She also claimed to have been a victim of forced imprisonment. In his response, Governor Chime insists that whatever actions he has taken have been in the interest of his wife. From the ladys version of her state of depression and the governors diction at a press briefing on the subject, it is apparent that the lady has a peculiar medical challenge.
What is not clear however is why Mrs Clara Chime has to be a patient within the precincts of the Government House does the place also double as a mental home? Before going into the details of what has been made public so far about the subject, it seems expedient to first dismiss the viewpoint that seeks to describe the matter as a purely matrimonial, private and domestic issue. Of course, the health challenges of an ordinary Nigerian and those of his family are private matters but not so as that of the governor of a state. Governor Chime, his wife and their children are not ordinary people. They are the first family of Enugu State and although their supposed breadwinner has a handsome salary, they are in addition housed and fed by the state free of charge. Matters concerning them especially those which filter out to the public can thus not be classified as private.
Clara Chime, Sullivan Chime and Mr Femi Falana, SAN
Clara Chime, Sullivan Chime and Mr Femi Falana, SAN
Again, ours is a nation where many first ladies with the active connivance of their spouses appropriate unto themselves, the power to run illegal offices with public funds. For a typical first lady, the rest of us are often shoved off the roads by security agents to let the privileged enjoy monopoly of our collective public space. If one of such special persons cries out against forced imprisonment, it is not just a matter of public interest but one which newsroom operatives in our days would call Level 17 News! Interestingly, many of our political leaders are not quite proficient at handling pieces of such VIP news. The case of the late President YarAdua aside, not many would forget in haste how Presidency officials fed Nigerians with fake news on the health of first lady, Patience Jonathan until she herself publicly explained that she resurrected severally.
The present case of Governor Chimes wife is particularly curious as the governor is fast gaining popularity as a man who cherishes to shroud in unnecessary secrecy anything he does. For instance, what is called uncommon transformation elsewhere obtains in Enugu without propaganda. Chimes conservative policy of silence is golden is worse in health matters. From September last year till almost 6months later, the whereabouts of Chime himself caused so much public disquiet. He had allegedly gone on what was called extended leave- an unspecified long period that generated speculations……..
