The family of Chike Akunyili says the heart of the medical
doctor was heavy about Nigeria in his final days.
Akunyili, who was the husband of the late Dora Akunyili,
former minister of information and communication, was killed alongside his
police escort and one Aloysius, identified as his driver, on Tuesday at Umuoji,
Idemili North LGA of Anambra state.
In a statement issued on Thursday and jointly signed by
Ijeoma Akunyili, Edozie Akunyili, Somto Asuzu, Njideka Akunyili, Chidiogo
Akunyili-Parr and Obumneme Akunyili, the family described the killing as
“brutal and senseless”.
They said their “hearts break twice” leaving a “gap which
sorrow cannot fill”.
“As a nation mourns a man known to many as the husband of
late Professor Dora Akunyili, we as a family remember the man we call Daddy,”
the statement reads.
“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 honour of
his late wife, who he cherished and honoured even in death. At this event and
always, he invited everyone to be like his wife Dora.
“He was a father and grandfather. With joy, he would share
that he was a grandfather to 9 grandchildren. He welcomed his youngest
grandchild just a little over a month ago and had yet to meet her.
“He was an older brother to all his siblings, many of whom
call him Daddy in reverence and recognition of his love.
“He was a healer. A passionate surgeon, Dr Chike was the
Medical Director at St. Leo’s Hospital in Enugu. For decades he served
countless people, many of whom he cared for and healed at no cost. His one
request was always that they paid it forward.
“He started his healing journey in the north where he built
and ran a mobile clinic in Jaban Kogo. For many months, he lived and worked
among the people, studying and becoming fluent in Hausa to better serve his
patients. His commitment to providing healthcare to that community earned him
the National Youth Service Merit Award.
“He was a philanthropist. For 45 years he treated priests in
Bigard Memorial Seminary and beyond for free, trusting this to be his calling.
“He was a Papal Knight of Saint John, a title bestowed by
the Vatican in recognition of his dedication and service to the Church.
“He was a man of the people, loved by many for his wisdom
and for his courage to always speak the truth. His counsel was sought far and
wide.
“He is remembered for his ability to hold an audience
captive with his words and stories. To hear him speak in Igbo was to be blessed
by the wisdom of endless proverbs.
“He was an ordinary
man who, every day, 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. He lamented about the struggles of people unable to pay for
treatment anymore and about the unfortunate state of unrest where human life
had lost its value.
“His hope echoed that of his beloved wife and our mother,
that Nigeria might lean on the forces of unity and shun disunity. That we might
do the right thing, trusting that our potential lies in the goodness of the
people and the greatness of the nation.”
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