The 14th Emir of Kano narrated how the late bank chief helped him and his family during his trying time in an emotional-laden speech at the Night of Tributes for the late Group Managing Director/CEO of Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe, in Lagos on Wednesday.
Alhaji Lamido Sanusi II, a former Emir of Kano, broke down three times on Wednesday while paying tribute to the late Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, Herbert Wigwe.
The 14th Emir of Kano narrated how the late bank chief helped him and his family during his trying time in an emotional-laden speech at the Night of Tributes for the late Group Managing Director/CEO of Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe, in Lagos on Wednesday.
Wigwe died alongside five others including his wife, Chizoba, son, Chizi and Mr. Abimbola Ogunbanjo, the former Group Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc in a helicopter crash in California, US on Friday, February 9, 2023.
The aide had to spread his ‘babanriga’ (attire) to shield his teary face from the audience.
Sanusi recalled how the late 57-year-old bank chief came to his aid when he was dethroned as the Emir of Kano.
He said: “It was on a Saturday; I had no idea about what happened. I came to the airport waiting for a plane and I got a call from Bola Adeshola, and we were chatting.
“After two sentences, he said, Lamido you haven’t heard? About two years ago, I put all my savings into a Trust for the education of my children, I have many and my priority as a father is to make sure that when I pass away, they will have good education. I told 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 did not leave any money, you will educate my children.’ I thought I would die before Herbert.”
He burst into tears and continued: “When I had problems in Kano, I called him about six months before I was to leave Kano, and I said to him, ‘Herbert, I know you will give all your best to solve all these problems, but I am convinced that this is what is going to happen.’ And 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, the night before it happened, I called and said ‘I want to come to Lagos.’ The announcement was made at about 9 am, by noon, Herbert had a plane at the tarmac in Kano. I put my family on that plane, no message, no phone call, I put them on that plane. Herbert received them, put them in a hotel, and later got them accommodation for months.
“When I came, we stayed there. Some people believe I own Access Bank and Aig and Herbert are fronting for me. They gave me the cars and the drivers; they gave me security and a private jet and they ask for nothing and they don’t talk about it. I have lived in Lagos for four years, the house my family lives in was provided by Herbert.
“When I heard of his death, I said ‘In the coming weeks and months, people will get to know Herbert the human being’. They know him as a banker, as a businessman, they don’t know him as a human being. He was always about others, not about himself. You can’t imagine how one human being could have been so many things to so many people.
“On the day before this happened, I was on a chat group when somebody made a few remarks about Herbert that I found offensive and I defended Herbert. I made my point very clear that this was totally unacceptable.
“A few days after Herbert died; a friend called me and sent me a message. He had sent a message to Herbert at about 3:20 am that morning (the day of the crash), telling him how I had stood up and defended him and forwarded my entire message to him.
“Herbert replied at 3:28 am with one word ‘unbelievable’. He sent another message at 3:50 am which was not delivered. From the presentation from the air traffic controllers, the crash happened at 3:30 am. So possibly, the last thing Herbert read was my message talking about him.”