Governor Sullivan Chime To Return Next Week After Three Months Abroad – Report

Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State who has been out of the country for about three months is expected back to Nigeria on Monday December31, THE CITIZEN can authoritatively report. Contrary to speculations that he travelled to India for the treatment of an undisclosed ailment, THE CITIZEN was informed by a source who has 100 per cent accuracy in matters relating to Enugu State Government that the Governor is indeed in a London hospital where he is being treated for cancer of the nose.
Gov. Chime, who had been out of the country since September 19, 2012, had in a letter to the state’s Assembly said he was travelling abroad on a consolidated annual leave.
The officials of his administration in the state have continued to insist that he was on accumulated annual leave.
They maintained their ground even when the governor had stayed well over two months which he had set out to stay.
However, the secrecy surrounding the reason for his trip and his state of health helped to fuel speculations as some accounts said he was down Kidney ailment, others said, heart problem, while yet another group said he was poisoned.
About a fortnight ago, there were speculations that he had died in an Indian hospital.
The State’s Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chuks Ugwuoke, swiftly moved to dispel the rumour.
Already preparations for a welcoming ceremony are high gear in anticipation of his coming back.
An elaborate ceremony, which will include the local government area councils, is planned to receive him.
Attempts by THE CITIZEN to speak to Ugwuoke proved abortive, as he did not respond to calls made to him.