Former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme has fallen ill, and has been wheeled into the Intensive Care Unit of Memphys Hospital for Neurosurgery, Trans-Ekulu, Enugu.
Ekwueme collapsed around 2am last Saturday, at his residence in Independence Layout, Enugu.
Relatives said he went into a coma thereafter.
He was rushed to hospital immediately.
A source said that the family chose to keep the incident secret for a while with the hope that Ekwueme would “miraculously” come out of coma.
As there was no sign of improvement on Monday afternoon, former Gov.Peter Obi was informed, and was already making plan to fly him abroad.
Medical personnel at Memphys Hospital said Enugu Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi teared up on seeing Ekwueme at the Intensive Care Unit on Tuesday evening.
His visit was supposed to be secret so as not to attract the media and residents in the state. But the governor became a huge ball of emotion when he got there.
“My namesake, Ifeanyichukwu, do not leave us now! Even if you must go, please wait to see your daughter become the deputy governor of Anambra State before you leave us,” Ugwuanyi reportedly wailed at the ICU.
The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the November18 poll in Anambra State, Oseloka Obaze, had presented the first daughter of Ekwueme, Lady Chidi Onyemelukwe, as his running mate.
Ekwueme celebrated his 85th birthday 10 days ago.