By Uduma Kalu
Unlike reports making the round that former Biafran leader Dim Chukwumeka Odumegwu Ojukwu is on life support, eleombah.com, an online news ageny based in London said Ojukwu whom he saw on Tuesday, at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in London, was stable and was even reading a book. “Ojukwu’s condition excited him on Tuesday, when he saw him reading outside the hospital in London.,” the report said.

Also, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State was in the United Kingdom to see the ailing Ojukwu. Ojukwu’s wife, Bianca, was also said to be by her husband’s hospital bed side looking after him.

Obi had expressed satisfaction on the level of care extended to him. He said: “ We know what healthcare is in the UK and to note that in addition to the regular Royal Berkshire workers Ojukwu has four extra Nurses that attend to him round the clock. It is cheering and, in fact, a shame to those who propagate falsehood about him and his condition.”

Below is full report

The journalist, Elombah, in reaction to last weeks’ news in both local and online media that Ojukwu was on life support, went to the hospital Ojukwu is and saw him alive. That was last Tuesday, 02 August 2011. “I saw Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Ikemba Nnewi, Dikediorama Ndigbo, at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, United Kingdom.

Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu

And I could confirm that Ezeigbo is not being sustained on life support machine,” Elombah said. Saying that because of a previous security breach, visitors are no longer allowed to see Ojukwu, Elombah last Tuesday set out for the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, United Kingdom with a simple mission: to see Ojukwu. He said he determined not to leave the hospital without seeing him. “Ojukwu has been transferred from the Adelaide ward, where my information said he was, to a more private section of the Hospital. At the ward, where he presently is (I agreed not to disclose the present ward) I was accosted by Ojukwu’s chief of staff, Bob Onyeama. I introduced myself and explained my mission. Bob explained that due to a previous security breach, he was under strict instruction not to allow anyone to see Ojukwu without clearance. “Who should give the clearance then?” “Please go and come back next time.” “But I drove all the way from London.” “At that point, Mrs Bianca Onoh Ojukwu emerged. No mistaking her identity, even if that was my first meeting with her. Closely following Bianca was Mr Peter Obi, the Governor of Anambra State. Again, no mistake, even as this was the first time I was meeting my governor in the flesh.

“To cut the story short, I saw Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Ikemba Nnewi, Dikediorama Ndigbo. He is alive. He is conscious. He is not on life support. But he is a 79 year old man, who has suffered multiple stroke. I also met Chinenye, Ojukwu’s 13 year old daughter, a beauty, very mature for her age. She told me she is on holiday, and has been at her father’s bedside in the Hospital for more than one week. I also met Eric, a South African, one of the Private Nurses taking care of Ikemba. I was there when his shift finished by 20:00pm. I thanked Eric. As he left, Imelda, another Nurse took over. I learnt that apart from the NHS staff, four private Nurses – two males and two females,  were hired and paid for by the Anambra State Government, to provide 24 hour round the clock care to Chief Ojukwu. I stayed in the hospital for about an hour and half, chatting with Bob, Gov Obi, and Bianca Ojukwu, and stood up to leave.”

I

thanked Bianca, for taking good care of her husband, and our leader. I narrated the story of my father, who died two years ago, aged 74, and told her it is not an easy job she is doing. But she countered it is a blessing. “I thanked Governor Peter Obi, told him I am not one of his greatest admirers, and got the promise of an interview before he leaves London. I thanked Bob, for a faithful meritorious service to Ikemba.

“Bob told me he has been serving Ojukwu for 17 years. I also learnt he served at 11 Div, where my cousin also served, during the Biafran war.

“I left the hospital a little before 21:00 pm.”, Elombah concluded.