Those expecting the Save Enugu Group (SEG) to sheathe its sword following the return of Governor Sullivan Chime are very much mistaken, according to SEG Convener, Maxi Okwu (Ikenecheoha II).

The SEG was born last month to champion the crusade for the disclosure of the fate of Governor Chime, who remained incommunicado after exhaustive his three months accumulated leave. While the state government claimed that the governor was holidaying abroad, investigations showed that he was actually seeking medical attention for a serious but undisclosed illness.

“It was never about the person of Chime but democratic engagement and the right of a people to full disclosure. The SEG is also not about Chime’s health challenges, but Enugu State progress. The struggle will definitely continue,” said Okwu in a message posted on his Facebook wall.  

He, however, said he was expressing his personal opinion without prejudice to the decision of the SEG, which he said was “consulting to come out with an official position.”

Below is the text of Okwu’s statement:

“Governor Sullivan Iheanacho Chime of Enugu state returned to Nigeria aboard a British Airways flight from London Heathrow to Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Abuja in the wee hours of this morning. A relation of mine was on the same flight, and has given me a graphic account of his condition and arrival protocol. Today is approximately 140 days since he disappeared from public view ostensibly to enjoy a long vacation on his ‘accumulated’ leave. The Save Enugu Group (SEG) which am Convener/Leader is consulting to come out with an official position. However due to my visibility in this episode and activity on my wall I feel constrained to put out a preliminary, without prejudice to the SEG position, statement. I am personally relieved that the Chime saga has come to some closure just 30 days of a campaign we mounted to bring to public attention the secrecy and hype being churned out by ENSG on his location and status. It was never about the person of Chime but democratic engagement and the right of a people to full disclosure. The SEG is also not about Chime’s health challenges, but Enugu State progress. The struggle will definitely continue. Any mischief maker who tries to distort our mission or intervention would have to seek other platforms, but definitely not my wall. To God be the glory as used to be said by a political caucus.”

•Photo: SEG Convener Maxi Okwu.