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Gowon, Abdulsalami, govs gather for Akunyili
IHEANACHO NWOSU
CHAIRMAN
of the South-East Governors Forum and Imo State Governor, Chief Achike Udenwa,
has commended the Director General of the National Agency for Food, Drugs
Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Dora Akunyili as a blessing to Nigeria.
Speaking over the weekend at the colourful and well attended birthday ceremony
in Lagos to mark Akunyili’s 50th birthday, Chief Udenwa said the NAFDAC boss is
a pride of her people and a testimony to the quality that her South-East zone
offers the country.
The double barreled programme in Lagos to
mark Dr.Akunyili’s golden birthday attracted a very intimidating array of
powerful guests from across the political class, the corporate world, the
academia, the professions and the bureaucracy.
The event commenced earlier in the day on
Saturday with a mass at the Church of Assumption Falomo.The church and its
premises in the Falomo area of Ikoyi were filled to capacity, even as security
was well marshalled around the area. From the church the ceremony moved over to
the Federal Palace Hotel on Victoria Island, where a greater number of guests
and well wishers of the nationally adored nemesis of fake drugs and sundry fake
products took over the vast hotel premises.
Among the numerous guests at the event
were two former heads of state, Generals Yakubu Gowon and Abdul salami Abubakar,
four state governors, Bola Tinubu of Lagos, Achike Udenwa of Imo, Sam Egwu of
Ebonyi and Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu and First Lady, Mrs.Stella Obasanjo. Other
distinguished guests included Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Professor
Charles Soludo, Minister of Finance, Dr.Ngozi Okonjo Iweala,Minister of
Intergovernmental Affairs,Mr.Frank Nweke,Senator Tunde Ogbeha,Deputy governor of
Niger state,Dr.Shehu Zagbayi Nuhu,Presidential adviser, Chief Rochas
Okorocha,former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Muritala Nyako,business mogul
Aliko Dangote,chief executice of Oceanic Bank Mrs. Cecilia Ibru and the Managing
director of Emzor Pharmaceutical,Mrs.Stella Okoli etc.
Flanked by her husband,Dr.Chike Akunyili
and her children, the celebrant beamed with smiles all through and at times
looked overwhelmed by the public outpouring of affection towards her.
The guests paid glowing tribute to
Mrs.Akunyili for her selfless service to the country in a very critical sector.
Some of the speakers noted the danger she has had to confront with and found it
a mark of the NAFDAC helmswoman’s commitment that she has refused to be cowed.
Gov.Udenwa who spoke elaborately on
Dr.Akunyili’s substance, particularly said that as the chairman of the forum of
South-East Governors, he is proud to point at the stuff the zone is made of and
what it could offer Nigeria even in higher positions. He pointed out that
Mrs.Uzoamaka Nwizu, the Controller General of Immigration who recently passed on
stands as another clear example of the substance and uncompromised loyalty to
service sons and daughter of the South-East zone present to the country. The Imo
state governor used the opportunity to ask Nigerians to support the next
president of the country to come from the South-East, assuring that Nigeria will
be the better for it.
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