Kogiflame
…Say He Was Compassionate, Inspiring And Family Man
The six Children of Dr. Chike Akunyili, husband of former Minister of Information Dora Akunyili has written a moving tribute to the memory of their father who failed to assassin bullet on Tuesday.
The tribute which was signed by all of them and posted on social media said that though “death in any situation is painful when it is as brutal and senseless as murder, our hearts break twice”.
They said as the nation mourns their father, they remember the man they call Daddy.
They wrote: “He was a son — as a young man, he fought as a soldier in the Biafra war. A war that earned him a bullet that stayed lodged in his skull ever since. From this experience of violence and death, he went on to become a doctor saving thousands of lives — a powerful testament to his journey through life.
“He was a loving husband. It is no surprise that, on the day of his untimely death, he was on his way from a memorial lecture in honor of his late wife, who he cherished and honored even in death. At this event and always, he invited everyone to be like his wife Dora”.
Dr. Akunyili they revealed, was a grandfather to nine grandchildren.
Based on his background as a medical doctor, he was a healer, a passionate surgeon, and was the Medical Director at St. Leo’s Hospital in Enugu and for decades he served countless people, many of whom he cared for and healed at no cost.
He was a philanthropist, they said and for 45 years he treated priests in Bigard Memorial Seminary and beyond for free, believing that to be his calling.
As a devout Catholic Akunyili was conferred with a Papal knighthood of Saint John, a title bestowed by the Vatican in recognition of his dedication and service to the Church.
Although he was an ordinary man his children said, “every day, he showed his extraordinary commitment to his community and his people by his ability to help people in need without question.
“In his final days, his heart was heavy about the state of things in Nigeria and lamented about the bad situation and how people struggle to make ends meet.
They concluded that their father’s death left a gap that sorrow cannot fill.
Among those that signed the tribute were Dr. Ijeoma Akunyili, Dr. Edozie Akunyili and Dr. Somto Akunyili Asuzu.
Others were: Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Chidiogo Akunyili-Parr, and Obumneme Akunyili said to be Senior Special Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano.
Independent
