Ojukwu is alive –London hospital…We are used to such rumour -Bianca

Posted by admin Latest Politics Wednesday, August 10th, 2011

The Royal Berkshire Hospital London, where Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu is receiving treatment yesterday afternoon declared that the former Biafra leader is still alive and receiving treatment at the hospital.

The reaction from the London hospital was sequel to a strong rumour making the rounds that the Leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), who was flown abroad in an air ambulance was dead.
The rumour, which started yesterday morning was said to have been flashed in the internet as breaking news.

But, the Assistant Director, Public Relations of the Hospital Nicola Wesson, who spoke to our reporter on phone from London insisted that the Igbo leader was still alive.
Said he; “our press statement on the state of General Emeka Ojukwu’s health is still correct and we want to stand by it, nothing has changed.”

The Public Relations Manager of the Berkshire Hospital, Joe Wise, who signed the statement which was published in the media, was earlier contacted through an e-mail, referred this reporter to the Assistant Director, saying he was on leave.

His e-mail read: “I am on leave until Monday August 15. If your message is urgent, please contact either Jo Barrett or Vicki Sperry or Assistant Director of PR, Nicola Wesson.
In the statement published in the media on Friday July 29, 2011 the hospital recalled that the Ikemba was admitted in the hospital as an emergency patient from the Lynden Hill Clinic. “He was suffering from a chest infection for which he received treatment. His condition is still stable.”

Also reacting to the rumour, wife of the Ezeigbo Gburugburu, Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu dismissed the rumour, insisting that she had been in touch with her husband.
Said she: “We are used to such rumours, if they don’t say he is dead, they will say he is in coma or has been abandoned. I can assure you that Ikemba is alive and I even spoke to him a while ago.”

Governor Peter Obi and APGA Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh also refuted the rumoured death of the Igbo leader. Obi, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Mike Udah said the intermittent heightening of tension that had attended his hospitalization showed how dearly Nigerians and the world hold him.

He further thanked all who had continued to show concern about Ojukwu’s ill-health and requested them to continue to pray for his full recovery, re-assuring all Nigerians and foreign admirers of Ojukwu that he was still very much around with us. He appealed to death-mongers to show a little discretion, especially on issues that were clearly open to confirmation.

Umeh, on his part said: “Ikemba is alive. I just spoke with him in hospital. His death rumour is false. We shall continue to pray for him.”

-Sunwp_posts