Nigerian Senate President, Senator Godwin Akpabio and Rivers State governor,
Siminalayi Fubara clashed at the funeral service for Herbert Wigwe and his wife, Doreen, and son, Chizzy.
The service was held at the Lion of Judah Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Isiokpo Town in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the State on Saturday.
The former Access Bank Managing Director, with his wife, Doreen, and son, Chizzy, alongside the Chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, died in helicopter crash in California near the Nevada border, United States of America last Month.
Delivering his goodwill message in the church, Fubara stirred the hornet nest when he advised the political class in Nigeria to reconsider the essence of intense struggle for power, barely 24 hours after he threatened to sacrifice his position for peace to return to the State.
The Governor said, “That takes me to the next question. This has to do with the political class. What is all this struggle all about? You want to kill, you want to bury. What is it all about?
“This is a man, he is not a politician. He made his money through us, our investment. He (Wigwe) had the world in his palm, financially. He controlled even the political class.
“But today, with all the power financially, he couldn’t control life. Is it not enough for us to ask ourselves, why are we struggling?
“Why are we not making it happen in the life of our people. Please, political class, let’s go home with that question and reflect on it”, he said.
In his reply, Akpabio fired darts at Governor Fubara, saying, “If there’s nothing in the struggle, don’t struggle” in a short viral video shared on X on Saturday, March 9, 2024.
Akpabio queried, “What is the struggle all about? I will answer you.
“The struggle, we are not talking politics. In 2006 I wanted to be a Deputy Governor, so the then deputy Governor invited me and told me that this office has no money, there is nothing in it. I don’t know why you still insist on moving me from here and take me over.
“So the woman who went with me, said ‘your excellency, then don’t wait for impeachment, just resign since there’s nothing in it’.
“And he stood up and started punching the woman, and I told him, your excellency, don’t punch her, she’s telling the truth. There’s nothing in the office that’s why I want it, because you’re too big for it.
“So your excellency Governor Fubara, if there’s nothing in the struggle, don’t struggle”, Akpabio said.
Former governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, 2023 Presidential Candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, ex Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, ez-Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido graced the event.
Governors of Abia (Alex Otti), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), and Governor Babajide Sawno-Olu (Lagos) States.
TheNewspad reports that after the eulogies, bodies of Wigwes was interred at the private mausoleum and buried around 2.45 pm.on Saturday.
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