Media aide to former Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, Isaac Umunna, has once again denied speculations that she is dead.
Umunna made the announcement as fear over Akunyili’s health status once again gained momentum on Friday.
In a message he posted on Facebook, Umunna called on Nigerians to “disregard the rumour of Prof Dora Akunyili’s purported death.”
Calling stories that the health of the former director general of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has deteriorated baseless, Umunna said “I wonder what those behind this rumour – which is rehashed every two/three days – hope to achieve. They’ve been at this for about four weeks and will likely continue for reasons best known to them.
“The situation, as confirmed by former Anambra Governor, Peter Obi, who visited Dora in hospital this week confirmed, is that she is getting better.”
A release by Umunna earlier in the week stated that the former governor left for India on Monday in company of his media aide, Valentine Obienyem.
He said the two men confirmed in a message from India that Akunyili was responding to treatment and that her situation is nothing near the scary picture being painted by rumour mongers.
The former minister’s husband, Dr. Chike Akunyili, also confirmed that Obi and Obienyem were with them in the hospital.
“We are very happy to see them. We are even happier that they have volunteered to spend the entire day with us before returning home to Nigeria,” Dr. Akunyili said.
