Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu

DOUBTS over the health of former warlord Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu were cleared yesterday.

He is put on an artificial breathing machine at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, Chief Medical Director (CMD) Dr Anthony Mbah said.

Ojukwu may be flown abroad before the end of this week, it was learnt.

Efforts are being made to stabilise him before he is flown to either South Africa or Egypt for intensive medical attention.

Security is heavy within the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital where doctors are battling to save the Ikemba Nnewi’s wife. His son, Emeka Ojukwu (Jnr), and a former chairman of Nnewi North Local Government Area, Mr. Azuka Okwuosa, were at the ICU reception unit yesterday. So were other relatives of the former Biafra chief.

Mbah told reporters that a team of consultants led by Prof Vincent Ike, a consultant cardiologist, was treating Ojukwu whom he said was gradually regaining consciousness.

Said Mba: “He was brought to the accident and emergency department of this hospital in an unconscious state last Sunday. The blood pressure was quite low and he was not making enough urine. Upon arrival, consultants started administering treatment on him immediately. Right now, I can say the blood pressure has stabilised and he is making enough urine, though his level of consciousness has not improved greatly but efforts are in top gear to fly him abroad.

“As a hospital, we have already provided transport oxygen and we are updating his medical certificate every moment in order to get ready for his rapid evacuation.

“The opinion of the medical team working on him is that he has a stroke attack and as I’m speaking, he is on a ventilator, which is an artificial breathing machine, just to help his breathing because he was breathing excessively when he was brought here. For now, we have evidence that the oxygen saturation is okay. I also have it on good authority that the family is thinking of getting a flying ambulance to take him away.”

President Goodluck Jonathan had last Friday visited Ojukwu at home. Though, he came with the five southeast governors to the residence of the former warlord, only the president was allowed to see Ojukwu in his room, upstairs. The President was in Enugu to inaugurate the extended Akanu Ibiam Airport’s runway.

There had been conflicting reports over Ojukwu’s health.

His wife, Bianca, who admitted that her husband is ill, denied that he was rushed to UNTH. She said he is being treated in his Enugu home.

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) - controlled Anambra State government also said yesterday that Ojukwu was not hospitalised.

Mrs. Ojukwu, visibly angry yesterday over the reports of the hospitalisation of her husband, said: “He has been ill. His last public outing was the burial of (APGA national chair) Chief Victor Umeh’s mother.”

She added that Ojukwu had not gone outside Enugu for the past two weeks.

“His health has been bad for some time; no doubt about that. His ability to struggle to survive shows the kind of strong will that he has. But, definitely, he was not rushed to the hospital as an in-patient,” claimed Mrs Ojukwu.

She said President Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo were at their home last week to cheer up Ojukwu, adding that other VIPs had been visiting.

At Ojukwu’s home yesterday, Deputy Governor of Anambra State Mr. Emeka Sibudu, was ushered upstairs.

Sibudu told reporters that he was there to “see the APGA leader and give him some pep talk”.

Chief Press Secretary to Anambra State Governor Mike Udah said: “All I will tell you is that the wife knows better. She is the only one that can tell you the true position. If Ojukwu is being hospitalised, we should be the first to know.”

But the Public Relations Officer of the UNTH Mr. Cyril Keleze told our correspondent that Ojukwu was brought to the hospital at about 5.35 pm on Monday and was taken to the intensive care unit.

kulutempa:

I am Yoruba and I am disgusted by the comments some of you guys have made about this man who rightly or wrongly stood up to be counted when push came to shove.  If truth be said, he has more balls than many of you would have in a thousand lifetimes.

4llerbuntu:


Things must change, the failed generation must give way

mrperfect:

Not will happen to you Sir. In jesus name.

alj harem1:

i believe u do not have to curse anyone here

he has his opinion just like u have urs

thank you

holydante:

Alhaji, opinion are like a*s*ses and we all have one. I wish in the spirit of free speech, semid4lyfe can go to Nkwo Nnwei market and make that his opinion public

All the same, your point is noted

diphor:

I left this Nairaland for Facebook because i thought most people here are not matured.I just wanted to check again.With what i have read on this topic,people need to grow up.
This is Nigeria and we should not rain abuses on ourselves.Ojukwu did what he thought was right (and he might be right or wrong) but he wanted to fight for good leadership (which we still have till date). I do not see the future but i would have concluded if he was wrong or right if we've had a tru leadership.

We should not condemn other peoples opinion or rain curses on one another.let's in 1 voice fight for good leadership pls.