Dora Akunyili Quits Jonathan Cabinet To Join Politics (Page 7)

she did the right thing by quiting the stage when the ovation is loudest and i hope other nigerian politicians will learn how to quit their post when the ovation is loudest and not when they are disgraced out of office either through an impeachment,court order or sack. she did the best thing for her political future because her ministerial post was an appointed one and can be terminated any time but office of the senate will be an elected one with a mandate and with a period of time that is stipulated to a particular time for expirations. she will win her senatorial district come 2010 but i advised that she be very careful so that she don't damage the good name that she have built over the years in the nafdac and as minister of information more especially during the transfer of power from yar adua and jonathan. i wish her success.

Nigeria’s minister of information, Dora Akunyili, formally left the cabinet of Goodluck Jonathan today to join politics.  Her valedictory statement read at the Federal Executive Council meeting today finally put to rest speculations about her political future.

VALEDICTORY ADDRESS TO THE FEDERAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL BY PROF. DORA AKUNYILI, HON. MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS, ABUJA, DECEMBER 15, 2010


Mr. President, Mr. Vice President, and esteemed colleagues with whom I have formed a family — some of you for the past two years and others for a lesser period of time.  I wish to humbly inform Council that I am resigning from the Cabinet with effect from tomorrow, 16th December, 2010.

Today is therefore a very emotional day for me in Council. This is because I have been so closely bonded to most of you that my departure is like leaving a family. My heart is so heavy because in this Council, I have found comfort and friendship.

However, having reflected over the years about events in Nigeria and in particular my state, Anambra, I have come to the conclusion that it is indeed a defining moment in my life when I should make the sacrifice of leaving a comfortable place to go to a difficult terrain in order to build a better place for our children. I have, therefore, decided to join my Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, who is doing a great job in continuing to build Anambra State as an APGA Senator. In this regard, I intend to pick the nomination form today to run for the office of Senator Representing Anambra Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly.

As I take this step, I solicit for your prayers and other forms of support. I am making this request because you are my people and my immediate constituency.  Yes, my colleagues in the pharmaceutical industry are still my people but I have virtually exhausted my goodwill with them in the service of our dear Country, especially in support of the Re-branding Nigeria project. Many drug manufacturing companies spent over N10 million for the Re-branding Nigeria materials because they desperately wanted me to succeed. Therefore, it is you and only you that I can now run to for support. Please, I plead with each and everyone of you to sow a seed to my political career, you will never regret it. In the words of President Jonathan, I will never let you down. Yes, I will be in the senate by the grace of God for my constituency and for the nation but you can be sure that I will also be there for you.

Mr. President, I am deeply grateful to you for giving me the opportunity to serve our dear Country as Minister of Information and Communications. I am equally grateful for the co-operation which you, the VP and my Cabinet colleagues extended to me in the course of my duties, without which I would not have succeeded. Mr. President, I will never forget the encouragement you gave me through phone calls, text messages, e.t.c. when I was in NAFDAC during that fight for life. Mr. Vice President, you always call me your sister, please continue to call me your sister.

I wish Mr. President, Mr. Vice President, and other Council members who may wish to contest in the 2011 elections success in this regard. I pray that this Council succeeds to the end and that many of you continue as Council members after May 2011.


I leave you with love and fond memories. Thank you and God bless you all.


PROF. DORA NKEM AKUNYILI, OFR

HON. MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS, ABUJA, DECEMBER 15, 2010

Nigeria’s minister of information, Dora Akunyili, formally left the cabinet of Goodluck Jonathan today to join politics.  Her valedictory statement read at the Federal Executive Council meeting today finally put to rest speculations about her political future.

VALEDICTORY ADDRESS TO THE FEDERAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL BY PROF. DORA AKUNYILI, HON. MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS, ABUJA, DECEMBER 15, 2010


Mr. President, Mr. Vice President, and esteemed colleagues with whom I have formed a family — some of you for the past two years and others for a lesser period of time.  I wish to humbly inform Council that I am resigning from the Cabinet with effect from tomorrow, 16th December, 2010.

Today is therefore a very emotional day for me in Council. This is because I have been so closely bonded to most of you that my departure is like leaving a family. My heart is so heavy because in this Council, I have found comfort and friendship.

However, having reflected over the years about events in Nigeria and in particular my state, Anambra, I have come to the conclusion that it is indeed a defining moment in my life when I should make the sacrifice of leaving a comfortable place to go to a difficult terrain in order to build a better place for our children. I have, therefore, decided to join my Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, who is doing a great job in continuing to build Anambra State as an APGA Senator. In this regard, I intend to pick the nomination form today to run for the office of Senator Representing Anambra Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly.

As I take this step, I solicit for your prayers and other forms of support. I am making this request because you are my people and my immediate constituency.  Yes, my colleagues in the pharmaceutical industry are still my people but I have virtually exhausted my goodwill with them in the service of our dear Country, especially in support of the Re-branding Nigeria project. Many drug manufacturing companies spent over N10 million for the Re-branding Nigeria materials because they desperately wanted me to succeed. Therefore, it is you and only you that I can now run to for support. Please, I plead with each and everyone of you to sow a seed to my political career, you will never regret it. In the words of President Jonathan, I will never let you down. Yes, I will be in the senate by the grace of God for my constituency and for the nation but you can be sure that I will also be there for you.

Mr. President, I am deeply grateful to you for giving me the opportunity to serve our dear Country as Minister of Information and Communications. I am equally grateful for the co-operation which you, the VP and my Cabinet colleagues extended to me in the course of my duties, without which I would not have succeeded. Mr. President, I will never forget the encouragement you gave me through phone calls, text messages, e.t.c. when I was in NAFDAC during that fight for life. Mr. Vice President, you always call me your sister, please continue to call me your sister.

I wish Mr. President, Mr. Vice President, and other Council members who may wish to contest in the 2011 elections success in this regard. I pray that this Council succeeds to the end and that many of you continue as Council members after May 2011.


I leave you with love and fond memories. Thank you and God bless you all.


PROF. DORA NKEM AKUNYILI, OFR

HON. MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS, ABUJA, DECEMBER 15, 2010