The traditional head of Isiokpo in Rivers state, Wagor, announces that an inquiry into Herbert Wigwe’s death will employ “traditional means.”
The group chief executive officer (GCEO) of Access Holdings Plc, Wigwe, is from the state’s Isiokpo LGA in Ikwerre LGA.
Together with his wife, son, and previous group chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group), Abimbola Ogunbanjo also perished in an American helicopter disaster that claimed the life of the co-founder of Access Bank.
It was confirmed that all six passengers were killed.
Wagor said that the conventional techniques would show if his death was “natural” or “human” when addressing a gathering in his palace.
The late GCEO had to be buried in accordance with custom, the monarch declared.
“We must traditionally bury him. He cannot be buried outside Isiokpo. He must be buried here. Isiokpo must find a way to probe his death,” The Nation newspaper quoted him as saying on Thursday.
“We must get to the root of the whole thing. Isiokpo is an ancient city. We must go back to our traditional ways and find out what really killed Herbert Wigwe.
“If his death is natural, we will know. If it is from a human, we will know.”
Wagor described Wigwe as “a wonderful person to us”.
“He left many legacies in the community. He sited a university here. He made many promises. He promised us plenty of things. We are in tears,” he said.
“The light project he promised us is still ongoing. Who will give us light again? He has gone and we are in pain. What happens to our Xmas bonus? He used to supply rice all over Isiokpo. We enjoyed him and his death is painful.
“He was humble, honest and respectful.”
The monarch urged the populace to influence the community in the same way that Wigwe had.
THE CABLENG