Politics
Fubara Pays Glowing Tribute To Late Wigwe …Vows To Sustain His Legacies
Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, was among the array of dignitaries that converged in the ancient Isiokpo Town in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, on Saturday, for the funeral ceremony in honour of the late CEO Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, Dr Herbert Wigwe, his wife, Chizoba and first son, Chizi.
Delivering a thought-provoking and emotiona-laden speech on the occasion held at the Lion of Judah Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Isiokpo Town, Governor Fubara called for deep reflection over the mystery of life.
The Governor, who commended the late Wigwe and his family over the positive impact they made within their short period of existence, decried the penchant for power, vainglory and demonstration of might, particularly among the political class, stating that the true essence of life is to bequeath enduring legacies while on earth.
“Here lies our brother, his wife and son, everyone has come to celebrate them. It means even in the short period that they lived, they lived impactful lives. They made great contributions to humanity.
“Here is a man, though not a politician, he made his money through our investments. He had the world in his palm financially. He even controlled the political class.
“This takes me to my question to the political class. What is all this struggle all about? You want to kill and bury, to what end?
“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 enough impact in the lives of our people. Please, let the political class reflect on this”, he said.
Governor Fubara declared that the Rivers State Government will immortalise the late icon by working with Herbert Wigwe Foundation to ensure that the Wigwe University is sustained in accordance with the dreams of Herbert Wigwe.
The Rivers State governor expressed appreciation to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and Aliko Dangote, Chairman of Dangote Group, for their various roles and contributions towards the success of the funeral.
Governor Fubara earlier on Thursday paid a visit to the River State Government-owned cassava processing plant at Oyigbo in Oyigbo Local Government Area, and the Neuro Psychiatrist Hospital in Obio/ Akpor Local Government Area, respectively.
Addressing newsmen shortly after the inspection of the cassava processing plant, Governor Fubara assured that more funds would be invested in the factory to raise it to international standard.
“I got a request from the people who are managing the cassava processing plant that we need to extend our support for them to complete two production lines.
“That will give them a standard that they can start to supply in earnest to a lot of distributors who need the product from this plant.
“And I felt it would be proper for me to see what we have already invested, the stage they are, so that it will encourage us to give support.
“From what I have seen here today, it is really impressive. I can assure them that we are going to give the financial support to ensure that the production lines are all completed.
“This is to encourage them to go into full supply of the product with international standard to any where in the world.”
In a similar vein, Governor Fubara directed the immediate rehabilitation and refurbishment of the Neuro Psychiatric Hospital at Rumuigbo in, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, to make the facility effectively attend to the needs of persons with mental health challenges and medical students in the state for their institutional training.
Taneh Beemene
Alhaji Abubakar, who is also the 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), stressed that Chief Obasanjo’s latest public outburst against him is yet another failed attempt to rewrite history.
Alhaji Abubakar specifically said that if the true history of Chief Obasanjo’s political journey is ever written—free from selective recollection and personal bitterness, he (Atiku) would feature prominently as one of those whom God used to change the course of his (Obasanjo) life and political career.
These were contained in a statement the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to the former Vice President, Mr Phrank Shaibu, released in which Atiku said he watched the former President’s interview with profound sadness, but not anger, because it reflected the disposition of a man who has allowed personal resentment to cloud historical truth.
Alhaji Abubakar said the genesis of Chief Obasanjo’s hostility towards him is well known to Nigerians, stressing that he is proud that he stood against the third-term agenda and stood by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In the words of Alhaji Abubakar: “I have no apology whatsoever for frustrating every attempt to subvert our democracy for personal ambition. If Chief Obasanjo’s bitterness stems from my refusal to support an unconstitutional third term, then I wear that resentment as a badge of honour.
“No individual, regardless of his status or accomplishments, is bigger than the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Constitution is supreme, and I chose Nigeria over personal loyalty”.
Alhaji Abubakar noted that the struggle against the third-term agenda was never about two individuals, but about preserving Nigeria’s constitutional democracy for future generations.
