Abuja—THE entire session of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, was yesterday devoted to paying tribute to late Professor Dora Akunyili, who died in an Indian hospital last Friday.
It was the kind of honour that was only extended to the late President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, by the Federal Executive Council when he died last year.
President Goodluck Jonathan who led his ministers to pay tribute to the former Minister of Information and Communication, described her as “a virtuous woman who is not easy to come by.”
Jonathan’s first encounter with Akunyili
Recalling his first encounter with the late former Director General of National Agency for Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, President Jonathan said he invited her for a breakfast when he was deputy governor, adding that what she did was to warn his steward not to serve him cold bread to avoid contracting ulcer from eating such food.
He said Akunyili complained that the bread served at breakfast was not warmed and warned that it could contain germs and, thereafter, summoned the cook to tongue-lash her for the neglect.
He praised Prof. Akunyili for her passion when she was appointed NAFDAC’s Director General, adding that though most people who were involved in the fake drugs trade were her kinsmen, she fought them courageously.
President Jonathan said the late Minister’s rebranding campaign for the country, with the popular slogan, “Good people, great nation”, has remained enduring and ingrained in the minds of many Nigerians.
“She is not with us but I believe this is how God wanted it. He saved her life from the assassin’s bullet. If He didn’t want it (her death), He could have saved her life from the sting of sickness,” the President stated.
In his tribute, Vice President Namadi Sambo said the death of Akunyili was great loss not only to her family but also the nation.
According to Sambo, “she was a patriotic Nigerian who left an indelible mark in the country, especially when she developed a system to rebrand this country as Minister of Information. She ensured that the issue of fake drug in Nigeria was addressed”
Anyim
Secretary to Government of the Federation, SGF , Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, described her as a true nationalist and a reformer, while the Head of Service, Alhaji Goni Aji, said: “NAFDAC, under Akunyili, emerged first in the rankings under the Civil Service programme to transform it into a world class service.”
Finance Minister
The Coordinating Minster of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who led the tribute from Ministers, described Akunyili as a woman of strength and passion “who spoke and worked the passion.” She noted that during her time, NAFDAC was consistently voted the best government agency because of her diligence.
Musa Sada
Minister of Solid Minerals, Alhaji Musa Sada, described her as a passionate woman who “was not willing to slow down for anything she believed was good for the country.”
Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, under whose vice chancellorship Dora Akunyili was granted professorship, described her as a “very forthright, honest and diligent” woman who was courageous enough to speak out during the dark part of the nation’s history.
Labour Minister
The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Nwogu, described her death as a rude shock, noting that even at the risk of her life, she remained committed to the work in NAFDAC in the interest of the nation, while the Minister of State (Defence) , Senator Musliu Obanikoro, called her a woman blessed with uncommon candour who put up a stellar performance as DG of NAFDAC.
“A great woman and above all, a woman of history,” he said, even as the Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, observed that Akunyili was, indeed, an amazon who contributed her quota to the development of the nation.
He recalled that the late member of the National Conference had lauded the present administration on the implementation of the 2nd Niger Bridge and implored it not to disappoint on the yearning of the people of the South East.
The Health Minister, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, said he was pained by the death of “an outstanding patriot who believed in the good of the people”, while Minister for Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, remarked that her death was a dark moment in the life of the country.
Maku
The Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, moved the motion to condole President Jonathan, the nation and Akunyili’s immediate family and was seconded by his Water Resources colleague, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe.
