Outrage Greets Murder Of Chike Akunyili, Dora’s Husband; Brother Blames IPOB

By Akinwale Kasali

Disbelief, anger, and outrage have greeted the inexplicable murder of Dr Chike Akunyili.

Dr Akunyili, a Cardiologist, was the husband of Professor Dora Akunyili, the Late Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, and later, Nigeria’s Minister for Information and Communication. She died of Cancer which was earlier on, for years, misdiagnosed by those many assumed should know.

The circumstances behind the gruesome murder of Dr Akunyili are sketchy. But he was killed in the evening of Tuesday, September 29, at Umuoji in Idemili North LGA of Anambra State.

Sources reveal that the late Akunyili was present at the University of Nigeria Nsukka Alumni Association (UNAA), event,  with his son, Obum,  where his late wife was honoured. He was on his way back home after the ceremony when he was murdered by gunmen.

The Award was given to his late wife by the UNAA, Onitsha Branch, at Sharon Hall, All Saints Cathedral, Onitsha.

Both husband and wife were of the UNN.

Accusations and counter accusations as to who killed Dr Akunyili are coming in like claps of thunder.

His devastated younger brother, Cyril Akunyili, immediately put the blame at the feet of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB. In an emotional post, he asked:

IPOB KILLED MY SENIOR BROTHER. WHY?

HUSBAND OF PROF. DORA AKUNYILI IS DEAD. IPOB WHY ON A TUESDAY?

There are reasons why he, and a number of others are blaming IPOB. Akunyili had a Police escort in front of his car. And a couple of people who had Police escort had fallen victims to the inexplicable killings. The impression is that IPOB is, allegedly, at war with Security Agents.

Again, there is still a confusion over IPOB’s stand on the Anambra Governorship election coming up in November. While IPOP insists it has not, officially, said there shall be no election in the State, a number of their members insist there will be no election in the State or any other part of the South-east. Last week, an election campaign event was scattered when gunmen stormed the venue, shooting, and asking them who told them there will be election in the State?

Akunyili’s brother asked: “IPOB why on a Tuesday?” That is because in the South-east, Mondays have become the most dangerous days of the week   over IPOB’s weekly sit-at-home order which it eventually canceled, but which some elements still enforce on Mondays.

One Commentator on Social Media wrote: “The politician which IPOB mistook and killed in Nkpor, yesterday, was Prof Dora Akunyili’s husband (Dr. Chike Akunyili)”

Yet, it is hasty to blame IPOB. And the Group has strongly denied complicity.

Anambra State has been engulfed in political violence  in the past few weeks as the Governorship election approaches. At least, six people have been killed in circumstances strongly suspected to be politically motivated.

IPOB, also, insists the killing  was political

In a statement released by IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, denying complicity, IPOB said Dr. Akunyili’s murder was politically motivated.

It said Akunyili was killed over the upcoming Anambra   Governorship election.

And according to the statement, he was killed by those “who poisoned his wife” because she dared say from the onset that Dr Goodluck Jonathan should take over power from the then very ill and indisposed President Umaru Yar’Adua.

Poweful: ” Those who killed Dora Akunyili’s husband and killed his wife poison are Fulani because she exposed Yar’Adua’s death for Goodluck Jonathan to take over as President of failed Nigeria. They know themselves. Those that conspired to poison Prof. Dora Akunyili, they’re contesting the Governorship election in Anambra State today.

“We have no issues with Chike Akunyili, and  we don’t  know him. Those behind this act must  stop using the name of IPOB. We don’t want anybody to blame IPOB because we must get them. This is pure political assassination.”

For the records, Professor Akunyili died of Cancer which was earlier misdiagnosed, and which she fought like a lioness till the end, beating the timeline given to her to pass on with more than one year!

Senate, Agulu community, mourn Dr. Akunyili

The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Wednesday, during its sitting, observed a one-minute silence in honour of the late Dr Akunyili. The attention of the Senate was drawn to his  murder by Senator Uche Ekwunife.

And, in his native Agulu community, shock and numbness are the reaction. In a release, the Community said it has lost its “Diamond Son”, who held the Chieftaincy title of “Agbalanze.”