Wigwe: Netizens blame RCCG’s Pastor Iluyomade’s wife for lavish 60th birthday
Some internet users have accused Siju Iluyomade, the wife of the Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of David Parish, Lagos State, where Herbert Wigwe, the former Group Managing Director of Access Holding PLC, prayed before his death.
This happened after she hosted a spectacular 60th birthday party at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos State, about a week after his death.
According to The Eagle Online, Wigwe, his wife Doreen, eldest son Chizi, and a former Chairman of the Nigeria Exchange PLC, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, were killed in a helicopter crash in California, USA.
According to a Netizen, Chukwudi Iwuchukwu, Pastor Siju Iluyomade violated all tenets of modesty and decency by throwing the party as the right thing, and common sense dictates that it is offensive and inappropriate to throw a lavish party a week after the death of such a man whose tithe and benevolence supported her husband's ministry while his body is still cold.
Furthermore, the netizen compared Wigwe's Christian brethren at the church to Judas Iscariot for rushing from mourning Wigwe to the dance floor, emphasising that they couldn't even wait until he was buried and settled into the darkness of the grave before revealing their true nature.
The statement went on to say that it was surprising to watch important members of the RCCG, including family members, church elders, and friends of the late Wigwe, take to the dance floor to celebrate the pastor's wife's 60th birthday.
The post, on Iwuchukwu's Facebook page, reads in part: "Being the church where Wigwe worshipped before his death, not a few people expected the church to mourn him, for at least, a considerable period of time, but the RCCG authorities clearly had a different opinion about this, so they rallied around Siju as she threw a colourful party, more or less a funfair, to celebrate her diamond anniversary."
"The party had in attendance both Lagos and Nigeria's high society, celebrities and celebutantes as a viral video of the party shows prominent afrobeats musician, Flavour, singing the praises of the celebrant as she danced amid a bevy of fellow dancers and guests on the dance floor."
Iwuchukwu described the late Wigwe's life and said that Dr. Siju's decision to organise such a carnival-style party a week after his death was inappropriate.
It read: "Prior to his death, Wigwe was a loyal member of the church where Siju's spouse pastored, and the name of the RCCG parish is City of David, Victoria Island, Lagos.
"Wigwe was always in church on Sundays while he was in town. He doesn't miss it. But, beyond his personal presence, he used his goodwill and resources to help the City of David parish expand and God's work develop.
"Due to his immense fortune and net worth, the late Wigwe was one of the most generous tithe payers in the City of David parish. He was a bank owner, therefore his tithing amounted to millions of naira, but it went beyond that.
"The City of David boasts the best and finest church buildings in Nigeria, including the best among RCCG parishes.
"Wigwe was one of those God used to make it happen.
"He was the head of the building committee while the church was erecting that building, and he went above and above, donating his own money and encouraging his wife, Chizoba, who died alongside him, to do the same.
"When the City of David ran out of cash to finish the project, it was Wigwe who used his influence to secure a loan from Access Bank so that the building could be completed; without his involvement, the project would have been abandoned like an elephant.
"He went so far as to pay for two Access Bank office spaces at the church building, which he rented for five years. This was accomplished while the project was still a greenfield project, which is impressive.
"Just two weeks before he died, the City of David Parish was unable to service the debt provided by Access Bank, and the bank was putting pressure on them to pay.
"It was still the same Wigwe who bailed them out with 1 billion naira in interest-free loans, which they are due to repay to him this year.
"Unfortunately, he died before they could repay the loan."
"Dr. Siju Iluyomade founded the Arise Women Conference. The late Wigwe was a major donor to this cause and her NGO, and as a result of his generous contributions, the conference has grown to become an annual event that draws Nigerian women from all across the country.
"After all this charity and benevolence, the right thing and common sense dictate that it is offensive and not appropriate to throw a lavish party a week after the death of such a man whose tithe and benevolence sustained your husband's ministry when his body is still cold."
The Netizen remarked that he worried how Wigwe would feel in the spirit world after witnessing such a funfair at the Eko Hotel Lagos, only a week after his death.
Iwuchukwu continued, "I wonder what Wigwe would be feeling in the spirit world after seeing such a funfair go on yesterday night at the Eko Hotel Lagos, just a week after his death.
"This is a lesson to the living.
"You are only as important as your relevance and influence; once you are no longer present, those for whom you moved the world and mountains will go on.
"It is a dog-eat-dog world, my friends, which is why it is critical to put yourself first.
"Be unapologetic and selfish about putting yourself first."
Meanwhile, some Netizens contended that Pastor Siju had the right to celebrate her birthday, regardless of Wigwe's death.
They ignored other commenters' arguments that Siju and RCCG's actions demonstrated a lack of empathy and emotional intelligence.
