On Saturday, March 9th, 2024, dignitaries including the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, and the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Eno Umo, gathered to pay their respects to the late Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of Access Holdings Plc, Herbert Wigwe, his wife Chizoba, and their son Chizi.
The funeral service was held at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Lion of Judah Parish, Isiokpo, which is located in the headquarters of Ikwerre local government area of Rivers State.
Herbert Wigwe, his wife Chizoba, their son Chizi, and three others passed away on February 9th, 2024, in a helicopter crash near California in the United States of America (USA).
Numerous other dignitaries were also present at the funeral service, including the former Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.
The Chairman of the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Barrister Chiedu Ebie, former governor of Ogun State Ibekunle Amosun, 14th Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II, and former governor of Bayelsa State Senator Seriake Dickson were also in attendance.
Additionally, former governor of Delta State James Ibori, former governor of Anambra State Peter Obi, former governor of Ekiti State Ayo Fayose, and a board member of NDDC, Chief Tony Okocha, were present.
Chief Tony Okocha, who is also the State Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, spoke to journalists at the funeral service. He referred to the death of Herbert Wigwe as "one death too many" and a significant loss to humanity.
He prayed that God would give those left behind the strength to cope with their loss. He went on to say that Saturday, March 9th, 2024 marked a dark day in the history of the Ikwerre Ethnic nationality in Rivers State, Nigeria, and the world at large.