The chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih has expressed grief over the death of former Director General of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Information Minister, Professor Dora Akunyili, whom he said died serving her nation and mankind. Anenih, in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja condoled with Akunyili’s family, the people of Anambra State and the Federal Government on the tragic loss and described the late Akunyili as “a rare gem, an amazon, a unique political breed, an incorruptible character and a woman of immense integrity.”
The statement reads in part: “I received with shock and disbelief the news of the tragic and untimely death of our dear daughter, Professor Dora Akunyili, in an Indian Hospital. Her death came to me as a surprise because the feedback I received a few days after she was flown out of Nigeria was that of optimism, predicated on an observed marked improvement in her health condition.
“My hope that Dora would make it was also based on the love shown by Mr President and Dora’s friends whose timely intervention and response saw to her prompt evacuation to India for treatment at a critical time in her battle for life,” he said.
He also described Akunyili’s death as a great loss to the nation and the African continent, praying that God would grant her gentle soul perfect peace.
Nigeria has lost a patriotic citizen – Ejionueme
The former Director of Enforcement, NAFDAC, Pharm. Dioka Ejionueme who worked under Prof. Dora Akuyili at NAFDAC has said that Nigeria has lost one of her most patriotic and passionately committed citizens by her death.
In his statement, he said Akuyili’s death is very painful but Nigerians will never forget her and the impact she made on their lives especially as the DG of NAFDAC.
“Dora’s NAFDAC took Nigeria like a whirlwind in unprecedented, transparent and passionate five-star performance in public service’. According to him, ‘for once in a very long while, a Nigerian system worked and everybody, whether big or small, was made to fall into line. As a consequence, millions of lives were saved by the effective strategies put in place by Dora to implement existing laws, rules and regulations pertaining to NAFDAC mandate,” he said.
He sympathized with Dr. Chike Akunyili and the entire Akunyili and Edemobi families of Agulu and Nanka respectively in Anambra state. Considering that Dr. Akunyili, Dora’s husband is an experienced doctor, Mr. Ejionueme said he felt part of the obvious harrowing experience he had watching his wife being gradually eaten away by an agonizing and terminal illness.
Akuyili, good example of true Nigerian – TUC
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has described late Dora Akunyili as a trailblazer and a good example of a true Nigerian.
This was contained in a statement signed and made available by the President of TUC, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama.
The statement noted that despite Akunyili’s ill health, she was ready to offer her fountain of knowledge at the ongoing National Conference.
“She believed in the Nigerian project and continued to champion this belief, even till death.
“History will be unfair if it fails to remember this incorruptible, diligent, professional, public-spirited, forthright public officer and woman of great convictions.
“Brave Akunyili will live long in the memories of those of us who hold her dearly, especially the organised labour, civil society and the poor masses of the country. The Congress considers the deceased’s contributions to nation-building during her tenures as the DG of NAFDAC and as minister very invaluable,” the statement read.
