Ojukwu is not dead, – Son, Umeh, APGA Chairman

RELATIONS of Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Wednesday, dismissed as untrue and disturbing the rumours making the rounds that the ailing leader of the defunct Republic of Biafra had passed on.

They asked the Nigerian media to exercise restraint and stop raising unnecessary anxiety over the health condition of Ojukwu saying they could not understand why some people are so eager to peddle dangerous rumours about his ill-health.

In a telephone interview with Saharareporters, an online publication, Okigbo Odumegwu-Ojukwu, one of Ikemba's children, said  "It is not true that my father died." Mr. Okigbo Odumegwu-Ojukwu resides in London and is constantly in touch with the hospital personnel caring for his father.

Senior special assistant to Governor Peter Obi on media and publicity, Mr. Valentine Obienyem in his reaction urged Nigerians to discard the rumour, adding that there was no iota of truth in it.

Also reacting , the National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, 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."

A chieftain of APGA and a member of Ojukwu's extended family in Nnewi, Mr. Afred Nwosu, who reacted angrily to the speculation, described it as very unfortunate and advised the media to allow Ojukwu undergo his treatment without further distractions.

"What they are saying about Ojukwu passing on is strange to us.  There is nothing like that. I spoke with his wife, Bianca who is by his side in London at 11.30am today (Wednesday) and she didn't tell me anything like that.  I was also in touch with Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State a few hours ago and there is nothing like that," Nwosu told Vanguard.

He called on the media to "leave Ojukwu alone" saying rather than mounting pressure on Ikemba's family through unnecessary speculations, Nigerians should pray for his quick recovery.

"Let us join hands to pray for Ikemba's quick recovery and stop peddling false rumour about his health condition.  This is not the first time somebody has been hospitalized. His case is not different because he is a human being like us. So, those behind this rumour are not fair to him and the family" Nwosu said.

At Ojukwu's country home in Nnewi, there was nothing to show that anything was amiss, as the gate to the main building was under lock with people in the vicinity going about their normal businesses.

Governor Peter Obi was also busy yesterday inspecting projects being executed by his administration and the feeling in the state was that he would have suspended the inspection if Ojukwu was indeed dead.
TT Owonubi