By Abiola Olawale
The founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Atedo Peterside, has knocked the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio over his comments at the funeral service organized in honour of the family of the late Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings, Dr. Herbert Wigwe
The businessman expressed his dismay over comments reportedly made by Akpabio, describing it as insensitive and poor taste to the solemn funeral service held in memory of the great banker.
Peterside wondered why the President of the Senate, an elder statesman, would focus on personal applause and political jibes rather than demonstrate proper respect for the occasion.
In a post on his X page, Peterside described Akpabio’s remarks as “self-centered and insensitive.”
He tweeted: “For the record, I was among those who found the Senate President’s comments at the Wigwe Family Funeral in PH to be in poor taste. He began by lamenting that PeterObi received greater applause than he (Akpabio) got & later told us to join him in consoling the widow who was lying in one of the 3 caskets in front of him. Jokes? Political jibes at a solemn Combined Funeral? Methinks that was self-centered & insensitive”.
The New Diplomat reports that Akpabio came under heavy criticism after he engaged in a battle of words with Governor Siminalaye Fubara of Rivers State at the church funeral service held in memory of the Wigwes.
While delivering his tribute, the Rivers Governor questioned why politicians struggle to grab power, saying, “What’s all these struggles about? You want to kill, bury, what’s it all about?”
The remarks of Fubara seem to have gotten the better of Akpabio as it may pass for a vague reference to his ongoing political feud with his predecessor and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.
In a swift response, Akpabio, after he mounted the podium said, “What’s the struggle about? I will answer you. In 2006, I wanted to be deputy governor. The then deputy governor invited me and said this office has no money. There’s nothing in it. I don’t know why you still insist on removing me from here and taking over
“So, a woman who went with me said, ‘Your Excellency, then don’t wait for impeachment, just resign if there’s nothing in it. And I said ‘It’s true; that’s why I want it. You’re too big for it. So, Mr Fubara if there’s nothing in the struggle. don’t struggle.”
Several Nigerians have since frowned at the response of the former Akwa Ibom State Governor to Fubara.
The critics accused Akpabio of turning a sobering funeral into a political banter arena.
It would be recalled that Wigwe was buried in his Omueke hometown in Isiokpo, Rivers State, alongside his wife and son, Chizoba and Chizi, on Saturday, March 9, 2024.
