Chime, Amosun, others mourn Akunyili

APGA, Afenifere, CD too Gov. Sullivan Chime of Enugu State has expressed shock and sadness over the death of former Minister of Information, Prof. Dora Akunyili. Chime in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Chukwudi Achife in Enugu on Saturday described it as “a serious blow to the nation’’. “Professor Akunyili’s death has robbed the nation of one of her finest breed of patriots. “She was a towering Amazon of excellence whose public service record was as exemplary as it was inspiring. “She epitomised the rare values of integrity, diligence, dedication, courage and selflessness in the various capacities that she served the nation,’’ Chime said. The governor noted that even in her last days, Akunyili underscored her undying love for the nation by defying her pains to serve as a delegate to the national conference. He extended his condolences to the family and relations of the deceased assuring them that the people of the state shared their sorrows and grief over the sad development. In Abeokuta, Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun described the late former Information Minister, Prof. Dora Akunyili as an Amazon. This is contained in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mrs Olufunmilayo Wakama on Saturday in Abeokuta. Amosun expressed shock and disbelief at the news of the demise of the one time director general of the NAFDAC at the age of 59. He noted that Akunyili deserved a special mention among nation builders in Nigeria. The governor said the death of the foremost Professor of Pharmacy was lamentable, especially when her wealth of experience was mostly needed at the ongoing national conference, where she was a delegate. “Knowing her, she would have done her best, yet again to chart the way forward for Nigeria at the National Conference. She has certainly left her footprints on the sands of time,” the governor said. Amosun commiserated with the family of the deceased, the nation in general and Anambra state in particular, where the late professor hailed from. He prayed to the almighty God to grant her soul eternal rest and give the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. In her reaction, the UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking on Women and Children, Dr Joy Ezeilo said the womenfolk had lost an “extraordinary trail blazer and inspiring woman of courage’’. Ezeilo told NAN that the country would miss her vibrancy, courage and leadership. She extended her sympathy to her husband, Chike who stood by her throughout her period of ill health. The Enugu State President of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), Dr Rita Ngwu said the former information minister and director general of NAFDAC spent her life serving humanity. Ngwu described her as a “quintessential personality who inspired a lot of women to greater height.’’ “Dora saved many lives as DG of NAFDAC. She will be greatly missed,’’ she said. NAN reports that Akunyili died on Saturday at the age of 59 after battling with cancer for two years. Similarly, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on Saturday said that the death of the former Minister of Information was a great loss to the Party. Also, Socio Cultural and Civil Rights Groups in Nigeria such as the Afenifere, Campaign for Democracy (CD) and Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) said that the former minister would be remembered for her exemplary patriotism. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akunyili, a former Minister of Information, and former Director General of NAFDAC, lost the battle to cancer in an Indian Hospital on Saturday morning. The former minister, who contested for a position in the Senate on the platform of APGA died at the age of 59. In a telephone interview with NAN, the National Chairman of APGA, Chief Maxi Okwu, described the late Akunyili as a trail blazer trailer, who would be greatly missed by the party and most importantly the nation. “Akunyili was one of APGA’s personalities that raised my hands at APGA’s National Convention in Awka in 2013. “I sincerely hoped she would survive, being a dogged fighter but God knows best. “May her soul rest in peace,’’ Okwu said. In its reaction, the Yoruba socio-cultural political group, Afenifere, described Akunyili as a great woman. The Spokesman of Afenifere, Mr Yinka Odumakin, told NAN that Akunyili was a brave, assertive and distinguished woman who gave her best to her country. “She even surfaced at the Confab in spite of her failed health. “May her courageous soul rest in the blossom of our Lord,’’ Odumakin said. Also speaking, Dr Joe Odumakin, the President of the Campaign for Democracy (CD) lamented the demise of Akunyili, saying that she would always be remembered for her tenacity and courageous pursuit of ideals both as director general of NAFDAC and as a minister of information. “Akunyili displayed exemplary candour in the moment of constitutional crisis in Nigeria in 2010 when she joined patriotic Nigerians to speak boldly against the `cabal’ that wanted to drag the country to the precipice over a succession that ought to have been a cinch. “Her exemplary patriotism was further displayed when she showed up at the National Conference in spite of the toll the illness had taken on her physical appearance. “Now she is free from it all to take her deserved rest. It is our prayer that God grants her soul eternal rest and protect the family she left behind,’’ the CD President said. In his reaction, the Lagos State Chairman of the CLO, Mr Ehi Omokhuale, said it would be long before Nigeria could get someone to play the role of Akunyili as the NAFDAC DG. “Before Akunyili came on board, many Nigerians did not know the ills bedeviling the health sector with the manufacture and sale of fake drugs. “Akunyili not only opened the eyes of Nigerians and the international world to it, she fought the fake drug dealers to a standstill. “We missed her when she left and we will continue to miss her,’’ Omokhuale said. (NAN)