There was anxiety in Enugu State on Monday as the
lingering absence of Governor Sullivan Chime entered the New Year with his
whereabouts still shrouded in secrecy.
Chime had handed over power to his deputy
Sunday Onyebuchi before leaving the country on September 19 for a six-week
vacation in the United States.
One hundred and three days later, the governor
has not returned to the state and the state government has maintained silence
over his whereabouts.
However, it is reported that the governor is
being hospitalised in India.
The PUNCH recalls that on December 15, the
day that Kaduna State Governor, Patrick Yakowa and Gen. Andrew Azazi, died in a
helicopter crash alongside four other persons, there were rumours that Chime
had died in an Indian hospital.
However, the state government debunked the claim.
Last weekend, there were reports that the
governor would return to the state on December 31, but as at 4pm on
Monday, journalists, who converged on the Akanu Ibiam Airport, Enugu left
when the last flight for the day landed without the governor on board.
When our correspondent visited the Government
House, Enugu, the place looked deserted, except for the office of Chief of
Staff, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo, who is seen as the de facto governor of the state.
However, there was a notice at the manifest
inviting all political appointees and elected office-holders for a meeting at
the governor’s Udi hometown by 8pm.
Contrary to initial feelers that the meeting was
summoned to discuss latest developments in the state, a source, who pleaded
anonymity, said it was the usual New Year vigil and nothing more.
He said, “If you have been conversant with events
here, you will know that the governor usually invites appointees and elective
office-holders to keep New Year vigil with him in his house since he became
governor in 2007.
“The notice of meeting you saw is in line with
this tradition. There is nothing special about it.”
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