you want to travel, just call Shola.”
Meanwhile, Vice President Kashim Shettima yesterday led other Nigerians to mourn former group chief executive officer of Access Holdings Plc, Chief Herbert Wigwe, and his family who tragically died in a helicopter crash in the United States of America recently.
Shettima, in a lyrical eulogy, described the late Wigwe as an early bloomer who transformed the Nigerian banking industry, recalling his visionary leadership and unwavering dedication to his community.
Addressing a crowd of mourners in Lagos during the funeral service of the late banker, the vice president in a statement by his spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha said, “Herbert left us in winter before the season of bloom. Spring was just about to arrive at his last location, the United States, when the Lord called for him.
“Spring is not the symbol of Herbert’s bloom; his journey was defined by peculiar seasons. He bloomed long before his co-travellers.
“This spring, for us, isn’t the season of festive flowers; it’s the season of wreaths. This spring, for us, isn’t a season of tears; it’s a celebration of Herbert’s flight to a height that only a few of God’s chosen ones have attained.”
Delivering his speech entitled, “Herbert Wigwe: The Flower That Bloomed Before Spring,” the VP highlighted Wigwe’s early successes, his dream of building the “Harvard of Africa,” and his commitment to leaving a lasting legacy.
Shettima also lamented the tragic loss of Wigwe’s wife, son, and others, describing the loss as a collective grief felt by many and a “fading fragrance of a garden that touched lives far beyond its borders.”
He, however, urged Nigerians to celebrate “the divine miracle that was the life the deceased lived,” adding that “the spread of this grief that binds us is so because they cultivated a garden of success.”
Shettima continued: “Their achievements were not just individual triumphs but testaments to the collective strength of those they touched, those they built, and those they inspired.
“The journey of our departed brothers and sisters may have ended in a distant land, but their spirits linger in the hearts of everyone here and beyond.
“May Herbert’s legacy continue to bloom in the hearts and minds of those who strive for greatness,” the vice president added.
