Victor EzejaFounder of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Atedo Peterside, has berated Nigeria’s Senate President Godswill Akpabio over his comments at the funeral of the late Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings, Herbert Wigwe on Saturday.
The funeral of the late top banker, his wife and son was held in his hometown of Isiokpo in Rivers State on Saturday following their death in a helicopter accident on February 9 in the United States.
Senator Akpabio and other diginitaries both in politics and the business world were present to give Wigwe a final farewell after week-long funeral activities that started in Lagos.
Mr Peterside said he was one of those who found Akpabio’s comment to be in a “poor state.”
According to Peterside, Senator Akpabio started off his speech by complaining that Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate and a former governor of Anambra state, had gotten a better reception than he had.
READ ALSO: We’ll Do Everything Possible To Imortalise Herbert Wigwe – Fubara
The Stanbic IBTC founder queried the the appropriateness of making jokes and political jibes at such a solemn event involving the burial of a husband, wife and son who died under a tragic cirmcumstances.
“For the record, I was among those who found the Senate President’s comments at the Wigwe Family Funeral in PH to be in poor taste. He began by lamenting that Peter Obi received greater applause than he (Akpabio) got & later told us to join him in consoling the widow who was lying in one of the 3 caskets in front of him. Jokes? Political jibes at a solemn Combined Funeral? Methinks that was self-centred & totally insensitive,” Mr Peterside wrote on his official X handle on Monday.
Akpabio’s Controversial Comment
During the funeral service held at Redeemed Christian Church of God, Lion of Judah Parish, in Isiokpo, Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, had while reflecting on life and death, called on the political class to reflect on the essence of the struggle and political activities that even involve taking human life.
“What is this struggle all about? You want to kill, you want to bury, what is it all about? Is it not enough today to ask ourselves why are we struggling?
“Why are we not making an impact in the lives of our people? Please, political class, let’s go home with that question, and be answering it in our minds, and reflecting it in what we do,” Mr Fubara said.
However, when Akpabio mounted the pulpit, he responded directly to Fubara saying: “I will answer you. We are not talking politics. In 2006, I wanted to become the deputy governor and the then-deputy governor invited me and said this office has no money, there is nothing in it. I don’t know why you still insist on removing me from here and taking over.
“So, a woman who went with me said Your Excellency, don’t wait for impeachment, just resign since there is nothing in it (the office).”
According to the Senate President, the deputy governor stood up and started punching the woman.
“I said Your Excellency, don’t punch the woman, she is telling the truth, there is nothing in it. That’s why I want it because you are too big for it.
“Your Excellency, Governor Fubara, if there is nothing in the struggle, don’t struggle,” Mr Akpabio said.
The statement has since generated a lot of reactions on social media, as many X users have expressed diverse views on the incident. While some, like Peterside, criticised Akpabio for making remarks considered to have a political undertone at such a solemn event, others descended on the Rivers State governor saying he used the opportunity to indirectly attack his traducers and that Akpabio’s response was in order.
Dr Adams Adeiza wrote: “What the Governor said and meant is clear to every man of good conscience. But, you know, if your mind is evil, the gods will always help you express the content – even in the most embarrassing way. That’s what happened to Akpabio. Shameful!”
“The nonsense Akpabio displayed at Wigwe’s burial just shows how immature and insensitive he is. A family is hurting mourning the death of their son, his wife, and his child and you turned it into a political battle throwing bangs left to right. Nah, if I was Wigwe’s family, I’d shut you up immediately, you must be nuts!!!!,” another X user, Sports Doctor, wrote.
“Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has shown he lacks emotional intelligence. What Governor Fubara said at the burial of Herbert Wigwe is the only takeaway from this tragedy: ‘After everything, we will leave this life. There’s nothing we struggle for.’ The only word to describe Akpabio is – petty. The Pastor did well in putting him in his place,” Ozii Baba, a tweep, said.
“Akpabio was terrible! Fubara that is preaching against the vanity of power and struggle has quickly forgotten how the entire state house of assembly was demolished in his struggle with Wike, another X user Okakaodumodu tweeted.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
