Nigeria: Two Cardinals, 28 Bishops, Over 100 Priests Officiate At Akunyili's Burial

Nigeria: Two Cardinals, 28 Bishops, Over 100 Priests Officiate At Akunyili's Burial

By Vincent Ujumadu

Awka- FRANCIS Cardinal Arinze, former head of inter religious affairs at the Vatican was at the head of the Concelebrated Requiem Mass for the late Professor Dora Akunyili who was buried, Thursday in her home town, Agulu in Anaocha local government area of Anambra State. Also among the officiating priests were John Cardinal Onaiyekan, 28 Bishops and Archbishops and about 100 priests from the various Dioceses in the country.

Former head of state, General Yakubu Gowon and his wife, former vice president, Dr. Alex Ekwueme and his wife, Governor Willie Obiano and his wife, Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, immediate past governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi and his wife, as well as the wife of Abia State governor, Mrs. Odochi Orji and her Ebonyi State counterpart, Mrs. Josephine Egwu were also in attendance.

Senators Andy Uba, Chris Ngige, Annie Okonkwo, former Governors Sam Egwu of Ebonyi, Chukwuemeka Ezeife of Anambra, Admiral Allison Madueke, as well as federal ministers namely, Labaran Maku (Information), Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu (Health) and Professor Chinedu Nebo (Power), were also present.

Successor of Professor Akunyili at NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhi, director general of the Standards Organization of Nigeria, SON, Dr.

Joseph Odumodu and that of the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Arunma Otteh were there too.

Akunyili died on June 7, 2014 after a protracted battle with cancer.

The entire arena of the magnificent Madonna Catholic Church, Agulu was filled to capacity and traffic along the Awka -Ekwulobia road was brought to a standstill for the over four hours the ceremony lasted. At a stage, the road had to be closed completely such that people travelling to other states from Anambra had to find alternative routes.

The funeral Mass for Dora at the Church was the first ceremony there since six years when its renovation began, with the priest in charge of the church saying that Professor Akunyili donated N40 million to ensure its completion.

United States of America-based priest, Rev Fr. Damian Akpunonu, who delivered the homily at the church service, said though the late Dora would have served Nigeria more if she lived longer, God knew why she had to bow out at the age of 60.

He said that the good thing was that Professor Akunyili lived a life worthy of emulation... , adding that because she died in the Lord, she would remain blessed.

The clergy man said: "Dora's husband, Chike, may still not believe that his wife is no more having spent so much spiritually and materially to save her life, but the will of God must be done.

"At the speed Dora was moving, many people had predicted a very bright political future for her, but men propose, but Goddisposes.

"For years, Dora's name reverberated in Nigeria and in all the places she served her country and our prayer is that God should provide us with another Dora to comfort us. In addition to serving humanity well, she also served God well and we believe that God will reward her immensely."

According to him, what matters in life is not how long one lived, but how well, adding that the ceremony was not necessarily to bury Professor Akunyili since Jesus Christ had conquered death, but to give testimony to the legacies she left behind. Rev Akpunonu said the task before Nigerians was to keep Dora's legacies alive.