Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tony Anenih has condoled with the Akunyili family, the people of Anambra State and the Federal Government over the death of a
former Director General of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Information Minister, Professor Dora Akunyili.
In a stateemt issued in Abuja on Monday, Anenih said the late Akunyili served her nation and mankind, describing her “a rare gem, an Amazon, a unique political breed, an incorruptible character and a woman of immense integrity who died serving her nation and mankind.”
The statement reads further: “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 other well meaning Dora’s friends whose timely intervention and response saw to her prompt evacuation to India for treatment at a very critical time in her battle for life.
“I had the privilege, with other family members, of escorting her to the airport and spoke to her and her husband twice on telephone since her arrival in India during which she gave me reasons to be hopeful of her quick recovery and her return to Nigeria to continue her services to the nation.
“This view was also strengthened by the Oncologist, who accompanied Dora to India and assured me on his return about a week after, that she was making steady recovery. This was my state of mind when the news of her death came and hit me like a thunderbolt, from which I am yet to recover.”
Describing Akunyili’s death as a great loss to the nation and the African continent, Anenih prayed the Almighty God to grant her “gentle soul” perfect peace.
In the same vein, Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State has condoled with the Akunyili family, the Government and people of Anambra State.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Charles Ajunwa, Governor Orji who expressed shock and sorrow on the death of the one-time boss of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and described her death as a great loss to the nation.
He noted that during her life time the late Prof. Akunyili was a dogged, dedicated and patriotic woman who discharged her duties with great zeal and lamented that her absence will be felt by her state and nation at large.
Governor Orji prayed God to grant her soul peaceful repose.
