Amidst Night Of Tributes For Wigwe, 5 Die In Another Plane Crash In Us

Amidst a”Night of Tributes For Wigwe” a symbolic respect for late Chief Executive Officer of Access Corporation Plc, Herbert Wigwe, yesterday, another five lives were lost in another plane crash also in the United States of America.

The Eagle recalls that the plane crash that claimed the lives of Wigwe, his wife Doreen; their son, Chizi Wigwe; and former Nigerian Exchange Group Chairman, Abimbola Ogunbanjo,  in an Airbus EC130 helicopter happened close to the California-Nevada border near Halloran Springs.

While a detachment of corporate Nigeria turned up for a Night of Tributes for Wigwe yesterday, mourning set off in the homes of the victims of that latest crash which claimed Five people.

Their  small private plane crashed near a highway in Nashville in the US state of Tennessee, local police said.

The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department said in a post on social platform X that “5 persons on board the airplane perished in the crash”.

READ ALSO: Herbert Wigwe’s Tweet Before Death: Life Is A Precious Gift

It also posted a picture of the mangled wreckage of the single-engine plane.

Reports quoted the Nashville Fire Department said on X that there was a “heavy fire” when its responders arrived on the scene.

Nashville police spokesman Don Aaron was quoted by US media as saying the plane had reported engine and power failure around 7:40 pm (0140 GMT Tuesday).

It was cleared for an emergency landing at Nashville’s John C. Tune Airport, but came down just a few kilometres from the airport.

He said the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash

On the other hand, the Night of Tributes for Wigwe provided a platform for touching tributes from colleagues, family and associates who turned up.

These included Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, governors of Lagos and Ogun states, Mr Babajide Sanwo-olu and Dapo Abiodun respectively and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Mr Olayemi Cardoso amongst several others.

READ ALSO: Wigwe: Which Insurance Policy Can Remedy These Massive Losses?President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Adesina Akinwunmi; Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia’ Chairman of Coronation  Capital, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede; CEO of GTHoldings Plc, Segun Agbaje; CEO of FirstBank Nigeria Limited, Adesola Adedutan and the President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN, Mr. Ken Okpara also graced the night of tributes.

From left: Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria; Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor, Lagos State; Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman, Coronation Capital; his wife Ofovwe; Tochi Wigwe, daughter of late Herbert Wigwe, during “Celebrating Professional Excellence” in honour of late Herbert Wigwe in Lagos, yesterday.

Dangote who described the late Herbert Wigwe as a loyal friend and a pillar of support for him and his family said of Wigwe added: “I am proud to name him my devoted friend, mentee and supporter. I will forever cherish the warmth of his friendship”.

He promised naming the road to the Dangote Refinery as Herbert Wigwe road.

For the AfDB President, Adesina Akinwunmi, “He was relentless, determined, bold, visionary, inspiring, with exceptional drive   for excellence. Everything he touched became gold. Herbert Wigwe brought pride to Nigeria and to Africa”, he declared.