– Why A Peep Beneath His Scowl May Change Unflattering Perceptions of Him
– How Herbert Wigwe’s Death Revealed His Tender Parts
By Tobi Ajisafe
Until recently, many people saw Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede as a chap whose arrogance breathes on the oxygen of immodesty. Always sneering and scarcely smiling, he was widely regarded as an intransigent snub whose self-assurance booms, one grisly decibel after another, until it attains a frantic pitch.
The former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of Access Bank reportedly treated both close and distant acquaintances like contemptible minions, undeserving of any form of regard or honour.
At his pronouncement as Access Bank’s new Chairman, both senior managers and junior staff members cringed in anticipation of his grim tenure. Beneath his warm smiles and unassuming mien pulsates brutishness, a chilling lethalness that is effectively masked with extraordinary spirit and talent.
Interestingly, however, when the late Herbert Wigwe was at the helm of management and operations, staff members enjoyed working under his leadership as he presided as a strong, compassionate and humane head honcho.
In this new dispensation at Access Bank, the fear of Aig-Imoukhuede is the beginning of wisdom. Back when he presided as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer MD/CEO of the bank, it was a common thing to see members of staff tremble and kowtow before him; so scary was his mien and administration that several top managers of the bank caught a cold every time he sneezed.
Whatever anyone thinks, Aig-Imoukhuede is not one to brook any baloney from any quarters, unlike his late friend and partner, Herbert Wigwe.
Yes, when he was the MD of the bank 10 years ago, you mess around with him at your peril. His influence was so overwhelming that every member of staff trembled before him as he brooked no disrespect or dissent from anyone, no matter how highly placed that person was.
Aig-Imoukhuede was so straight-faced and pitilessly blunt that no one dared come close to him, without an extremely urgent and important reason.
While his intellectual capacity is widely acknowledged and extolled, the same could hardly be said about his human relations skills.
There is no gainsaying Aig-Imoukhuede affects the disposition of an egoist. If anything, the fantasies of an egoist are often mightier than his will and dismissive of reality, but he commits to their attainment all the same.
However, contrary to widely held uncomplimentary notions of him, the new Access Bank chairman has a heart of gold. Not a few people were stunned and moved to tears by his heartfelt show of love and support to his late friend, Herbert Wigwe, and deceased wife and child.
Wigwe, Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings died on February 9, 2024, in a chopper crash in the United States, alongside his wife, Chizoba, and son, as well as a former Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group) Abimbola Ogunbanjo. Two crew members also died in the ill-fated crash. They were on their way to the American Super Bowl.
Since the sad incident, Aig-Imoukhuede has been up and about, lending a hand of support and handling the most challenging aspects of the retrieval of the bodies of his deceased friend and his family.
He has also been directly involved and responsible for the seven-day funeral of his deceased partner and friend. Aig-Imoukhuede, who happens to be a co-owner of Access Holdings Plc fought back tears at an emotional evening and funeral of his departed partner and friend, as tributes flowed in honour of the late Herbert Wigwe.
An inconsolable Aig-Imoukhuede, in his teary tribute to Wigwe, said time stood still when his “friend and brother” left this terrestrial ball last month.
He was moved as he delivered his tribute recalling their shared history, the fond memories they created together, and the immense passion and drive that Wigwe had always possessed.
Aig-Imoukhuede described Wigwe as a man on a mission who had always had big dreams and ambitions and worked tirelessly to achieve them.
He said, “Herbert was committed to building an African continent where men and women can aspire and live to their full potential. He isn’t the only person committed to this objective, but there are very few people in the world whose life and legacy illuminate this commitment the way Herbert Wigwe has.
“Some have told me that in the last few months, Herbert was very concerned about the state of our nation and continent. This is indeed true and Herbert knew that time was not on our side.”
As Aig-Imoukhuede put it, Wigwe’s legacy was not just about the individual successes he had achieved, but rather about the impact he had made on others and the contributions he had made to a shared vision for Africa’s future.
Few people may understand the bond of their brotherhood. You could be forgiven for thinking the threads of their friendship were woven in the colourful fabric of ’till death do us part.’
Until Wigwe’s sad demise, nothing came between them. Neither Aig-Imoukhuede nor the late Wigwe dared to rip apart or plow through the great, deep, tightly woven fabric of loyalty that defined their friendship.
Both men were truly more than friends, they were like brothers who went on to build a formidable banking enterprise as business partners. It would be recalled that when they started Access Bank years ago, pundits in the banking sector believed the bank would not thrive and survive the gruesome years, but the smart, focused men weathered the storms of contemporary banking and today, they occupy enviable positions in the league of Nigeria’s most gifted and seasoned financial Czars.
Aig-Imoukhuede and Wigwe proved bookmakers wrong as they painstakingly forged Access Bank’s path to its esteemed height as one of the country’s top three banks today.
While Aig-Imoukhuede occupied the saddle as MD/CEO of the bank, he refused to behave to stereotype and shunned the lure to reduce and make irrelevant, his friend, business partner and brother, Wigwe. Subsequently, when Wigwe succeeded him as head honcho of the bank, he mooted no plot to malign or shortchange his predecessor.
Wigwe remained loyal to Aig-Imoukhuede and together, they worked to improve the fortunes of their brainchild, Access Bank.
Little wonder the management and staff of the bank sing his praises to the high heavens even after his demise. Aig-Imoukhuede, on his part, did not grow jealous of the late Wigwe’s success in the saddle. Rather he did his bit to encourage and assist him in running Access Bank and lifting it to greater heights.
Beyond the walls of commerce, Aig-Imoukhuede and Wigwe maintained a robust relationship. They attended events together and did everything together. They also looked out for each other.
Their friendship was undoubtedly borne of great trust and it manifested with immense benefits for the duo.
There is no gainsaying Aig-Imoukhuede would miss his friend and brother from another mother. Nonetheless, he has vowed to honour his memory by keeping their business afloat and taking care of the loved ones he left behind.
