Family In Bitter War Over Dora Akunyili’s Final Resting Place

While many Nigerians are yet to come to terms with the death of the former Minister of Information and Communications, Prof Dora Akunyili at a specialist cancer hospital in India, her immediate family members are said to be divided on the final resting place of the woman.

It will be recalled that the celebrated public officer and politician died of complications from cervical cancer which she battled for over three years.

Those in the know told First Weekly Magazine in Anambra State last week that while Dora’s husband, Dr Chike Akunyili is insisting that his late wife should be buried in Agulu, his hometown as tradition demands, her immediate family members are demanding that she should be buried at her parents’ home in Nanka.

It was learnt that the elders of both Agulu and Nanka met over the matter before the remains of the former Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) was flown into the country last week.

Shortly before her death, the woman was said to be worried over the abduction of over 200 girls from the Federal Government Girls’ College, Chibok, Borno State by members of the dreaded Boko Haram Sect.

Sources however, said that the nation’s First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan is billed to attend the woman’s burial, which comes on August 28, 2014.

Also expected at the burial ceremony, according to our reliable sources, are the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, the Senate President, David Mark, Speaker of the House of Reps, Malam Aminu Tambuwal, several state governors and others.

Informed sources said last week that the cervical cancer that killed the late Dora affected the lower part of the uterus that opens into the virgina.

This occurs when abnormal cells on the cervix grow out of control and it can often be successfully treated when it is discovered early.

It is usually found at a very early stage through a pap test. Most cervical cancer is caused by the human Papilloma Virus (HPV) virus, which can be contacted through $exual contact.

Though there are many types of HPV virus, not all of them cause cervical cancer as some of them cause genital warts, but other types may not cause any symptoms.