According to Punch, there
are subtle moves by a clique in Enugu State to facilitate the removal of
Governor Sullivan Chime, writes Ozioma
Ubabukoh
A series of
meetings, some marathon and muffled, have been going on in Enugu, the capital
of Enugu State. At virtually all the meetings, the common item for deliberation
revolved around the prolonged ‘leave’ by the state Governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime.
Not only has the
governor’s sojourn overseas for accumulated annual vacation become a source of
worry in the state, political actors with eyes on the 2015 general elections
have moved in with a web of intrigues. In fact, as at the wee hours of
Thursday, December 27, 2012, the issue of who succeeds Chime against the
well-known power-sharing arrangement in the state was at the centre of plans
for progress in 2013.
A prominent member of
the state government, who was part of the meetings, told in Saturday PUNCH, “We
have been meeting to lay out plans for progress in 2013.” He stated that
certain elements in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, who feel sidetracked
in the scheme of things, have been fueling calls for the impeachment of the
governor.
He said, “You may
have heard that the state House of Assembly is considering an impeachment
option against His Excellency, Governor Sullivan Chime, if by the end of
January he does not return to the country.
“We know those who
are behind these orchestrated calls on the legislature to act in that manner.
But instead of joining issues with unseen parties, we are engaged in
discussions aimed at convincing the relevant stakeholders that the governor has
breached no law.”
Chime, on September
19, 2012, had begun his official leave. He presided over an executive council
meeting a day before and had informed his cabinet members that he would be
starting his annual vacation. The Deputy Governor, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, was
handed over the reins of state power to sit in for the governor while he was
away.
Saturday PUNCH recalls that
from 2007 when he was inaugurated, Chime has never gone on annual leave. It
was, therefore, against this background that no more words were heard from the
government when the governor’s leave period stretched.
Residents began to
discuss in hushed tones about the governor’s absence, but in a short time the
rumour mill went full blast. The political dimension was introduced.
Some members of the
state assembly began to ask questions, albeit in subdued tones. Such was the
setting, that even the Speaker, Mr. Eugene Odoh, was inundated with sundry
designs and requests for clarification.
To lend credence to
the pressures brought to bear on the Speaker, a member of the Assembly, who
insisted that his name should not be in print, told reporters that, “the
situation has become very embarrassing.”
Though the legislator
stated that there was the need for the lawmakers to act, he said what they knew
about the health challenges of the governor was scanty. He added that it was
not clear whether such deficient knowledge was enough to mandate the acting
governor to function as the substantive governor with full executive powers.
A new twist was,
however, added to the whole saga when a group going by the name, Civil Society
Initiative, came up with what it called ‘Operation Locate Governor Chime.’ A
prominent promoter of the group, Jude Agu, said that after 90 days of absence
and without official pronouncement on the whereabouts of the governor, “we want
to search through all the nooks and crannies to fish him out.”
Agu contended that
the lack of official pronouncement on the governor’s situation gave the
impression that the people surrounding him were out to hide certain things from
the public.
Amid the histrionics
and seemingly shadow chasing, the National Secretary of the Conference of
Nigerian Political Parties, Willy Ezeugwu, descended on the members of the
state House of Assembly, accusing them of transforming into a social club
presided over by the speaker.
In an interview
with Saturday PUNCH,
Ezeugwu said he wanted the legislators to act in accordance with constitutional
stipulations. “I told them that it was the same thing that happened when late
President Umaru Yar’Adua was sick and he was kept away from Nigerians. So, I
said it was time for the Enugu State House of Assembly to do something and that
if they fail to act, I will personally lead 10,000 Enugu citizens to the
streets for them to let us know where our governor is. I am also calling on the
constituents to recall the legislators because they have lost their essence,”
he declared.
Ezeugwu contended
that instead of concerns for zonal balance, the legislators should follow the
constitution.
Dismissing
Ezeugwu’s position, the state Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Joe Mmamel,
said there was no point joining issues with political jobbers in the media. He
insisted that such exchanges would not advance the cause of development in the
state.
Mmamel said what some
less informed commentators were advocating had no bearing on governance in
Enugu, pointing out that the acting governor had been carrying out his
functions without let or hindrance.
But despite the
continued running of government in the state, some opposition politicians are
busy analysing the development and building different scenarios. For instance,
at a meeting held by some powerful elements from Enugu East Senatorial Zone
from where the acting Governor, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, hails, the zone stated
that as far as Onyebuchi was concerned, whoever was asking for the impeachment
of Chime should look elsewhere.
A stalwart of the PDP
from Akpugo in Enugu East Senatorial Zone, who was one of the playmakers in
former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani’s administration and attended the meeting,
spoke to Saturday PUNCH in strict confidence. He said that at the meeting, the
prevailing political climate in the state was reviewed. He pointed out that the
stand of every true Nkanu native was that Onyebuchi should not be supported to
become governor.
He said the acting
governor, who is styled as Mr. Anonymous, hails from Umuode and as such, any
political calculation to enhance his influence should be resisted with all
vehemence. He said, “Apart from the fact that he is from Umuode, you know what
I mean; the acting governor has not been reaching out and he does not enjoy the
support of eminent Nkanu politicians like Senators Jim Nwobodo and Ken
Nnamani.”
And while Enugu East
politicians are complacent about a possible Onyebuchi governorship, those from
Enugu West, from where Chime hails, have made it clear that even if the wishes
of Chime’s detractors were to become feasible, the zone must complete its eight
years in office and hand over to Enugu North Senatorial district (Nsukka
cultural zone).
In all these
calculations, the fact that the speaker of the house of assembly comes from
Enugu North makes it implausible for him to become governor in the event of a
possible impeachment of Onyebuchi.
The constitution
stipulates that on the unlikely event of the governor and deputy governor being
impeached from office, the speaker would occupy the position for six months
within which a bye-election will be conducted.
Just as Enugu
politicians are busy raising hypothetical settings, younger brother to Chime,
Mr. Jideofor Chime, told Saturday PUNCH that even as the rumour of his
brother’s death was making the rounds in Nigeria, he left the governor in
London.
Jideofor stressed
that in this age of technology, it was mischievous to suggest that the governor
was kept incommunicado. While denying that his brother was hospitalised,
Jideofor, who is a lecturer in one of the universities in Enugu, declared that
since only the return of the governor could douse the tension in the state, “in
a matter of days, those merchants of fibs would eat their words.”
As Enugu people await
the governor’s return, opposition politicians, who maintain that Chime may not
regain his seat, have been identifying potential losers and beneficiaries. For
instance, those who may lose if Chime does not regain his seat are said to
include Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo, the powerful Chief of Staff to the governor.
Nwobodo is an Amokwe
Udi-born accountant married to Justice Afam Nwobodo of Akpugo, Nkanu West Local
Council of the state. Others are Joe Mmamel, a lawyer and Machiavellian former
chairman of Ezeagu Local Council; Mr. Ikeji Asogwa, Nsukka-born General Manager
of Enugu State Housing Corporation; Chimezi and Cornelius Ani, both of whom are
the governor’s in-laws.
The Deputy President
of Senate, Ike Ekweremadu; the Acting Governor, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi; and
Senator representing Enugu East Senatorial Zone, Gilbert Nnaji, are those
identified as great beneficiaries of a possible sudden change of guards in
Enugu politics. But if Chime ever returned, the calculation would change and
the ‘losers’ will win again!
Nigerian officials have to move beyond thinking that they re above the law. I am not in support of the impeachment movement but gov chime owe his fellow citizen an explanation of his whereabout. He serve these people and they elected him into power.
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