INDICATIONS emerged Tuesday that the much-talked about imminent return of Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime, was to forestall impeachment and looming crisis that has arisen among top functionaries of government in the state.
It would also afford him the opportunity to sign into law the 2013 Appropriation, which might be his major public outing in Enugu before he returns to London.
Chime had been away from the state since September 19 last year owing to ill-health and was said to have handed over the running of the state to his Deputy, Sunday Onyebuchi, in acting capacity.
Last week, however, Akwa Ibom State governor, Godswill Akpabio, who claimed to have visited the governor in London, had announced his return in a matter of days from the day he visited.
Although expectations are high in the state since the news of his return was announced, however, investigations by The Guardian revealed that the return is not unconnected with the pressure from the home-front, asking the House of Assembly to begin the impeachment process on him over alleged incapability to manage his office.
"It is not that the governor has fully recuperated as we are being made to understand. The return will be for a while and he will travel out again to take care of his health. If he has recovered as being peddled, why is he not talking or at least engage in any activity there that could make people see him?", a Government House source told The Guardian yesterday.
The source had disclosed that since his departure, a silent "war" has erupted among the cabinet members, especially among top members of the government, over the way and manner the state was being run.
He added that the development had pitched the Chief of Staff, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo, against the Acting Governor, Sunday Onyebuchi.
The point of discord is who between Chief of Staff and Acting Governor should the appointees be answerable to, as well as certain disbursements in government.
"If you look at the circle of commissioners, even among other elected officials, they like taking orders from the Chief of Staff even when there is an acting governor. This is based on that same belief that as far as Chime is alive; whatever "Madam" says is believed to have emanated from the governor. So, the problem really is that almost all the appointees are answerable to the Chief of Staff for fear that they may lose their jobs should tomorrow, the governor returns to work", the source added.
He stated that though some close associates had tried to placate the situation and brought the two combatants to resolve the issue, it was Not Yet Uhuru as "things are not working smoothly in Government House".
The source continued: "All the commissioners and other appointees are answerable to Chief of Staff. They come to Government House when she wants them to come. So, where lies the power behind Onyebuchi's position as acting governor? He signs all approvals but they must pass through Madam's office. That is the sour point".
He stated that with the crack in their rank and file, some members of staff are now calling that the cabinet raise a letter empowering the House to constitute a health committee to ascertain the situation of the governor and report to the House.
"Unless something is done urgently, the issue might soon burst open and that will add a dangerous dimension to what is on ground. That is why they want Chime back to strengthen issues and in fact, they will make him sign the budget to deceive people that he is back. But that will not be for too long", the source added.
Last week, Onyebuchi had made a volte-face when he declared that Chime handed over to him and as such, was not limited in making monetary approvals in the state.
Meanwhile, the source disclosed that palpable fear has gripped appointees in the state over unconfirmed reports about imminent dissolution of cabinet when the governor returns to office as being planned.
The planned dissolution, it was learnt, followed the way the issue of Chime's ill health was leaked to the press by his appointees, majority of who hold contrary opinions since his departure from Enugu.
The Guardian