The impending retirement of Group Managing Director of Access bank, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede at the end of the year is generating intense lobbying in and out of the bank, Huhuonline.com can reveal.
Last year, Aig-Imoukhuede announced his December 2013 retirement to shareholders, saying it was in consonance with Central Bank of Nigeria’s minimum 10-year tenure to chief executive officers of banks.
Imoukhuede is reported to have long endorsed longtime partner and Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Hubert Wigwe but he now prefers Angela Omokore, wife of his ally and front man of Spog Petrochemicals, Mr. Jide Omokore.
Until her recent trip abroad to put to bed, Angela was widely regarded as a power broker in the bank but she has been relatively quiet since returning to head the bank’s Ghana operations. But her chances have been boosted by her husband’s relationship with Imoukhuede, his numerous business transactions with the bank, and his prominent involvement in the government of President Jonathan, particularly the oil sector.
Imoukhuede is reportedly interested in riding on the back of Omokore’s status to prosecute his interests and the bank’s, by stationing Angela as his successor, which might not be so difficult to achieve considering Wigwe’s limited influence notwithstanding his job expertise and years of experience.
Hbert Wigwe is allegedly doing his best to garner both internal and external support, and the division of interests between the MD and his deputy has been dividing the management team.
Huhuonline.com understands that Imokuede’s stance is informed by his ambition to succeed Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as next Governor of CBN, and that he is counting on Omokere’s support to convince the Presidency of his suitability for the job at the apex bank.
Kogi born Bashorun Jide Omokore is a man of uncommon zeal and passion for his calling of entrepreneurship. He owns a vast business empire with substantial investment in many key sectors of the economy, including upstream and downstream oil and gas industry, steel and iron rod, power distribution infrastructure, and aviation, among others, overseeing such firms as SPOG Petrochemicals Limited, Expedia Marine Company Limited, Energy Resources Management Limited, Interactive Equipment Company Limited, Premium Aviation, and Millennium Oil and Gas Limited.
Aside from business, Omokere is also a major force in political circles. He maintains close friendship with President Goodluck Jonathan and is alleged to be a front for the president and his supervising Minister of Petroleum, Dezeani Allison Madueke.
Sources also reveal that Imoukhuede and Hebert Wigue are almost equal partners in Access Bank in terms of number of shares held. But Aig still wants to direct the affairs of the bank after retirement and is afraid that he might not be able to do so if he allows Mr. Wigwe to succeed him.
Aig-Imoukhuede who started his banking career at Guaranty Trust Bank fears suffering the type of harsh treatment meted to his mentor and former Managing Director, Fola Adeola by his successor Tayo Aderinokun, who practically sidelined him.
