Igbo to observe 4-hour shutdown for Akunyili in Lagos • Okoli thanks Nigerians for honouring ex-minister

  Igbo in Lagos will tomorrow shutdown their businesses for four hours in honour of the late former Minister of Information and Communication, Prof Dora Akunyili, who would be buried in Agulu, in Anambra State same day.This coming at a time when Chairman, Schofield Media Consult, Chief Obi Okoli, has expressed gratitude to Anambra State indigenes and Nigerians in general for electing to celebrate Akunyili in death.

Rising from a dinner/interactive session for market leaders and stakeholders, Igbo, on the platform of Ndigboamaka, a non-governmental organisation of South East Ndigbo Lagos, unanimously  agreed that they would close down their businesses from 8am-12noon tomorrow, as a mark of honour for Akunyili.

Revealing this in Lagos, Nze Basil Osuokwu, national coordinator of South East Ndigbo Lagos, stated that the market leaders resolved not to do business for four hours to show that they and Igbo, in general, recognised the invaluable achievements of Akunyili.

He stated that the market leaders were happy with what Akunyili did as director general of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and minister of information.

The group’s coordinator said the fact that Akunyili staked her life in the service of Nigeria showed the Igbo spirit of putting everything in what they believe in.

He stated that Igbo were immensely proud of Akunyili, while urging other Nigerians in public service to emulate her honesty, dedication, hard work and integrity.

In a related development, Okoli, while thanking Nigerians for resolving to celebrate Akunyili in death, stated that the late minister did show “extraordinary ability of inner beauty and courage,” which, he said, “illuminated our universe all through her life. She left an indelible mark on every task she handled, both within and outside the state.”

He stated that Akunyili has united the world in grief, a thing he said, “will forever remain in the annals of the Nigerian history.”

Okoli tasked Anambra women to emulate Akunyili’s track record and continue from where she stopped in making the state “a pacesetter in good virtues and positive leadership.”

He advised women to use the forum of the annual August meeting to immortalise the former NAFDAC boss in their own way as well as remain good ambassadors of Anambra’s positive virtues.

He thanked Governor Willie Obiano’s wife, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano, for putting every necessary arrangement in place “in ensuring that our dear women honoured Professor Akunyili in her last journey home.”

He prayed that God will grant the friends and well wishers of the state and the family  of Akunyili journey mercies in and out of the state during Akunyili’s burial.