Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan yesterday admitted that he suffered facial paralysis a few weeks ago.
Uduaghan, who attributed his recovery to divine intervention, said the ailment, known in medical parlance as bell palsy, was first discovered during one of the crucial sessions of the state executive council.
The governor, whose health challenges was a subject of public discuss in the state, said his detractors peddled rumours that he was dead.
Bell palsy is a form of facial paralysis resulting from a dysfunction of the cranial nerve VII, which eventually resulted in the inability to control facial muscles on the affected side.
Uduaghan spoke at an interdenominational thanksgiving service to mark his sixth year in office at Flock of Christ Mission, Effurun, the headquarters of Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.
He said: "Yes, recently I had health challenges. It was first noticed during an executive council meeting and I had to go home. I called my doctor and he said my left hand was weaker than the other. Of course, I told him my right hand must be stronger that the left hand".
Uduaghan told the congregation about how he was rushed to the National Hospital Abuja, where he spent three days before he was spirited abroad for better medication.
The governor said: "For three days, all medical tests were carried out and sadly all the texts did not reveal anything and the medical team advised that I should be sent abroad, but I initially refused.
"The following day after the ailment was noticed, I still attended to visitors, but when the pressure was becoming too much, I went to National Hospital where all sorts of tests were carried out and there was actually nothing found. I did all the tests, but there was nothing. I was in Abuja for three days getting physiotherapy."
Uduaghan, however, said he had fully recovered, adding that his healing was miraculous.
The governor, who bemoaned the rumours about his health challenges, said it was unfair for a human being to wish another person misfortune.
Rather, he said the best approach was to pray and wish the sick a speedy recovery.
The governor said: "The miracle of my healing is that I got over the health challenge within 10 days where some people did not overcome such between six months and one year.
National Mirror