Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Governor Siminalayi Fubara found themselves at odds over the political maneuverings for office during the funeral of Herbert Wigwe, the former CEO of Access Bank. A video circulating on X captured the heated exchange between the two prominent figures.
Expressing frustration over the political class attending the funeral, Governor Fubara questioned their motives, denouncing the violence and power struggles associated with political pursuits. In his remarks at the burial, he exclaimed, “This one has to do with our political class, what is all this trouble all about? You want to kill, you want to bury, what is it all about.”
In response to Fubara’s criticism, Senate President Godswill Akpabio defended the political class, stating, “What is the struggle all about? I will answer you.” He recounted an incident from 2006 when he aspired to be a deputy governor and was confronted by the then-deputy governor, who declared that the office held no financial reward. Akpabio explained that despite the discouragement, he pursued the office because it aligned with his aspirations.
Akpabio narrated an incident where a deputy governor physically assaulted a woman who advised him to resign if the office held no value. Akpabio intervened, urging the deputy governor not to resort to violence and acknowledging the truth in the woman’s statement. He then directed a message to Governor Fubara, stating, “Your Excellency Governor Fubara, if there’s nothing in the struggle, don’t struggle.”
The funeral service for Herbert Wigwe took place at the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Isiokpo, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State. The late Wigwe, along with his wife and son, tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash in California, United States, on February 9, 2024. The video capturing the disagreement between Akpabio and Fubara provides a glimpse into the tensions and differences within the political landscape during a solemn occasion.
