……..We Lost Our Mother For Nothing – Son of Late NAFDAC Boss
There was widespread anger on the social media over the growing prevalence of counterfeit consumer goods in markets and stores across the country.
This is as netizens attributed the trend to the death of a former Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, late Dora Akunyili, saying “since she left us alone in this evil world, we’ve been eating and drinking fake products.”
A popular social media user, Somto Okonkwo, had raised alarm about the circulation of fake rice in the country before the yuletide season.
“Fake Rice In Circulation: Watch out for the kind of rice you’re buying this festive season in Nigeria. There are so many fake products out there. Stay safe,” he posted on the X platform.
Also, Japheth Omajuwa, a public analyst, said the country is losing lives to things that have no business killing people.
According to him, there are more incentives to break the law in Nigeria, and the system appears to punish those who stick by the rules.
“The authorities caught a man cooking meth red-handed. He had a whole lab in the heart of Lagos. He got convicted and was handed the grace of an N4 miilion fine. He’d pay that from 15 minutes of cooking.
“And everyone knows he’d be back with a bigger lab and a lot more boldness. He now knows he can afford the worst-case scenario.
@Rosesprings11 wrote, “How we miss Aunty Dora Akunyili of blessed memory.”
An X user, Imohunoren, had written, “Since Dora Akunyili left us alone in this evil world, we’ve been eating and drinking fake products . That woman looked out for us for real. Top 5 Nigerian to ever exist.”
Responding, another user, kelvin_ig, said, “I can never forget when her house and office in Lagos was burned down on the same day. Obasanjo asked if she wanted to resign. She said Obj should dead that talk and reinforce her security. Obj did, and she carried on. 😭 she’s wild.”
X user, Morris_Monye added, “Till date, no justice for her family over her attempted murder and her family.
“Her husband was killed. No Justice till now.
“She gave absolutely all for Nigeria. Yet the land has a way of taking her own.
“This is why I choose battles carefully. If you lose your life, Nigeria moves on.”
Reacting to the discussion, Edozie Akunyili, son of the late NAFDAC boss question the worth of the sacrifices rendered by his family to the country.
He said: “We would give anything to have our parents with us but Naija moves on with corruption and impunity from the top down seen as normalcy.
“Sadly, she died because she was so engrossed in her work for NAFDAC that she delayed her fibroid hysterectomy for years, which later was found to be cancerous.
“When I see all the lies, corruption and dirty politics, it pains me that we lost our mother for nothing! Was it worth it?”
Recall that on Monday last week, the operatives of NAFDAC bursted a syndicate that specialises in producing counterfeit wines, soft drinks, and other consumables in Eziukwu Market in Aba, Abia State.
Also, barely a week ago, the agency nabbed a cartel of fake products in Abia Cementry Market and destroyed fake products worth N750m.
Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.
