Chike Akunyili Buried In Anambra
Dr Chike Akunyili, the late husband of Prof Dora Akunyili, the late Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, was buried on Thursday at his Agulu residence in Anambra State’s Anaocha Local Government Area.
On the 29th of September, Akunyili was assassinated while returning to Enugu after an event in Onitsha, Anambra State, where his late wife received a posthumous award.
“No election in Anambra on November 6,” the gunmen who killed him and eight others at Nkpor in the state’s Idemili North Local Government Area reportedly yelled.
Reverend Father Damian Akunonu, speaking during Chike’s burial service at Madonna Catholic Church in Agulu on Thursday, said the killing of Chike had no justification.
He blamed the growing rascality and criminality in society on the loss of core values, saying that the assassination of Akunyili should serve as a wakeup call to both the state and federal governments to reorganize the country’s security architecture.
Rev Akunonu of the Biggard Seminary in Enugu, who claimed to have married the Akunyilis, said the couple was happy.
He said, “Unfortunately, the place where Chike was killed had four police stations and the same number of hospitals, yet Chike was not saved. People were rather busy recording video of the incident. Chike was seen in a video clip struggling to save himself after the attack.
“Those in charged of security at both federal and state levels should use this opportunity to restructure the security architecture.
Speaking, one of his children, Obum Akunyili, said though his father’s death was painful, he( late Chike) was a fulfilled man whose children were doing great in the various areas of their calling.
He said family friends, relations and well wishers from Canada, United States and other countries attended the burial ceremony.
Amongst those who attended the burial service were a former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi and his wife, Margret; a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Senator Victor Umeh; the Anambra State deputy governor-elect, Dr Onyekachi Ibezim; representatives of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo , five Catholic bishops and scores of other priests.
