A former Senate President, Senator Joseph Wayas, is critically ill in a hospital in London.
Wayas was Senate President in the Second Republic between 1979 and 1983 when Alhaji Shehu Shagari was president.
In the last few years, Wayas was not seen in public.
Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State who confirmed his ill health said that the state would take over the medical treatment of the elder statesman.
Ayade had directed the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Betta Edu, and her team to immediately fly to London and take over the management of the treatment of the elder statesman.
The governor, in a statement signed by Christian Ita, his media aide, said: “No amount should be spared by the state to ensure that good medical care is given to the former number three citizen.”