Herbert Wigwe: Did His Pastor Mourn Lengthy Sufficient? by Fola Ojo

Herbert Wigwe: Did His Pastor Mourn Lengthy Sufficient? by Fola Ojo

I’ve by no means met Herbert Wigwe, the late CEO of Entry Financial institution. His identify was not heard till now. As a author, I pen scanty about happenings within the Banking sector; a titanic terrain that was Herbert’s profession kingdom in Nigeria. Shortly after I left Nigeria for the US thirty-six years in the past, I heard about Herbert’s dad, Papa Shyngle Wigwe when he was a high brass on the NTA. I recall that Papa Wigwe and his spouse as soon as suffered a tragedy when Herbert’s older brother died in an car accident alongside a girl who was thought-about his spouse. Each have been killed within the crash. Instantly I heard that the chopper during which Herbert was touring went down in California on his technique to Las Vegas killing all onboard together with his spouse and oldest son a couple of weeks in the past, it was coronary heart wrenching for me. I commiserate with the Wigwes, particularly for the Octogenarian Wigwe and his spouse in these attempting occasions. Could God consolation them.

Herbert was not only a trustworthy husband, a caring dad, a savvy banker, and an admirable neighborhood chief. He was additionally a loyal member of his church, and a diligent minister of the gospel in his native meeting. Within the aftermath of the California air tragedy, I picked up a video the place the pastor of the church effusively showered encomiums on the late CEO, enumerating his dedication to the trigger and imaginative and prescient of the church.

From the recorded account of the pastor, we have been informed that Herbert used his goodwill and sources in the direction of the expansion of the church and the development of God’s work. His humongous and huge wealth put him in a comfortable place to be one of many largest givers of gold. The church’s new worship edifice is likely one of the finest in all of Africa.

The 14-storey architectural masterpiece was constructed at a price of over N12bn with distinctive options equivalent to a 4,500-capacity auditorium, a multi-storey automotive park holding 673 vehicles, rooftop terrace, and a helipad. Because the Chairman of the Constructing Committee, Herbert went an additional mile and past the decision of responsibility to make sure a fruition of the dream. He pulled his many strings as CEO of his Entry Financial institution to facilitate a hefty mortgage to tug the mission to completion.
“Herbert went so far as paying for 2 workplace areas for Entry Financial institution on the church constructing and he paid a 5-year lease for the 2 workplace areas. This was finished when the mission was nonetheless a greenfield mission, and that’s exceptional”; a report from the church mentioned.

Simply earlier than he died, the church was caught servicing the Entry Financial institution mortgage. In his regular beneficiant steps, Herbert stepped up once more with a bail-out of N1 billion interest-free mortgage. The testaments expressed listed below are most likely a drop-in-the-bucket concerning the stretch of largesse and generosity Herbert prolonged towards the pastor and the church.

Does a person equivalent to this not need to be correctly honored after his dying? A staff led by the Common Overseer of the mother-church visited the dad and mom. Members of the native meeting in Lagos extensively provided succor and luxury to the grieving household. The church will need to have finished its finest.

Nevertheless, in hushed voices, many individuals are expressing that an occasion that befell within the church that Herbert served for years was disgusting and disparagingly dishonoring to the Wigwes, and to the nuclear household of Herbert. What was the occasion?

Final weekend in Lagos, only a few weeks after Herbert, his spouse, and son have been tragically killed, the pastor’s spouse threw a loud and lavish social gathering marking her sixtieth birthday. The social gathering, we heard, was no holds-barred! The bash was attended by eminent dignitaries from throughout Nigeria. All of them wined and dined feverishly with the pastor and his celebrating spouse on the heart of all of it. What was improper celebrating a landmark birthday? Not one factor.

However what the individuals are saying is that those that ought to nonetheless be in a mourning mode; those that model themselves mates of the useless, and people who have been seen hobnobbing with the Herbert’s household when he was alive and in an influential place to increase monetary favors; took to the dance flooring throwing down with out a hinder as if tragedy had not simply struck a good friend.

That’s the grouse of many together with those that are near the pastors, however who can’t inform them to their face that they erred. Was it acceptable for the church to throw a loud and lavish social gathering celebrating its pastor’s spouse simply two weeks after the tragic dying of a pillar member who virtually single-handedly constructed the identical church?

I used to be informed that the Pastor and his spouse are good-hearted servants of God. However did they step out too early right into a celebratory mode whereas the Wigwes mourn? Shouldn’t they’ve waited till the lifeless stays of a person they referred to as a good friend are interred? The work of a pastor requires lots of knowledge. It’s this endowment that helps anybody strike a stability with delicate selections.

Sure, the useless are gone, however what concerning the dwelling who’re watching how the useless who have been as soon as alive have been handled after their passing? Will honoring the deserving useless not have been an encouragement to the serving dwelling? Shouldn’t the pastor have waited at the least thirty days as prescribed within the Bible to finish mourning? How will these outdoors the church decide this transfer? Will they not suppose that members who assist with God’s work are thought-about simply mere discardable and peculiar numbers we throw away when their days on earth have been numbered? Did the church bear “each other’s burdens” sufficient in accordance with the admonishment of Apostle Paul in Galatians 6:2? If honor is not going to be accorded whom honor is due like Apostle Paul admonished, the place else should it occur if not within the CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD? These are the questions occurring within the hearts and minds of many at the moment.

I don’t pray to be within the footwear of those pastors. However when, in life, you hit the fork of the highway, you’re taking it guided by knowledge. I’m sure that lots of preparation would have been put into the pastor’s spouse’s celebration. Non-refundable bills would have been incurred. Friends from world wide will need to have made journey preparations that weren’t simply changeable. However did the pastors mourn sufficient the dying of their mates? It’s true that I used to be not on this pastor’s footwear, however it wouldn’t have taken me a lot haggling in my spirit to find out what to do. For me, true friendship isn’t about being there solely when it’s handy, it’s about being there when it’s not. By means of what they’re prepared to sacrifice for you; It’s throughout heavy trials that true mates.

What would I’ve finished if I have been within the pastor’s footwear? If HERBERT ONYEWUMBU WIGWE and his spouse have been my true mates and never only a device utilized in retooling life and ministry, I’d have rescheduled the occasion for an additional day; or run it utterly low-key on schedule simply to honor our friendship and honor the useless who went an additional mile for my life task.

Twitter: @FolaOjotweet

**Dr. Ojo is a US primarily based journalist & pastor*