UK Hospital Allays Fears over Ojukwu’s Health By GODWIN HARUNA 29 Jul 2011 Views: 5,366 Font Size: a / A

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, APGA Leader

Contrary to insinuations circulating round the country that the health of the national leader of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has degenerated, it has been affirmed that he is in stable health.

A statement by Royal Berkshire Hospital, United Kingdom where Ojukwu is presently receiving treatment and made available to THISDAY Thursday, insisted that its patient is in stable condition.

Since the evacuation of the former Biafran leader to the UK in December, last year, reports said this is the second time speculations have been rife about his state of health as regards reports suggesting that he had fallen into a coma.

However, the statement signed by the hospital’s Public Relations Manager, Mr. Joe Wise on behalf of the family dispelled the reports that Ojukwu’s is imperiled in anyway.

The statement reads: “We have been requested by the family of General Odumegwu-Ojukwu to clarify newspaper reports regarding his stay as a patient at the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

“The Royal Berkshire Hospital is one of the largest acute hospitals and is nationally and internationally renowned for its high standards of care, using the very latest treatments and clinical equipment available.

“General Odumegwu-Ojukwu was admitted as an emergency patient from the Lynden Hill Clinic.  He was suffering from a chest infection for which he received treatment. His condition is stable.

“Contrary to reports published in a number of newspapers, the General has not suffered any further strokes; he is not on a life support machine and has not been on one at any time while a patient in the Royal Berkshire Hospital; the General’s treatment is being funded privately.

“Any further media enquiries should be directed to the Public Relations Department, but further statements will only be issued at the request of the General’s family.” Some on-line publications have fuelled rumours that Ojukwu had a relapse. However, his Chief of Staff, Mr. Bob Onyema had since debunked it as the handwork of those who do not mean well for Igboland.

Contacted on the development, the Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Peter Obi of Anambra State on Media and Publicity, Mr. Valentine Obienyem said that since the governor noticed that people were using Ezeigbos’ sickness for other purposes, he had directed his aides not to make comments on him, but always to remember him in prayers and book masses for him.

The 77 year-old national leader of APGA is spending his eight month in hospital since he was flown to the UK last year when his health conditions developed problems where he was been treated at a Nigerian hospital.

Asked on the funding of the treatment, Obienyem said that Obi was still solely responsible for the bill, which he said the governor had refused to make public even to debunk the allegation of junk on-line journalists on the reason that he saw his assistance as that of a son to his father that should not be sensationalized for any reason