It was a pitiable sight yesterday morning in Enugu as the mother of Clara, wife of Governor Sullivan Chime, battled to come to terms with the reality of the collapse of her daughter’s marriage.

A report this morning in Vanguard said the old woman “wept profusely on sighting her daughter.” The report said that Clara voluntarily packed out of the Governor’s Lodge as early as 8am and was driven to the Coal City Garden Estate of her mother and handed over to her.

Clara refused to speak with newsmen yesterday but one of her brothers claimed to have been informed by her that the marriage had effectively ended.

The marriage, which was contracted amid fanfare in October 2008, has produced a four-year-old son. It has lately been rocked by allegations of the restriction of Clara’s movements by Sullivan, who, however, said it was based on doctor’s advice following Clara’s mental health challenges.

An attempt by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to probe the incident failed when Clara accused the body of taking sides with Sullivan.

•Photo shows Clara Chime.