Ojukwu’s death rumour spreads •He is not dead -Anambra gov, family

RUMOUR of the death of prominent Igbo leader, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, was rife on Wednesday, but the Special Adviser on Media

to Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, Mr Valentine Obienyem, described the report as untrue.

Governors Obi and Rochas Okorocha of Imo State are the two governors in the country elected on the ticket of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the political party Ojukwu founded. He is also the national leader of the party.

Ojukwu, 79, has been hospitalised in England for the past eight months, following the multiple stroke he suffered late last year.

He was flown to England when his health condition became complicated, following a stroke as he was being treated at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu.

On Tuesday, August 2, 2011, an online publisher, Mr Daniel Elombah (elombah.com), had written that he was at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, England and that he saw Chief Ojukwu, adding that the former warlord was not on life support machine.

“Tuesday, August 2, 2011, time 19.45 p.m., I saw Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Ikemba Nnewi, Dikediorama Ndigbo, at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, United Kingdom. And I could confirm that Ezeigbo is not being sustained on life support machine,” Elombah had written.

Prior to the report, some national newspapers in Nigeria had reported that Chief Ojukwu was on life support machine and that he had been abandoned by the leaders of the South-East zone.

It was also alleged in the reports that close family members of Ojukwu had instructed the doctors to withdraw the life support machine should he suffer a relapse.

However, Elombah had said in the report that Chief Odumegwu-Ojukwu, “is conscious. He is not on life support. But he is a 79-year-old man, who has suffered multiple stroke. In fact, the only foreign object inserted into Ojukwu’s body is a cannula.”

However, Wednesday’s rumour had created some anxiety but Governor Obi, and other leaders of APGA denied his death, describing it as a mere rumour.

Governor Obi’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Mike Udah, who spoke on behalf of his boss, said the governor decided to set the record straight following calls and enquires he received from different quarters.

The full text of his speech made available to the press reads:

“Governor Peter Obi has been inundated with calls from many quarters, both within and outside the country on the state of health of Igbo leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu.

The intermittent heightening of tension that has attended his hospitalisation shows how dearly Nigerians and the world hold him.

“The governor said that Dim Ojukwu had continued to attract the attention of the world because of his outstanding his leadership role and assured place in national history, adding that it also showed that his popularity is real.

“The governor thanked all who have continued to show concern about Ojukwu’s ill health and requested them to continue to pray for his full recovery, re-assuring all Nigerian and foreign admirers of Ojukwu that he is still very much around with us. He appeals to death-mongers to show a little discretion, especially on issues that are clearly open to confirmation.”

Also, Ojukwu’s family members have denied the rumoured death of the ailing elder statesman.

According to Saharareporters, Ojukwu’s direct family [member] as well as sources within the London hospital where he is recuperating, have ascertained that the former Biafran leader is alive.

In a telephone interview, Okigbo Odumegwu-Ojukwu, one of the former warlord’s children, stated, “It is not true that my father died.” Mr Odumegwu-Ojukwu resides in London and is constantly in touch with the hospital personnel caring for his father.

Saharareporters also spoke to a UK-based medical doctor involved in Ojukwu’s care and he also debunked the rumour of Chief Ojukwu’s death.

Also, APGA, on Wednesday, said the Igbo leader was alive, hale and hearty.

In the same vein, Oju-kwu’s brother-in-law, Dr Joseph Umunnakwe Onoh, also said the leader of the defunct Biafra Republic was still alive.

Chief Victor Umeh said “Ikemba is alive. I just spoke with them in hospital. His rumoured death is false. We shall continue to pray for him.”

Dr Onoh said “I just spoke with Ikemba at about a quarter past four today (on Wednesday) and you can quote me that he is alive. I also spoke with my sister (Bianca) and Emeka jnr (Ojukwu’s son). So please help me tell other journalists that Ojukwu is not dead, please and please.”

When reminded that Ojukwu could not speak, he said it was not true, adding that “Ojukwu speaks and will be fine again.”