Tears as Obiano, Gowon, Obasanjo, Umeh, others eulogize former minister
Awka, the Anambra State capital yesterday stood still for the late former Minister of Information and Communication, Prof. Dora Akunyili as her body was given heroic reception by the government and the people.
Before the remains arrived at the Women Development Centre, Awka at about 2 pm in a black Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), the auditorium and canopies were filled up with people including government officials, monarchs, the clergy, youths, workers, friends and well-wishers from across the globe.
The people where treated to melodious songs by the St. Joseph The Worker Chaplaincy, Awka Choir, whose voices continued to reverberate from the hall until the remains were brought into the auditorium.
Akunyili’s body, carried in a golden casket by members of the Knight of St. John, accompanied by Dora’s widower, John Chike, children and relatives at exactly 2.13pm, was laid at the stage of the auditorium after being received by Governor Willie Obiano and his wife, Ebele.
After the opening commendation prayer by the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, The Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor, emotions rose and with the entryof the former Head of State, Gen Yakubu Gowon and his wife, Victoria, who broke down in tears on seeing late Akunyili’s husband, John, the people burst into wailing.
Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano opened the Day of Tributes by laying a wreath after, describing the late Akunyili as a great loss to Nigeria and her personally, stressing that Dora was a person whose life gave meaning to others.
Mrs. Obiano described Akunyili as her super hero, role model and a great achiever. She said: “Once she felt satisfied that the step she was taking was for the interest of the people, my Prof was so ready to undertake it and was a colossus amongst men in the field of academics.”
Mrs. Obiano, who wept while reading her tribute to the late former NAFDAC boss, described her as a woman who stuck her neck to fighting the cause of the people.
She said, “In our traumatic moments, my Prof radiated hope with her cheerful smiles. I will never forget her motherly advice. Her advice constitutes the principle guiding my approach to Umunwanyi Anambra (Anambra women). We are comforted that in her life time, my Prof left us enough beacons to guide us.”
After her tribute, the choir came up with an interlude, chronicling a special number, “Great is thy faithfulness oh, Lord.”
Mrs. Bola Obasanjo, wife of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, described the late Dora as a woman who was ready to die for a true cause. Mrs. Obasanjo while recalling her encounter with the late Akunyili, said she had never met anyone with such wisdom as Dora had, saying, “Sister Dora, you are a wonderful person. You erased doubts in the minds of Nigerians. Stopping those putting ordinary chalk and selling to people as drug, Sister Dora, you are an icon, you are a wonderful woman, I doff my hat for you.”
Senior Special Assistant to Governor of Anambra State on Movie Entertainment, Bob Manuel-Udokwu, who led members of the Association of Entertainment Practitioners of Anambra State, eulogized the contributions the late Dora made in the fight against fake and substandard drugs.
Flanked by the traditional ruler of Oko community, Igwe Laz Ekwueme, Mrs. Rita Edochie and many actors and actresses, Mr. Manuel-Udokwu said they will immortalize Dora through movies they will shoot in nearest future to encourage her contributions to the movie industry in the country.
Mrs Adesomi Obola, on behalf of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), said she was a woman of strong character which she exhibited during her stint as the Director-General of National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and subsequently as the Minister of Information.
The former Minister for Women Affairs, Iyom Josephine Anenih, said: “The late Prof Akunyili’s appearance at the National Conference shocked Nigerians and that was when people knew what she was passing through, some people said why did she had to come, she told them, do not cry for me, if you don’t know any other thing to do, pray for me, as far as service to my fatherland is concerned, I will serve Nigeria with the last drop of my blood.
On behalf of the academia, Prof Chukwuemeka Ike, who is also the traditional ruler of Ndikerieonwu, said: “University all through the ages had a common goal, to see truth and to teach truth. We have seen all kinds of things happening. When I saw Dora, she called me uncle, but when I saw her at NAFDAC, I felt she personified the goals of education, to seek truth, teach and preserve truth.”
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, introduced the party’s anthem before he began his tribute to the late minister when he said that death awaits every mortal.
“Since Monday, Gen Gowon was there. There was nothing we didn’t hear, things that were said about Dora, several accounts of everything said about her were all good, let us continue to pray for her. Dora ran her Christian faith through hope and charity. For APGA, this is a huge loss. She contested election and she won, what happened was the politics of 180 days.”
Chief Umeh said the late Akunyili accomplished everything and described her as a peace-maker who always stood for the truth and a woman who stood her ground, adding that she saw death coming and prepared for death while fighting death, “she reconciled with everybody before she died, so Ndi Anambra, it is time for thanksgiving, no more mourning for God to have raised this type of great woman amongst us.”
Gen. Yakubu Gowon said he joined the Akunyili family and indeed, Nigerians to mourn Dora’s demise, describing her as a fantastic mother and a wife. “Let us rejoice in the life of this woman for what she has done for Nigeria and the world all over, she deserves our prayer and respect”
Governor Obiano said the passage of Dora was a great loss to Nigeria and Ndi Anambra as her life illuminated the lives of many and said she lived with premonition that there is no time.
He said the late Dora was a constant pillar of strength and was an embodiment of the spirit of Ndi Anambra, adding that he was about to name her an ambassador before she passed on.
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