London—Bianca, the wife of Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has described President Goodluck Jonathan as a great leader.

Bianca made the remarks when she received a goodwill message on behalf of her husband from Jonathan’s special envoy and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Aliyu Idi Hong, on Sunday in a London hospital where he is receiving treatment.

Bianca, who expressed gratitude for the message, said: “It is a sign of a great leader with a great deal of empathy not just for a single individual but for the people he seeks to lead.

“It is very rare indeed. I am privileged to receive on behalf of his family and his party, APGA, from the president and the people of Nigeria such a goodwill message.

“We remain immensely grateful, God Bless you all,’’ the Europe correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes Bianca as saying.

She recalled that before Ojukwu was flown abroad, the president had visited him in his residence to pay respect and wished him quick recovery.

Similarly, she added, in August last year, Jonathan also sent an emissary to convey his best wishes and hopes for a quick recovery when Ojukwu was undergoing medical tests in the U.S.

Bianca also expressed gratitude to Mr Dozie Nwanna, Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to the U.K for his support.

Earlier, Hong said Ojukwu was one of the very eminent persons who Nigerians were proud of, adding that his state of health was very paramount to Jonathan, hence the need for the visit.

“Mr President feels very concerned and he wanted to know the actual state of his health and how he is doing and to also show empathy and concern about his health, so for that reason, he specifically asked me to come.

“If only you know how I was conscripted very urgently for this purpose, you will know the importance which Mr president attaches to his health,” the minister said.

“I have seen him, let me speak as a doctor now, he is under proper care and doing well.
“I think by every standard, one will say he is in the best of hands, I wish him quick recovery,” Hong said.