My husband, as you all know, was taken to the United Kingdom on 23rd December, 2010, after suffering a very serious stroke. I would also like to use this opportunity to thank everyone who came to the hospital to visit him, to pray for him.

At times like this, when all hopes seem lost, it is amazing how few words are able to achieve. We all must die but I must say that his demise at this time came as a surprise, because he had just been discharged from the hospital.

Victor Umeh and Bianca Ojukwu

He was doing so well. He was interactive. He was very alert, very aware and we would sing him songs and created jokes. And I remember I was saying to him, “it is getting so cold in this country and we must go home”.

I would also ask: “Are we going to go home and he would nod very emphatically”. But he never did make it home. Very surprisingly, his situation, which we thought had improved, suddenly took a turn for the worse.

I want to specifically thank our President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife, Patience, and many others, especially governors and Nigerians home and abroad, for standing by me and our family in our hour of travail.

My husband surprised doctors and the family severally even when he was given up for death and recovered. Like other times, I always say I had seen him through very bad times when doctors would tell us he would not make it to morning, but he would always struggle and in the morning, he would still be there. But this time, he did not struggle. He went peacefully. But to God be the glory. He is the giver of life and He decides when to take it. You can have the best doctors in the world but I think it’s prayers that have kept him this long.

I continue to thank you all for your support, Nigerians at home and in the United Kingdom. I ask that if you are ever faced with a situation like this, that God will send you consolers as you have come to console me today. Thank you.