Private Cemetery
As if he had a premonition of his tomorrow, Dr. Herbert
Wigwe had already built a befitting private tomb for himself. Located within
the massive expanse of the University environment, the mausoleum is a sight
worthy of a billionaire.
A stamped concrete walkway sandwiched by a green lush leads
to the ecstatic final resting place of the Wigwes. Saturday Vanguard scooped
that three tombs have been constructed with state-of-the-art Italian Carara
marble and finished up with a foreign granite galaxy.
“Do not grief, for the joy of the Lord is your strength”, is
an inscription embossed on the top corner of the composing mausoleum. The sight
of the transparent private cemetery is a clear testament to the fact that Dr.
Herbert Wigwe was not just rich while alive, he appears even richer in death.
With thousands of foreign guests expected to pay their last
respects to this rare gem, what will be the cynosure of all eyes is the
expansive landmass of the Wigwe International University. The construction of
the university has 60% of its local content in terms of labour deployed from
Rivers State, 20% from Isiokpo and the remaining 20% from the rest of Nigeria.
A touch of a detribalized man, one would say.
“He built this private cemetery before he started the
university. His house here has been designed to have a special gate and walls
separated from the university. I can tell you that he had a big vision. Very
good vision and he was making efforts to ensure that those visions came to a
reality. But what I cannot tell you right now is whether those visions will
still be achieved”, a credible source decried.
Going spiritual, the source said, “it is only the owner of
the vision that can implement his visions to the letter. I cannot say if those
visions including the university will be accomplished in line with the dreams
of the owner of the vision”.
Virtually all the buildings within the university
environment are receiving an accelerated touch. Every completed building wears
the same colour of pure white and some black corrugated roofs. The internal
road construction is ongoing with the speed of light. Every staff knows his
brief.
RCCG Parish Isiokpo
Wears New Face
Myriads of activities were seen going on within the premises
of the 48-acre “Lion of Judah” Parish of RCCG, Isiokpo. Lands were being
sand-filled for car parking in anticipation of the heavy crowd that would
attend the funeral next Saturday.
The 1000-seater auditorium with 12 standing split air
conditioning units built by the late billionaire was being renovated to depict
the status of the man who came, saw and blessed anyone who crossed his path
while alive. Residents who live close to the church have donated their
farmlands to be sand-filled for car parks while the church itself has expanded
deep into the interior to create more space for the expected guests.
Pastor Moses Abe, provincial pastor of Rivers 20, Isiokpo
parish was away for a meeting in Lagos when Saturday Vanguard visited, but the
Parish pastor, Olaniyan Samuel, was handy. “Our preparation here is to put
everything in place to ensure that we ease both human and vehicular traffic on
that day”, he said.
“Our brother Wigwe built the main church before he died. It
was commissioned by the General Overseer (Pastor Enoch Adeboye). He lived a
good life. We will celebrate him not to mourn because he lived a very good life
worthy of emulation”.
Pastor Olaniyan said the entire church will appear in Ankara
material on Saturday for the burial while all members of the church will be on
white for the Thanksgiving service on Sunday. “That is the way we want to
celebrate him. We will forever remember him and his good works while he was
alive”.
The parish pastor recollected that Dr. Wigwe was in the
church premises a few days before he travelled and promised to ensure that the
electricity project he embarked upon in the community would be realized. “That
was the last time we saw him. Some communities had started enjoying the light
before his death”.
Not minding the pains of their son’s death, the Wigwe family
still went ahead to provide the Ankara material that would be used by the
church members in Isiokpo. To reciprocate the gesture, Pastor Olaniyan said there
would be a deliberate move to ensure that the presence of RCCG is felt on the
University campus to drive the legacies and vision of the late Wigwe.
We’ve Lost A Rare Gem
Dr. Chukwudi Dimgba, a front-line politician in Isiokpo
could not hold back his emotions when he narrated the beautiful memories of
late Herbert Wigwe. “He was the light of Isiokpo kingdom. He put this kingdom
on the global map through his numerous legacy projects and empowerment
programs”.
Dr. Dimgba revealed that Isiokpo council of chiefs and
indeed the entire Isiokpo people will work in unison to give the deceased, his
wife and son befitting burials. “He will be accorded a full burial rite as a
true son of the kingdom. Remember that two weeks ago, the King declared a 7-day
mourning period in honour of his death. He deserves all the best because he was
our light”.
USA govt, FG On Trial
Preparations for the burial of the Wigwes may be in top gear
but the youths of the community seem to have a joker off their sleeves. They
are demanding for immediate explanation from the governments of the United
States where the helicopter crashed and the Nigerian government over “its
silence” on the root cause of the death.
The Chief security officer, CSO, of Isiokpo kingdom, Wobodo
Amadi jnr said the government of the United States must come out clean and
explain to the world and indeed, the people of Isiokpo what killed Wigwe, his
wife and son. Amadi refused to be convinced about the recent report of weather
conditions that must have led to the Copter crash, killing the three Wigwes and
three other occupants.
“The US government should come and explain to us what killed
our son. We will stage a peaceful protest at the American embassy, and the
Villa (Nigeria’s Seat of power) in Abuja and occupy major roads for two weeks
if we are not presented with a convincing reason for what led to his death. If
they say the weather was bad, who then authorized the pilot to fly the
helicopter?
“During the covid-19 pandemic, Wigwe donated N2billion to
the federal government of Nigeria to cushion the effect of the widespread
virus. Why then is the Nigerian government keeping silent in his death? What
does anybody know that we don’t know? The death of our son was not natural. We
demand an explanation”, he said.
On their preparations for the burial, an emotional Amadi
noted that the youths of the community were fully prepared for the event. He
said all the youths would spot black on the burial day and would be at the Port
Harcourt International Airport to receive the bodies and provide security for
the visitors.
“Everywhere including the hotels will be adequately secured.
The youths will collaborate with other security agencies like the department of
Security Services, DSS, Police and the Army to ensure that nothing untoward
happens before, during and after the burial next week. There will also be a
candle night in his honour”.
He regretted that Dr. Herbert Wigwe would be greatly missed
in several ways. “Every year, he used to give us N100million for our annual
carnival. He employed and empowered our youths. Our late brother contributed
80% to the peace we are enjoying in Isiokpo today.
“He made a promise that if any indigene got a first-class
degree, such a person would be given automatic employment. He has been doing
exactly that. If you go to Wigwe University, many of our youths are working
there and earning good salaries. We are bitter about losing a good son like
that”.
Nonetheless, the youths have raised a serious allegation
that the cause of the helicopter crash might not have been due to weather
problems. This will spark a debate soon after the final burial on Saturday,
March 9. If the death of the Wigwes was predetermined, where then would the
pendulum of blame swing?
Wigwe was a business tycoon who was associated with the big
and mighty in the business world. He was a friend to state governors, a
confidant to presidents and a trusted ally to global business partners. Not
just that, he stepped down from his high horse to dine and wine with the
commoners in his home town. He was a source of hope for many indigent homes.
So, where are the fingers of the youths pointing to? Wigwe was a good man and
his people in Isiokpo will ensure he rests in peace with his wife and son.
