Ikemba Nnewi, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, 77, had a wish three weeks before he was admitted into the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital: to die on January 13.
One of his aides, who did not want his name in print, disclosed this on Wednesday as arrangements to fly him overseas were being finetuned by the doctors handling his treatment.
“Three weeks ago, while trying to feed him, he told (Odumegwu-Ojukwu)me that there were signs that his end was near and that he wished it would come in January 13, 2011 to coincide with the 41st anniversary of the end of the Nigerian civil war,” the aide said.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Nigerian Army and governor of the old Eastern Region, declared the secession of the region from Nigeria in 1967. His action resulted in a 30-month civil war between Biafra Republic and Nigeria.
Feelers from the UNTH, Enugu, on Wednesday, indicated conflicting signals on the state of health of the elder statesman.
While a doctor in the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital told our correspondent that Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s health had deteriorated, one of his sons said he was doing well.
“My father is fine. He is getting better,” he said but refused appeals by our correspondent to give his name.
However, the doctor disclosed that the ex-Biafran warlord’s health condition had deteriorated to the level that the Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, out of panic, had to rush down to the UNTH to see him.
Obi was accompanied by government officials; the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Chief Victor Umeh, and other party stalwarts.
The doctor added that the governor had to provide funds when the hospital management informed him that it was one of the challenges hindering the moves to fly Odumegwu-Ojukwu abroad for further treatment.
He said, “He will be flown out soon. As at this morning (Wednesday), plans were being made for him to be taken abroad. The money issue that seemed a challenge, I heard, it has been settled by the governor who was in the hospital today (Wednesday).
“So when we notice any sign of improvement in the Ikemba, he will be flown out.”
Another aide of the elder statesman, confirmed that all was set for his boss to be taken abroad.
“Barring any last-minute setback, my oga (boss) should be flown out tonight (Wednesday) or tomorrow (Thursday),” he said.
The aide claimed that Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s son, who spoke earlier with our correspondent, was “only being economical with the truth.”
“He was even lamenting just yesterday (Tuesday) night, but he told me he did not want to take a different stand from that of his father’s wife, Bianca.”
Odumegwu-Ojukwu was rushed to the Accident and Emergency Unit of the UNTH on Sunday morning but was later moved to the ICU in the afternoon after he was diagnosed with Cerebral Vascular Accident.
CVA, according to seniorhealth.about.com, is “another name for a stroke. It is damage to the brain caused by a disruption of the blood supply to a part of the brain.
“This disruption of blood supply can be caused by a blood clot, or by a ruptured artery.
The website also states that “symptoms of a CVA depend on which part of the brain is affected. Common symptoms may include paralysis of a part of the body, loss of all or part of the vision, or loss of the ability to speak or to understand speech.”
The UNTH Chief Medical Director, Dr. Anthony Mbah, had confirmed on Tuesday that the elder statesman would be flown abroad in an air ambulance as soon as his health condition stabilised.
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