Earlyface

ENUGU—Enugu State chapter of  Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, gave the assurance that Governor Sullivan Chime, who had spent 112 days on vacation overseas, would soon return to the state, saying the current dusts being raised about his whereabout was uncalled for.

In a press statement signed by the state Chairman of the party, Mr. Vita Abba, the party noted that despite the absence of Governor Chime from the state, activities of the government had not suffered in any way.

According to the party,  developmental projects initiated by the governor and those commenced by the State Executive Council under the leadership of the Acting Governor, Sunday Onyebuchi, have been on course.

The party’s statement came just as the Save Enugu Group, which wrote the Acting Governor on Wednesday asking him to give a “categorical explanation on Governor Chime’s long absence” and send a delegation overseas to ascertain his true condition, yesterday, appealed to Enugu State Development Association (ESDA), an organization for elders and founding fathers of the state, to wade into the imbroglio arising from the alleged absconding of the governor.

The group urged the founding fathers “to help in the quest to save our dear state from unelected persons, temporarily holding our sovereignty, and who not knowing the way and manner the quest for Enugu (WAWA) state was waged treat our common patrimony in a cavalier manner.”

The PDP statement, which was made available to newsmen in Enugu, read: “In view of the recent media reports and publications by a group of individuals on the vacation of His Excellency, Governor Sullivan Iheanacho Chime, the Peoples Democratic Party, Enugu State Chapter wishes to state as follows:

“Since the inception of the PDP-led government of Sullivan Iheanacho Chime in 2007, we have had challenges and tribulations.  The first was when we lost at the lower Election Tribunal. To the good people of the state, it seemed then that the world had come to an end but by the grace of God we did overcome.

“In the recent past, during the 2011 elections, the PDP government under Sullivan Chime was brought to its knees during the tenure of Dr. Okwisilieze Nwodo as national chairman of PDP.  Through prayers, tremendous goodwill and call for justice by the people of Enugu State, we also overcame.

“Now, the governor’s vacation has brought another challenge to our government.  I expect that the good people of Enugu State and Nigeria at large should live up to the challenge once more believing that the governor will soon return to continue with his good works in the state.