Leave Ojukwu alone, Nwosu tells rumour-mongers

ENUGU – FORMER Minister of Health, Professor A. B. C. Nwosu, yesterday, expressed concern over the rumour regarding the ill-health of Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, saying those who were in a hurry to see his exit were enemies of Ndigbo.

Nwosu, who noted that Ojukwu is comparable to  Dr. Nelson Mandela of South Africa, asked those “who are in a hurry to delete him from this planet to respect the sensibilities of his family, of Ndigbo, of Nigerians and us his very close associates.”

Speaking with Vanguard, the former minister who is a member of Ojukwu’s extended family, said: “I am compelled to ask, who wants Ojukwu dead and why? Why has he not been given the respect he deserves? Why should statements on his health not be made by his family and government? Why are individuals carrying camera around the hospitals in London looking for him?

“Before he was taken to London, I was in Enugu to see him and I later travelled to London to see him and I know he was not on life support. As at January when I saw him, he was not on life support. He was on life support for about one week shortly on arrival in London,  but since January he has  not and the family did not lie about it.
I can confirm that I held his hand in the hospital for the several days and hours I spent with him. There are other close associates of his like Chief Ben Obi who have also gone to see him as well as officials of Nigerian High Commission in London, the Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi and other friends have gone to see him frequently, his chief of staff, his wife, his children are with him round the clock. They have confirmed that there has been tremendous progress from when he was taken till now.”

Nwosu said Ojukwu’s associates were alarmed that he has not been given the kind of respect, sympathy and understanding he deserves, stressing that “Ojukwu is very much worshipped by many people and revered all over and he is one of the most courageous, principled and good-humoured human beings that I have been privileged to meet.”

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