He said: “The Nigerian people won that battle. Democracy won that battle. History has already delivered its verdict. It Is therefore unfortunate that the same man whose unconstitutional ambition was resisted now seeks to sit in judgment over those who defended the Constitution”.
The ADC Presidential candidate said it was particularly instructive that barely twenty-four hours before Chief Obasanjo’s latest outburst, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, publicly paid glowing tribute to the economic management team he led, describing it as “the best Nigeria has ever had”.
“Whether or not the timing is merely coincidental is for Nigerians to judge. What is beyond dispute, however, is that while distinguished Nigerians who served at the highest levels continue to acknowledge my contributions to one of Nigeria’s most successful periods of economic management, Chief Obasanjo appears determined to diminish them.
“Chief Obasanjo may choose not to appreciate my role in building one of Nigeria’s most prosperous economic eras, but history has been far kinder. The record speaks for itself, and so do the testimonies of those who worked closely with that administration,” he said.
Alhaji Abubakar further stated that Nigerians also deserve to remember the other side of history which Chief Obasanjo conveniently omits, saying: “History records that while Chief Obasanjo was in prison, I stood firmly by him. I supported his family, worked tirelessly with other patriots for his release and never wavered in my belief that he deserved his freedom”.
He further said: “When he eventually regained his freedom, he had little to his name. I received him, clothed him, ensured he was properly cared for and extended every support necessary to help him regain his footing.
“Beyond that, I mobilised political structures, built alliances and made enormous personal and political sacrifices that culminated in his emergence as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
Alhaji Abubakar, however, said he harbours no regrets over any of those acts.
According to him: “Do I regret helping Chief Obasanjo? Absolutely not. When God gives you the opportunity to lift another human being, you do so without expecting repayment. Acts of kindness are matters of conscience, not commercial transactions”.
He added, however, that gratitude should never be replaced with revisionism.
Alhaji Abubakar particularly expressed disappointment that, at a time when Nigeria is battling economic hardship, mass unemployment, insecurity and widespread despair, a former President would devote so much energy to recycling old grudges instead of contributing solutions to the country’s challenges.
In the words of Atiku: “The 2027 election should be about rebuilding Nigeria, restoring security, reviving the economy and giving hope to the next generation—not reopening old political wounds”.
The former Vice President said he had deliberately maintained restraint over the years out of respect for the office Chief Obasanjo once occupied and in deference to the relationship they once shared.
He said: “That restraint should never be mistaken for weakness or docility. There comes a point when silence in the face of repeated distortions of history ceases to be a virtue. While I have no desire to engage in a public quarrel with a man I once stood beside in his most difficult moments, neither will I permit falsehoods, half-truths and calculated attempts to rewrite history to go unanswered.
“Chief Obasanjo is entitled to his opinions. He is entitled to his personal grievances. What he is not entitled to, are his own facts,” Alhaji Abubakar insisted.
The ADC presidential candidate reaffirmed that his attention remains firmly fixed on Nigeria’s future.
According to him; “I have chosen the path of service over resentment, vision over vendetta and national renewal over personal recrimination. Those who mistake my civility for capitulation, or my restraint for weakness, make a grave mistake.
“History is stubborn. It cannot be rewritten by bitterness, nor erased by repeated falsehoods. In the end, history will render its verdict—and so will the Nigerian people,” he stated.
According to the electoral umpire, campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections will commence on August 19, 2026, and end on January 15, 2027, exactly 24 hours before the elections scheduled for January 16, 2027.
INEC also announced that campaigns for governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will begin on September 9, 2026, and conclude on February 5, 2027, ahead of the polls slated for February 6, 2027.
The commission explained that the campaign schedule complies with the Electoral Act 2026, which stipulates that electioneering activities must not begin earlier than 150 days before an election and must end at least 24 hours before voting.
INEC urged political parties, candidates and other stakeholders to strictly adhere to the approved timetable and conduct their campaigns in accordance with the law, while encouraging the public to obtain electoral information only from its official communication channels to avoid misinformation.