Date Published: 03/07/10

Sir,

Noting one of the reason Akunyili came hard on Yar'Adua

Facts are now emerging why Prof (Mrs) Dora Akunyili went hard with her position regarding President Umaru Yar’Adua’s ill-health. After requesting for information about the President’s health which was not forthcoming, she decided to take the pound of flesh from Turai. Turai it should be remembered was the person that stood on Professor Akunyili’s way to clinching the portfolio of Health Ministry when she was announced a candidate for the Executive Council. Turai preferred Osotimehin who was suspected to have worked with her on some projects like HIV awareness campaign, etc. As a result Akunyili was assigned Information and Communications portfolio that was greeted with knocks; and she still fumbles in this. Therefore with President Umaru Yar’Adua’s health situation, Akunyili knew it was still Turai that was in office as the de facto President therefore a ready tool at a payback time.

Professor Akunyili was both right and wrong in her actions. She was right if did it out of pure call to national duty; and she was wrong if she did out of malice or retaliation. She before now went according to the dictates that “he who pays the piper dictates the tune” but that was at the detriment of the nation as she receives both condemnation and praise from respective quarters.

From: Chief Emerson Okon, 95 Awolowo Way, Ikeja

okonemerson83@yahoo.com