•Assembly to reinstate him as gov next Tuesday
From CHIDI NNADI, Enugu
Exactly 141 days after Governor Sullivan Chime left the Enugu State Government House for what government officials termed “consolidated leave,” the governor yesterday returned to the country through Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Though, throughout the period the governor stayed away, his aides had insisted that he was on vacation, recent developments revealed that the governor was actually ill as attested to by governors Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) and Gabriel Suswan (Benue), who visited him in London to wish him quick recovery. True to the claims by the three colleagues of Chime that he would soon return, he touched down in Abuja yesterday and is expected in Enugu today, where a reception would be staged for him in late afternoon.
A reliable government source confided in Daily Sun that the governor, having been away for some time would need to use the opportunity of his return through Abuja to meet some of his people in the National Assembly, and possibly visit Aso Rock.
As the governor was expected in Enugu today, a principal officer of the state House of Assembly who craved anonymity told Daily Sun yesterday that the House was in contact with him and expected him to write them officially to intimate the lawmakers that he was back. According to the source, the House would on Tuesday next week sit to deliberate on the Chime’s letter telling them that he was back and ready to return to his desk.
When Chime travelled out, the state Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr. Eugene Odoh said he transmitted a letter to the House, declaring his intention to be away more than 21 days and thus handed over to his Deputy, Mr Sunday Onyebuchi in acting capacity.
However, with the passage of time and when it appeared that Chime was not in a hurry to return, the Save Enugu Group (SEG) led by Chief Maxi Okwu sprang up, demanding his whereabouts, as well as urging the house and the acting governor to declare him incapacitated and unable to again carry out his functions as governor.
The group had given the acting governor a seven-day ultimatum to disclose where Chime was or face legal action, when the governor returned.
Yesterday, when the news filtered into town that Chime was back, the group through one of its members, Mr. Igbonekwu Ogazimorah, in a statement said they were happy over his return. “Save Enugu Group, received with joy, the informal news of the return of Governor Sullivan Chime, into Nigeria, in the wee hours of this morning.
We are reliably informed that Governor Chime arrived Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on a British Airways flight from London Heathrow and moved to the Enugu Lodge in Abuja. “We note that this event is taking place exactly one month after we first sounded the alarm of prolonged and unexplained absence.
We acclaimed this as falling within desired responsive action of leaders in a democracy. “If the further information on the frail condition of the governor is reliable, we wish to state that Governor Chime did not deserve being hustled out of ‘gainful stay’ in good health institutions, if the right things were done first and before questions arose. In that respect, we, as other good people of Enugu State stand to hold those responsible for primitive lies and needless cover ups responsible. We wish our Governor Sullivan I. Chime well and full recovery,” the group said.
But when contacted, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, Mr Chukwudi Achife, confirmed that the governor would land in Enugu today, saying those who had carried various rumours about the governor, particularly the Save Enugu Group should now go to bury their heads in shame.
okwuru-oka u are wellcome, ijeee oooh! greetings and greetings from the good people of mgbowo. pls sir keep it up with your good work giant strides indeed.
Mr Chief press secretary, what do u mean by burying their head in shame? Are u insane? Were they not right? They did what a responsible group would do…let me tell you, you and your cabals MUST explain your lies later…..Dude
The good people of Enugu join hands to thank Almighty God for quick recovery of our Governor. To him all glory and adoration be ascribed in Jesus Name Amen! We pray that He will continue to grant him sound health. Bless my people Ndi Igbo, Bless Ndi Enugu (Wawa) Amen
That is the habit of nigerian leaders.They leave the country without getting their people informed.Then where is democracy which is said to be government of the people?
We thank God for his mercy over the life of the governor that the expectation of the enemies over his life did not come to pass.My prayer is that God will restore him fully and that affliction will not come a second time.
Glory be to God Almighty who healed Sullivan of his Sickness in Jesus Name Amen
Praise the Lord! Our governor has recovered and not dead. We shall see him standing not lying in a gasket. Oh! God you are great! Thank you Lord for healing our able working governor. But for those who wished him death, I pray that God will forgive them and open their eyes. Our able Governor, may God Almighty uphold you and give you grace to finish the good works you have started doing in Enugu State. I wish you my able Governor more fulfilled and fruitful years ahead. YOU ARE WELCOME MY BELOVED GOVERNOR.
The credit must go to the ‘Save Enugu Group’ for sounding the alarm for if not for them this governor would remain in London forever.
Welcome Sullivan,the press secretary to the governor must be mad,he should rather hide his face in shame &resign for telling the good people of enugu state lies for 140 days &140nights.what an inquisitive mind needs is nothing but the truth.Had it not been for some governors who visited Sullivan,how would the enuguans know what was wrong with the governor or his where about.I don’t see any reason for hidding the unhiddable when you know actually that if the governor had passed away,u can never hide.His remains must be kept in the public purview.I salute the courage of those that demanded the whereabouts of the governor,ur questions have been answered long ago by the governors who visited Sullivan in london.It is now mission accomplished with the return of Sullivan Chime.God bless u all.
Welcome bk home my amiable gov. Sullivan Chime.God ll continue 2 protect u in hz infinity mercies n u shall live long n complete d gud wrk u ve strted in Enu state n beyond. U r welcome! Ijeeee!! Ijeeee!!!
Praise the Lord! Our governor has recovered and not dead
My amiable Governor dejee!!! Nnoo!!! nwa afo Udi. We were gripped by fear when all sorts of stories were going round about you but as the popular saying goes, ‘the end justifies the means’. I have ever known that the God of the good people of Akpakwume/Nze will bring you back fully recovered. May he continue to be with you, Amen.
We thank God who has made it possible! May he continue to keep you. Amen. You dey try for Enugu state more than others. Keep the flag flyn!!!
Am so happy to hear that our active governor is back. May God grant him full recovery to continue the good work in Enugu State. Brother u are welcome. Please as good and God fearing governor just give deaf ear to all gossips and face ur good work. I love u and peopl of Udi are solidly behind u. Nno une madu.
U are warmly welcome. We look forward to seeing new but glorious development in Enugu . God loves you Iheanacho! Show that love to your people esp the marginalized zones in Enugu.
Thank u dear lord jesus4healin our govnor in his body,thnk u holyspirit of GOD4hearin our prayers and cleanced him in his blood,tnk u spirit of d leaving GOD 4 strenthenin him in his bones,thnk u 4 energizing sullivan chime 2see dis day again, not allowin d xpectatn of his advaries2cum 2 pass.unne madu edikani we love u
That is our money talking while poor are still dying of hunger, Chy obasi help us
God has answered our prayers. Welcome Nwa Oshie Une m. The Lord I worship will continue to protect you, will give you long life and will give you the wisdom to continue your wonderful work in our State. Vox populi, vox Dei. Be blessed Man of the People!