Wigwe funeral: Akpabio’s comments insensitive- Peterside slams

A business tycoon and former Chairman of Stanbic IBTC Bank, Atedo Peterside, has slammed the Senate President, Sen. Godswill Akpabio over comments made at the Herbert Wigwe family funeral in Portharcourt, Rivers State.

Peterside, in a post on his X handle, said that Akpabio was self-centred and totally insensitive to have lamented that the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Mr Peter Obi received greater applause than him at the occasion.

“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-centred & totally insensitive”, said Peterside.

Meanwhile, Akpabio had received backlash from Nigerians on his response to the comments made by the governor of Rivers state, Simi Fubara on the essence of politics.

Akpabio and Fubara have differed over politicians’ struggle for political office.

The duo expressed their diverse views at the funeral of the former CEO of Access Bank and banking icon, Herbert Wigwe.

In the now-viral video, Fubara questioned the motives of the political class attending the funeral, expressing frustration over the violence and power struggles.

Fubara, while giving his remarks at the burial had said: “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.”

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio while reacting to Fubara’s comment directed to the political class who attended Wigwe’s funeral, asked the Rivers governor to quit his political career if he thinks it is not worthwhile.

Akpabio, while making his own remarks, said, “What is the struggle all about? I will answer you.

“The struggle, we are not talking politics. In 2006 I wanted to be a deputy governor, so the then-deputy governor invited me and told me that this office has no money, there is nothing in it. I don’t know why you still insist on removing me from here and taking over.

“So the woman who went with me said ‘Your Excellency, then don’t wait for impeachment, just resign since there’s nothing in it’.

“And he stood up and started punching the woman, and I told him, Your Excellency, don’t punch her, she’s telling the truth. There’s nothing in the office that’s why I want it, because you’re too big for it.

“So your Excellency Governor Fubara, if there’s nothing in the struggle, don’t struggle.”

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