Encomium
THE family of late Professor Dora Akunyili has rubbished the report making the rounds that they are at war over her final resting place.
Speaking on behalf of the Akunyilis on Saturday, July 5, 2014, the family’s media adviser, Mr. Isaac Umunna, said the story is baseless and leaves much to be desired.
“The story doesn’t make sense. As obtains in most other parts of Igboland, Anambra women, at death, are buried in their husband’s place. Why should Dora be an exception?”
The social media was awash with the story: “Family in bitter war over Dora Akunyili’s final resting place,” all through the week.
The report claimed that while many Nigerians are yet to come to terms with the death of the former Minister of Information and Communications at a Specialist Cancer Hospital in India, her immediate family members are said to be divided on where to bury the fallen amazon.
According to the unconfirmed report, those in the know said that while Dora’s husband, Dr. Chike Akunyili is insisting that his late wife should be buried in Agulu, his hometown as tradition demands, her immediate family members are demanding that she should be buried at her parents’ home in Nanka, Anambra State.
It was further alleged that the elders of both Agulu and Nanka met over the matter before the remains of the former Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), was flown into the country, weeks back.
Still in the report was a list of dignitaries attending the August 28 burial of the late emeritus professor. It included the Vice President, Namadi Sambo; the Senate President, David Mark; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal as well as state governors and other eminent Nigerians.
After ENCOMIUM Weekly forwarded the story to Dr. Chike Akunyili through Professor Dora Akunyili’s media adviser (Isaac Umunna) he replied thus: “This is a baseless and very irresponsible story. Please note as follows:
(1) No single person is quoted in the story.
(2) In Igboland, a woman is usually buried in the husband’s place when she does. Agulu and Nanka are no exceptions.
(3) As a member of the burial committee, I can confirm there is no truth whatsoever in the claims in the fabricated report. We have been working with both the Akunyili and Edemobi families and there is no disagreement whatsoever on the issue of where Professor Akunyili would be buried. (Edemobi is Dora’s maiden surname).
(4) Mentioning names of top government officials to attend the burial at this point is premature. The burial committee has neither compiled nor sent out any invites for the burial. So, it is premature to identify specific people expected at the burial.”
Professor Dora Nkem Akunyili died on Saturday, June 7, 2014. Her remains were flown back from India (where she passed on) on Wednesday, June 11. The family didn’t waste time to fix August 28, 2014 as the icon’s burial date. A burial committee was equally set up days after to ensure the former Anambra guber and senatorial aspirant is given a befitting burial.
But the committee had barely sat when news filtered in from Agulu and Nanka, Anambra (the homes of the deceased) alleging there is a bitter disagreement over where she would be buried.
The Akunyili family has now promptly clarified there is no element of truth or sense in the said report.
– UCHE OLEHI
