Senate President Godswill Akpabio took on Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara on Saturday at the funeral service of banker Herbert Wigwe, his wife Chizoba and son Chizi in Isiokpo, Rivers State.
The funeral service was held at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Lion of Judah Parish.
Several dignitaries, which included state governors, former governors and business people, attended the funeral.
Fubara, who is at loggerheads with his predecessor Nyesom Wike now FCT minister, berated politicians while speaking at the funeral.
“This one has to do with our political class. What is all this trouble about? You want to kill, you want to bury,” he said.
Akpabio replied, “What is the struggle all about? I’ll answer you. We’re not talking politics. In 2006, I wanted to be a deputy governor so the then deputy governor invited me and told me ‘This office has no money. There’s nothing here. I don’t know know why you still insist on removing me and taking over.’
“So a woman who went with me said ‘Your Excellency, then don’t wait for impeachment, just resign since there’s nothing in it.’
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.”
Wigwe, wife and son were buried in a private tomb at the newly established Wigwe University.
The trio and a former group chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, died in a helicopter crash that occurred near a border town between California and Nevada in the United States on February 9.