‘I Entrusted My Entire Savings With Wigwe Because I Thought He Wont Die Before Me’- Sanusi

A former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mohammed Sanusi has recounted how he entrusted his entire savings with the late Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, Dr Herbert Wigwe, to manage on behalf of the education of his children.

Sanusi said this while paying tribute to the late Access Holding boss.

The 14th Emir of Kano who broke down in tears thrice, said he decided to entrust his entire savings with Wigwe to manage for his children education because he believed the late Access Holding Boss will outlived him.

He said, “About two years ago, I put all my savings into a Trust for the education of my children, I have many and my priority as a father is to make sure that when I pass away, they will have a good education.

“I told Herbert, ‘I am placing you in charge of this Trust for the education of my children because I know that even if I die and do not leave any money, you will educate my children. I thought I would die before Herbert.”

Sanusi who was comforted by Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, Aig-Imoukhuede and an aide as a result of his failure to control the tears which continued to flow from his eyes, revealed how he defended Wigwe a night before his death when someone posted a message on a group chat that he felt offensive against the late banker.

He said, “On the day before this happened, I was on a chat group when somebody made a few remarks about Herbert that I found offensive and I defended Herbert. I made my point very clear that this was unacceptable.

“A few days after Herbert died; a friend called me and sent me a message. He sent a message to Herbert at about 3:20 am that morning (the day of the crash), telling him how I had stood up and defended him and forwarded my entire message to him. ‘Herbert replied at 3:28 am with one word ‘unbelievable’. He sent another message at 3:50 which was not delivered. From the presentation from the air traffic controllers, the crash happened at 3:30. So possibly, the last thing Herbert read was my message talking about him.”

He also recalled how the late banker came to his rescue when he was dethroned and needed a place for him and his family to stay.

He said, “When I had problems in Kano, I called him (Wigwe) about six months before I was to leave Kano, and I said to him, ‘Herbert I know you will give all your best to solve all these problems, but I am convinced that this is what is going to happen.’ And he said to me ‘Your Highness, don’t worry, whatever happens, don’t worry we are here for you.’

“On the day I heard on the radio that I was dethroned, the night before it happened, I called and said I wanted to come to Lagos. The announcement was made at about 9 am, and by noon, Herbert had a plane at the tarmac in Kano. I put my family on that plane, no message, no phone call, I put them on that plane. Herbert received them, put them in a hotel, and later got them accommodation for months.”