The news is from Sunnewsonline
A pro-democracy association known as
‘Save Enugu Group’ has given the acting governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sunday
Onyebuchi two weeks to make a categorical explanation on the whereabouts and
status of Governor Sullivan Chime. The group, which has former commissioners
and top politicians from the state as members also requested the deputy
governor to constitute a delegation, which should include eminent personalities
from the state to pay a visit to the governor and report back to the people of
Enugu State.
The group suggested personalities
like, Bishop Callistus Onaga, Catholic Bishop of Enugu, Revd Hyde Onuaguluchi,
Prof Bath Nnaji, Igwe Paul Egbogu, Chief Mrs Grace Obayi, Chief Nduka Eya,
Secretary General Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo and Dr Louis Anya Chukwuma to be part of
the delegation. The letter, which was also copied the Speaker of the State
Assembly was signed by former commissioners, Mr Ray Nnaji and Igbonekwu Ogazimorah,
former presidential aspirant of the NSP, Chief Maxi Okwu, National
Secretary-General of the CNPP, Willy Ezeugwu, Ibuchukwu Ezike and Victor Eneh.
The letter read: “Today makes it 110
days since our great governor was last seen in public. It is in the public
domain that Governor Chime was last sighted in public on September 19, 2012.
Since then, sightings and near sightings of him have been reported, which all
turned out to be a hoax. “This has created a thriving mill of idle gossips, who
speculate on his whereabouts and state of health. Matters got to a head
December 15, 2012, when the national media was rent with the news of the death
of our governor.
“On some occasions, the Commissioner
of Information, Mr. Chuks Ugwoke had come out with an official statement that
His Excellency was quietly enjoying his holiday and accumulated leave or that
he would be in office shortly. These conflicting accounts merely served to
exacerbate rather than ameliorate the situation. “We are also told that at the
time of his disappearance from public view, His Excellency, as required by
section 190 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as
amended), duly handed over to the deputy governor.
“We must bring to your notice that
the public is awash with accounts of the inability of the acting governor to
discharge his mandate under the Constitution, as a cabal of unelected officers
have rendered his authority otiose. We, therefore, most humbly submit that this
is a most untidy state of affairs. “At this juncture, we make bold to ask: Can
the governor hand over and create an acting administration in perpetuity? What
is the duration of annual leave for the Governor? How many days make up this
‘accumulated annual leave’? Could the Constitution and government holiday
regulations have given His Excellency a carte blanch to take a break for over
100 days? We do not think so.
The question, which we would be most
obliged if it is answered is: Where is His Excellency our governor? “We are in
no doubt that comparatively speaking he has done well or that government is
going on ‘peacefully’ or ‘smoothly’ as his supporters would chime; but the fact
of unreasonable absence from office, is suggestive of permanent inability to
discharge the functions of his office. In the alternative we would argue that
his disappearance for this extended period amounts to grave misconduct.” But in
a swift reaction, the Enugu State Government dismissed the letter as a
non-issue.
A statement signed by Chukwudi
Achife, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Chime said that “though
government did not intend to join issues with those he described as habitual
attention-seekers, it was obvious that having realized that their media attacks
had not achieved their intended results, they have now chosen to issue baseless
statements as a group. “Government does not intend to join issues with these
habitual attention-seekers. This is, at best, the coming together of men whose
views on the incumbent government are well-known and always predictable.
It is obvious that having realized,
perhaps most painfully, that their media attacks had not achieved their
pre-determined goal, they have now chosen to issue a statement as a group.
“However, it is even more laughable that in dabbling into issues beyond their
purview, they first mischievously leaked to the press a letter meant for His
Excellency, the Acting Governor of Enugu State, Sunday Onyebuchi.
“We urge our people to ignore the
hollow argument and baseless call by the group, which merely expose the narrow
mindedness of the pay-masters because the people of Enugu State know the real
men behind the mask.”