Tambuwal, on Wednesday, while speaking during plenary at the Senate stated that Wigwe had wanted him to inspect the Wigwe University project.
Wigwe, his wife, Doreen; son, and the former Group Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group, Abimbola Ogunbanjo; and others died in a helicopter crash in the United States of America last Friday.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government on Monday confirmed it had begun talks with the government of the United States of America on the ongoing investigation of a chopper crash that claimed the lives of the deceased and others.
This came as American investigators said the wreckage of the crashed chopper would be transferred to a new location in the US for comprehensive tests on Tuesday.
While speaking, Tambuwal said, “While I was the governor of my state, he visited me. He asked my uncles what he would do for them. They appealed to him to sponsor them to Hajj. He gave them 10 seats as Christians, for them to go on Hajj. That was Herbert Wigwe for you.
“We spoke last on the 1st of February. He said he called to say hello to me because we had not seen each other for a while. He wanted me to visit him and inspect the Wigwe University project. Well, that day will never come again.”
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Ahmed Wadada, described Wigwe as an individual going “everywhere doing anything that could add value to humanity.
“He ventured into areas other people were afraid of. At one point, he wanted to acquire Afribank, which never worked. He later went on to acquire Intercontinental Bank at a time when nobody wanted to go close to that bank.
“He took Access Bank beyond Nigeria and wanted to acquire 65 per cent of Standard Chartered Bank in Africa.”
On his part, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said, “He died along with his dear wife, son, and another illustrious Nigerian, Abimbola Ogunbanjo.
“We can’t question God for all that happened. He paid school fees for indigent students and Hajj fares for people. His legacies will never be forgotten. May their souls rest in peace.”
Also at the plenary, Senator Gbenga Daniel mourned Wigwe and prayed God grant the departed souls eternal rest.
“We also lost in that accident, a very distinguished Nigerian, Abimbola Ogunbanjo Bimbola. We mourn the Wigwes and Ogunbanjo, and we pray to God to grant their souls eternal rest,” the former Ogun State Governor expressed.
The Senate, however, called on the Federal Government to cooperate with the US authorities to ensure that a comprehensive finding was done.
