By Chucks Nwonye
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and former governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Chief Nyesom Wike, has recounted a private conversation he had with the late Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe, ahead of the 2019 governorship election in Rivers State.
Wike said Wigwe visited him at the Government House, Port Harcourt, three days to the election and warned him of alleged plans to stop his re-election.
The Minister disclosed this during an interview with TVC News, where he described the late banker as a close brother whose death continues to cause him deep pain.
According to Wike, he was having his meal in his dining when Wigwe came to see him and took him aside to discuss the tense political atmosphere that preceded the 2019 polls.
“ Wigwe Told Me In My Dining, He Said, ‘Everything Is Being Done, So You Can’t Be Returned’,” Wike recalled.
He said Wigwe had asked him how he was preparing for the election, expressing serious concern about the political situation in Rivers State at the time.
The former Rivers State governor said the late Access Bank chief told him that everything was being done to ensure he would not be returned as governor.
Wike quoted Wigwe as advising him to consider making adjustments to protect himself and his political future in the face of the alleged plot.
He said Wigwe, out of genuine concern, suggested that he should take steps to secure himself politically, given the weight of opposition against his second term bid.
However, Wike said he rejected the suggestion outright, insisting that he had done nothing wrong to warrant seeking protection or compromising his stand.
The Minister said he told Wigwe that he had no reason to panic or seek any form of protection, as he had served the people of Rivers State faithfully and was confident of their support.
According to him, he assured the late banker that regardless of the alleged plans against him, he would emerge victorious in the election.
“I told him I have done nothing wrong and I have no reason to seek protection. I told him that regardless of the circumstances, I would emerge victorious,” Wike said.
He described the 2019 gubernatorial election as one of the most challenging in the political history of Rivers State, but one he believes he won against all odds.
Wike noted that the experience remains fresh in his memory, especially given the close relationship he shared with Wigwe before his untimely death.
He described Wigwe as more than a banker, but a brother and friend who was genuinely concerned about his welfare and political survival.
The Minister said Wigwe’s death remains painful to him because of the bond they shared and the selfless advice the late businessman always offered.
Herbert Wigwe died in February 2024 in a helicopter crash in the United States alongside his wife, son and others, a tragedy that shocked the Nigerian business and political community.
Since his death, several prominent Nigerians, including Wike, have continued to pay tribute to his legacy, describing him as a visionary leader who contributed immensely to the growth of Nigeria’s banking sector.
Wike’s revelation adds a new dimension to the behind-the-scenes intrigues that characterized the 2019 general elections, particularly in Rivers State, where the exercise was marred by violence, tension and allegations of interference.
The 2019 election in Rivers State was widely regarded as one of the most contentious, with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, suspending collation at some point before eventually declaring Wike, who contested under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as winner for a second term.
Political analysts say Wike’s account underscores the high-stakes nature of the 2019 polls and the role played by private individuals like Wigwe who, beyond business, were deeply concerned about political stability.
The FCT Minister has often spoken about loyalty and friendship, and his latest comments on Wigwe again highlight the personal relationships that shaped his political journey.
