ACN slams Governors Forum, decries visit to Gov. Chime



January 27, 2013 | 1:40 pm

News

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has condemned the poor handling of the reported illness of Gov. Sullivan Chime of Enugu state, saying it fits into the growing pattern of shrouding the health problems of elected officials in secrecy, and again calls attention to the need to do things properly to advance the nation’s democracy rather than personal interests.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ahaji Lai Mohammed, the party also criticized the choreographed visit to Gov. Chime in London by a delegation of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), which was apparently designed to reinforce the line being peddled by Gov. Chime’s supporters rather than keep the people of the state better informed of the true situation of things.

It said there is no doubt that the reason behind all the shenanigans is the desperation by public office holders to hold on to power at all costs, even when it is clear that their health has failed to such a level that they are better off stepping down so they can attend to their health problems.

”We do not have details of what is wrong with Gov. Chime and honestly that is not the reason behind our intervention.

Our concern is that the conspiracy of silence being perpetrated by the state governors who are reported to have taken ill and abandoned their duty posts, as well as their supporters especially the NGF, does not serve the interest of our democracy.

”In the case of Gov. Chime, how can a man who is purportedly on vacation disappear for over 135 days and the people who voted him into office are not expected to ask questions?

Does the constitution provide for such a long ’vacation’ without consequences? Is Gov. Chime’s deputy, whom he reportedly handed over to, given enough latitude to adequately preside over the affairs of the state. If not, how has this affected governance in the state?

And to what extent have the people of the state been denied the dividends of democracy by this unnecessary controversy?

”These are the issues that should be of interest to all lovers of democracy, not the antics of some Governors who are frittering away taxpayers money by gallivanting to London to see Gov. Chime and thereafter releasing a picture
showing a ‘hale and hearty’ Gov. Chime, dressed-up like a Soviet-era spook, which has now generated even more controversy.

”The governors said Chime is recovering well but did not say from what illness. They say he is in good shape but has not said why he has been away from his duty post for so long. If he is so hale and hearty as they claim, let him come
home and end the endless controversy over his illness.

In any case, who made the governors the spokespersons for the people of Enugu state? Are they the ones who voted him into office? Do they really care how this whole controversy has affected governance in Enugu state? Is this the way democracy is run in other climes?” ACN queried.

The party said since any human being can take ill anytime, no one, especially public office holders, should be ashamed to admit his or her illness through a full disclosure and, if necessary, cede full power to those constitutionally empowered to take over.

”Nigeria and its democracy have yet to recover from the secrecy thrown around the illness of late President Umaru Yar’Adua and the anti-democratic antics of his ‘kitchen cabinet’. It is time we stopped this practice that only serves the purpose of those who are hell bent on clinging to power, not considering the interest of the people who voted them into office,” it said.

since any human being can take ill anytime, no one, especially public office holders, should be ashamed to admit his or her illness through a full disclosure and, if necessary, cede full power to those constitutionally empowered to take over.

Afam4eva: Can the lawyers in the house tell us if Chime has done anything wrong constitutionally. We also need to know if the apparatus of the state was handed over by him to his deputy as reported.

mej67: Now the bubble is burst, and the whole country now know the true cause of unduly long sojourn in foreign land, can the wife please join him there asap to support him and facilitate his quick healing instead of her staying back in Enugu just to 'maintain'.

We've always known that the so called accummulated vacation Chime proceeded on without his wife or children accompanying him is out of whack. We pray it does not bbecome a one-way journey

GARRI (x7):


His Aides have been lying all over the place.

That's morally wrong!!! Hope he fires them when he returns....

GARRI (x7):


His Aides have been lying all over the place.

That's morally wrong!!! Hope he fires them when he returns....

Negro_Ntns:

when he what? he cannot return to that seat......he is vacated that position forever.

7842I:

Can you prove his aides are lying?

GARRI (x7):


They denied his ill-health, saying he's on "accumulated leave"...

7842I:

Do you have any real facts to prove he is not on accumulated leave?

7842I:

Do you have any real facts to prove he is not on accumulated leave?

Nightshift: Gov. Chime's health should be paramount to him and not clinging to office at all cost. Though, he is one of the finest in the East ever(after late Sam Onunaka Mbakwe), the laws of Nigeria must be upheld . I still believe that the current arrangement with his deputy Mr Onyebuchi and the state house of assembly, will not survive pressure if this scenario is further stretched .

chino24:


What exactly that made him the finest in the east ever? You guys are being so full of illusion.

Stop this attitude of yours and face the fact that the guy has left office for 5 months and counting. It is the most important thing that should bother all of you right now.

Nightshift: Nwa olu oyibo na Awka, at the moment his works in Enugu state over the past 5 years can only be compared to what Mbakwe did in old Imo state between 1979 and 1983. Putting into consideration the amount of money he budgeted. Your problem is that you hardly travel to other Igbo states to evaluate the current situation .

chino24: [/b]


Ezi okwu??

GARRI (x7):


135 days is almost 5 months... Sit there scratching ur balls while you wait for proof that he's not on "accumulated leave"...

If you've got a brain, pls use it!!

take dat: Na wao. Lol!

Afam4eva: Can the lawyers in the house tell us if Chime has done anything wrong constitutionally. We also need to know if the apparatus of the state was handed over by him to his deputy as reported.

plendil: Should he remain out of office for the next one year on account of 'accumulated leave', there nothing one can use to pin him constitutionally. SEG are just wasting their time.

plendil:

As far as the law is concerned, I don't think Chime has any case to answer. He duly handed over power to his deputy as attested to by the speaker, and the running of the state under Onyebuchi (dep gov) has gone on smoothly. Earlier allegations that the latter could not approve above 500k have turned out to be false.

You have to give it to Chime: given his legal background, he's obviously well acquainted with the constitution. Should he remain out of office for the next one year on account of 'accumulated leave', there nothing one can use to pin him constitutionally. SEG are just wasting their time.

GARRI (x7):


www.vanguardngr.com/2013/01/acn-slams-ngf-decries-visit-to-gov-chime/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

GARRI (x7):


www.vanguardngr.com/2013/01/acn-slams-ngf-decries-visit-to-gov-chime/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter