By John Ameh, Onitsha
Published: Tuesday, 17 Jul 2007

Investigations by our correspondent showed that he left the Holy Rosary Specialist Hospital and Maternity in a navy blue Toyota Land Cruiser at about noon on Monday.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu had been admitted into the hospital on Sunday after he collapsed twice at a thanksgiving service at the Basillica of the Holy Trinity, Onitsha.

Dr. M.F. Omutah, who attended to him, told our correspondent about 9.20am on Monday that the 74-year-old former Biafran warlord was in a stable condition.

When our correspondent visited the hospital again around 3.40pm, a senior official, who gave his name as Kene, said, “The Ikemba has been discharged.”

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amobi Ileka, and his Information and Culture counterpart, Prof. Stella Okunna, also confirmed that Odumegwu-Ojukwu had been discharged.

“He has been discharged. His health is stable. He is very stable and alright now. He has already gone back to his house in Enugu,” they said.

Before he left the hospital, Odumegwu-Ojukwu had told Anambra Government House correspondents that he was hale and hearty.

“I am not critically ill. I am alright,” he said.

The elderstatesman explained to the correspondents, who accompanied Governor Peter Obi to the hospital, that he collapsed because the church was stuffy.

Obi, who was making his second visit to the hospital, also told newsmen that the Ikemba was not ‘critically’ ill.

According to him, until the Sunday incident , there was nothing wrong with Odumegwu-Ojukwu medically.

The governor added that the several tests conducted on the former presidential candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance between Sunday and Monday morning showed that he was healthy.

Omutah had, during our correspondent’s first visit to the hospital, described Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s condition as ‘stable.’

The following dialogue ensued between Omutah, who attended to the Ikemba and our correspondent:

I am here to see the Ikemba. How is his health now?

Oh, he is stable. He slept well last night. I just came out of his room and you can see that I am attending to his medication.

We understand that his condition is critical. How stable is he?

I hope this is not a press conference? I hope I am not addressing a press conference here?

The Ikemba is not a small person. He is an elderstatesman, a very important figure. Nigerians care about him and they want to be assured that he is healthy.

In any case, who told you that his condition is critical?

Maybe they are referring to what happened yesterday (his collapse in the church on Sunday). I am his doctor. I have been attending to him since yesterday (Sunday). I know that he is well and fit.

Okay doctor, can I see him?

You want to see him because seeing is believing? Alright, hold on a minute.

The doctor, who is also a reverend, left our correspondent in her office and went to a private room where Odumegwu-Ojukwu was having a rest.

She reappeared barely two minutes later, saying, “He is alright; he is fine. No cause for alarm. That is all for now.”

But I thought I was to see him?

No, no, no. Just take it that he is very comfortable and healthy. That is all.