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 God disposes.
"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.
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