Akunyili: Jonathan, others shower encomium at tribute session

The Federal Execu­tive Council held special tribute in honour of former Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, who died in an Indian hospital last Saturday.
They agreed that Aku­nyili who died of ovarian cancer left indelible mark in the sands of times of the nation’s history.
At the special tribute ses­sion, council members took turn to extol the virtues of the former Director Gen­eral of National Agency for Food and Drug Ad­ministration and Control (NAFDAC) whom they described as an exemplary public servants and a pa­triotic Nigerian who was devoted to national devel­opment.
They further recalled that the prevalent rate of fake drugs in circulation dropped from 60 per cent to 16 per cent during her tenure at NAFDAC.
President Goodluck Jon­athan and Vice President Namadi Sambo rounded off the session with their special tributes in which they recollected memora­ble moments with the late former minister.
Minister of Informa­tion, Mr. Labaran Maku, who served as Minister of State, Information under Akunyili moved a motion to condole the President, Nigerian women, the Igbos and indeed all Nigerians on her demise.
Minister of Water Re­sources, Mrs. Sarah Ochek­pe, seconded the motion. A minute silence was thereaf­ter observed in her honour while the Minister
of State, Federal Capital Territory, Olajumoke Akin­jide; and the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Nu­rudeen Muhammed, prayed for the repose of her soul.
In his tribute, Jona­than who said Akunyili was role model per excel­lence who was ready to do the right thing, no matter whose ox is gored, recalled his first encounter with her as NAFDAC DG and he as a deputy governor of Bay­elsa State.
He said he decided to invite Akunyili, through the state Commissioner for Health, to a breakfast with him in his official resi­dence.
He said he was surprised that the first thing she did at the breakfast table was to condemn the loaves of bread provided, saying they were too cold.
He said, “My governor was outside the country then and he asked me to represent him at the open­ing session of the health event.
“I was looking forward to meeting Akunyili at the event but she did not at­tend the session. I was told she would arrive in the eve­ning. I therefore directed the state Commissioner for Health to ask her to join me for breakfast the fol­lowing day.
“The first thing she did at the breakfast table was to condemn the bread that was provided for breakfast. She said the bread was cold.
“She summoned my stewards and admonished them to ensure that loaves of bread are warmed so that some molds do not cause stomach upset.”