One of the latest reactions to news of her death came from former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who described her death as a great loss to the country.
Obasanjo, in his condolence message, described Akunyili’s death as the passage of one of the jewels in his administration. He said Akunyili made a great change in the country’s health sector, with her successful crusade against fake drugs.
Obasanjo said: “The death of Akunyili is a passage of one of the jewels in the glamour of my administration.
‘A great loss’
He added: “It is a great loss for this country, which needs men and women of Akunyili’s high integrity, industry, patriotism and honesty.
“There are two things involved. One is to search for the person. Men and women of such standing abound. Secondly, after the search we have to tap them, motivate them and ensure that they are well directed.”
The former President said Akunyili was a workaholic member of his administration, adding that he sincerely appreciated her service.
He said: “Her life made a great change in one specific area— fake drugs. She was there, everywhere, to fight the fake drug war, which could have been fatal is she had not taken the bull by the horn.”
Senator Anyanwu
Senator Chris Anyanwu said: “The news of Dora’s death came to me as a very rude shock. Here was a brilliant woman, full of life and vigour and ever ready to go.
“She appeared as a thunderbolt in the Nigerian public service scene in 2001 when she was appointed the Director-General of NAFDAC, which hitherto was grossly ineffective and almost moribund.
“She drove her convictions and professionalism with such a passion that within a short while, Nigerians became very conscious of quality of drugs and foods offered to them.
“Fake manufacturers also came to the hard reality that it was no longer business as usual as Dora made the climate very hot for them to operate in.”
NAFDAC DG
To Dr. Paul Orhii, “it is with great shock but with total submission to the will of God that I received the sad news of the death of Professor Akunyili.
“She was a woman who loved Nigeria deeply and dedicated her entire life up till the very last minute to the service of this great nation.
“Even as we mourn her untimely demise, we celebrate her life and pray that Almighty God will grant her soul eternal rest in peace and also grant the family and her loved ones the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”
A different breed— Fashola
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State described the deceased as an outstanding woman who showed Nigeria that she was a different breed.
In a condolence letter to the family of the deceased, Fashola noted that through her dedication and uprightness, Akunyili saved tens of thousands of lives of Nigerians and the country would forever be grateful to her for the war she waged and won against the manufacture and sale of fake drugs in Nigeria.
He said: “Even till the weeks preceding her death, Mrs. Akunyili continued to show her passion for service to the nation by serving as a delegate at the National Conference.”
We lost a patriot— Mimiko
Reacting, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State said that death had robbed Nigeria of an illustrious and patriotic citizen in the person of Akunyili.
A statement by Mimiko’s Chief Press Secretary, Eni Akinsola, said: “In her service as the Director General of NAFDAC, Akunyili distinguished herself as a diligent, dedicated and dogged public servant, restored sanity into the system and set a new standard in food and drug administration and control, such that has been difficult for her successors to surpass.
“In her capacity as Information Minister, she also proved her outstanding prowess to the world as a true patriot and an outstanding image maker of the nation. We can only pray that Dora’s soul finds deserved repose in the bossom of the Lord.”
She was a regulator’s regulator— Akintayo
President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Mr. Olumide Akintayo, described the late Akunyili as “a regulator’s regulator”.
He said: “Dora Akunyili will go down in history as a consummate and passionate regulator who brought NAFDAC to limelight. She made NAFDAC a household name. She is the very epitome of commitment and diligence in regulatory affairs.
“She believed in being right for the right things. Her life must be an inspiration to the younger generation. She left giant footprints in the sands of time. I wish her family fortitude to bear the loss.”
President of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Dr. Kayode Obembe, said Akunyili’s death was highly regrettable.
He said: “She was a committed patriot, a relentless crusader fighting against evils of fake and adulterated drugs, and a tactful politician. May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace.”
Immediate past President, Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, and Vice President, Commonwealth Medical Association. Dr. Osahon Enabulele, described the death as a great loss to Nigeria.
He said: “I personally feel extremely pained at her loss, particularly having had the opportunity to work closely with her. She was a truly patriotic and selfless Nigerian.”
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