Get our News Update fast,
download  AE Toolbar!
Click here to download Now!
Online media
Newspapers
| More
comments powered by Disqus
Join or start a conversation!
Add your Comment
Note: comments posted on this site are moderated. Pls. avoid abusive and  vulgar words
Constitutional crisis brews in Enugu over Chime
_________________________________________________________
From STAN OKEKE, Enugu
Wednesday, Jan 09, 2013
Copyrights © 2007  All Rights Reserved African Examiner Online is owned by RD Frontline LLC, a state of Maryland registered company
P. O. Box 11582 Baltimore, Maryland, 21229, USA Tel: 443-904-1239. Editor-In-Chief: Oludare Sunday Fase
___________________________________________________________________________________
Other stories
ADVERTISEMENTS
Need a CPR card or First
Aid certification?
Call Vivian Ngang (CPR Instructor,
Licensed Nurse) 1- 240-462-2607
The continued absence of the Enugu state governor, Sullivan
Chime from his seat of power at the Lion Building, has continued to
create anxiety in the state. This is even as there are indications that
he might soon return to the state, but his health condition on arrival,
would determine the next line of action by the Enugu State House of
Assembly.

Governor Chime has been absent from the Enugu state capital
since September 19, 2012, and officials of the Enugu state
government had insisted that the governor was out of the state on
account of his accumulated annual leave. As developments
continue to point to the contrary, all top government functionaries in
the state continue to exude confidence that Chime is hale and
hearty, and would soon return to the state to assume duties.

However, the governor’s absence has already breached
constitutional provisions as to the length of time a governor is
supposed to be off his duty post. The state deputy governor, Mr.
Sunday Onyebuchi, has been acting as the Enugu state governor,
since the absence of his principal, even as he is believed to have
limited powers in his capacity as acting governor.

The Enugu State House of Assembly is said to be under severe
pressure to confirm and swear in Onyebuchi as the substantive
governor of the state. This, the House has continued to resist, with
the Speaker of the House, Eugene Odoh, insisting that the deputy
governor had been functioning effectively as the Acting governor of
the state.

“As far as the State House of Assembly was concerned, there is an
acting governor in the state, and he’s doing his job according to the
provisions of the law”, the Speaker told journalists in the state.
According to him, you don’t swear-in an acting governor, especially
when a letter was transmitted to the House.

“You can only swear-in somebody as Acting governor, when the
governor is no longer there or if he’s incapacitated. The House is
interested in working as a family and protecting the interest of the
people they represent”,the Speaker said.

Odoh, hails from Nsukka zone that are expected to produce the next
governor of the state. While he seemed economical with the truth,
the obvious threat to their zone’s ambition to occupy the Lion
Building, is magnified the more, with the closeness of the Acting
governor, Sunday Onyebuchi, to the former governor of the state,
Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani.

We gathered from a source close to the state government that even
as it has become obvious that the governor is incapacitated due to
ill health, the actions of functionaries of the state government in
concealing the governor’s health condition, was to avoid a
succession crisis that is likely to erupt, in the event that the
governor might not be able to continue in office.

Furthermore, should this be the situation, the deputy governor,
Sunday Onyebuchi, comes from an area of the state (Nkanu) that
had in the past produced civilian governors of the state, apart from
Gov. Chime and former governor, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo.

It is alleged that should the deputy governor complete the tenure of
his principal, in the event that Chime is truly incapacitated, there’s
the likelihood that he(Onyebuchi) might be advised by his political
camp to gun for the second term due his principal.

“This is the scenario we are trying to avoid, should all these
rumours flying around turn out to be true. We definitely cannot allow
an Nkanu man be governor again, thereby denying Nsukka zone,
for the umpteenth time, of taking their governorship slot in the
state”, a PDP stalwart in the state, told National Accord, an obvious
indication that they are all in the dark about the true health
condition of Gov. Chime.

We also gathered that the Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike
Ekweremadu, might be a strong power broker in the unfolding
political drama in the state. Political analysts say that if indeed it was
true that Chime might not complete his tenure on grounds of ill
health, the scenario that might play out, is for the Agwu/Oji River
axis, to support a candidate from Nsukka zone to become governor,
while they produce his deputy.

Sources however told us that this would depend on the political
ambition of Ekweremadu, who from all indications, is still eyeing the
seat of power at the Lion Building. Should he indicate interest in
becoming the Enugu state governor in the 2015, “the political crisis
that would erupt in the state, is better imagined”,

our source stated. however, as anxiety and tension mount in the
state, National Accord investigation revealed that series of meetings
were going on in the state capital, to contain whatever crisis that
might erupt, in the event that the inevitable happened. One
indisputable fact however, is that the Enugu state governor, Sullivan
Chime, is alive and is likely back to the state soon.

His condition on arrival, remains the bone of contention, as the
political clock in the state ticks away.

Meanwhile, following continued absence of the governor,  a pro-
democracy group,  in the state Save the Enugu Group has demanded
that:

“A categorical explanation on the whereabouts and status of our
Governor His Excellency Sullivan Iheanacho Chime,”

A composition of “a delegation which should include eminent Enugu
state sons and daughters like, His grace Bishop Callistus Onaga
Catholic Bishop of Enugu, Rev. Hyde Onuauluchi, Prof. Bath Nnaji,
Igwe Paul Egbogu, Chief Mrs Grace Obayi, Chief Nduka Eya
Secretary General Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo, Dr. Louis Anya Chukwuma
etc, to pay a visit to the Governor wherever he is, and report back
to the good people of Enugu state.”

“We finally urge that this matter be given the priority attention it
deserves, and the palpable anxiety pervading the state arrested
within a maximum period of a fortnight.”
...news focus
on NIGERIA
Bloody Christmas:  
Boko Haram Kills 6 in
Yobe Church
African Examiner
Wednesday, Dec 26, 2012

Gunmen Kidnap 4
Italians off Nigeria’s
Niger-Delta Coast
African Examiner
Tuesday, Dec 25, 2012

River state proposes
N490.3 billion for 2013
African Examiner
Wednesday, Dec 26, 2012
Heroes Park Now
burial site for Heroes
of Bayelsa -Gov.
Dickson
African Examiner
Friday, Dec 28, 2012

Ex-NSA Late Gen.
Aziza to be buried
Saturday
African Examiner
Thursday, Dec 27, 2012

One killed at Lagos
fireworks explosion
African Examiner
Thursday, Dec 27, 2012
N6.46bn: EFCC seizes
ex-Gov. Slyva’s 48
properties
African Examiner
Friday, Jan 04, 2013
FG committed to
reduction of maternal
and infant mortality
African Examiner
Tuesday, January 01, 2013

Gov Dickson Signs
Emergency Agency
bill, others into law
African Examiner
Tuesday, January 01, 2013

New Year: Jonathan
reiterates
commitment to FG’s
transformation
Agenda
African Examiner
Tuesday, January 01, 2013
Injured Gov. Wada
discharged from
hospital
African Examiner
Wednesday, Dec 02, 2012  

New Year Message to
Senator Bala
Mohammed
African Examiner
Wednesday, Dec 02, 2012