OJUKWU IS ALIVE – BIANCA

Ojukwu
In the wake of fresh rumours yesterday about Dim Odimegwu Ojukwu's state of health , the Anambra State government and the Ikemba's wife, Bianca Ojukwu, have restated that he was recovering speedily and was in no danger of any sort.

Bianca spoke yesterday at the convention of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Awka, Anambra State.

Rumours were rife yesterday that the Ikemba Nnewi, who has been in a London hospital since December 27, had relapsed and that his health hung on a dangerous balance. But Mr. Valentine Obieyem, a senior media aide to the state Governor, Peter Obi, told Daily Sun that 'those rumours are unfounded and rather wicked.'

He restated that nothing had changed from the situation report as given by Obi, who told the media after his last visit to London that Ojukwu was recovering and had been moved out of intensive care unit of the London hospital.

' I can tell you that he is undergoing physiotherapy right now and has since been removed from intensive care unit, all those gadgets have been removed. He is exercising his limbs and generally putting his muscles to use again. There is, indeed, every reason to believe that he would come back stronger. But I have no idea when he would return,' Obieyem said yesterday.

Daily Sun learnt that the rumour, which rocked parts of lagos yesterday, might have originated from political opponents strongly opposed to Bianca Ojukwu's recent appointment by President Goodluck Jonathan as senior special assisitant on Diaspora matters. Those opposed to the appointment, including some Igbo groups, say Bianca ought to have been given a ministerial position after her husband's recovery.

Obienyem's position on Ojukwu's state of health was corroborated yesterday at the national convention of APGA where the Bianca told the gathering that her husband was recovering speedily and that his condition had been so stable that she was able to leave the bedside about 10 days ago to return to Nigeria, stating that she was in daily touch with the Igbo leader.

Her position gives credence to that of Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Idi Hong, who visited Ojukwu recently in London on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan. The minister had said he saw the Ikemba and that he was getting better.