By Chris Ochayi

ABUJA—The Save Enugu Group, SEG, has said that the vacuum created by the prolonged absence of Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State from office has produced a cabal, known as G-5, which has allegedly hijacked the running of affairs of the state.

SEG, which made the allegation in a protest letter to the Chairman, South East Governors Forum, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, said the cabal comprised the governors younger brother and elder sister, Chief of Staff to the governor, Accountant General of the state and a special adviser.

Gov Sullivan Chime

The letter read:  “May we formally introduce to you the above named pro-democracy association. The association members are Nigerian citizens of Enugu State extraction, driven by the highest patriotic ideals which are of particular concern to our dear state.

“Please find enclosed a letter dated January 8,  2013, on the above subject which we addressed to the Acting Governor of Enugu State. The said letter speaks for itself.

“The response from the government has been to dismiss us with utter contempt, while the State chapter of the PDP has repeated the same big lie that the governor is on vacation and would soon be back.

“We have it on good authority that in the letter Governor Chime transmitted to the speaker as required by section 190 of the Constitution, he stated he was going on a six-week vacation.”

“We have it further on good authority that a cabal now known as G-5, composed of the Governors younger brother and elder sister, The Chief of Staff to the Governor the Accountant General of the State and one Special Adviser on Investments, have essentially made the Acting Governor acting ceremonially.

“We would like you as peers of our Governor to consider the real issue here: The issue is not that Sullivan Chime is a performing Governor. It is not that governance is going on smoothly.

“It is equally not that the state is stable and peaceful. The official reason by Enugu State Government for the Governors’ inordinately long absence is that he is enjoying his accumulated leave. Any other reason by any other person is mere speculation.”

“If that is the case, we make bold to state that it is irresponsible for any public official not to talk of a State governor to spend four months  idling in the sun. We would be slow to conclude that Chime is that irresponsible.

“It would equally be a great disservice to the growth of our democracy to label citizens who democratically engage their government on full disclosure, transparency and accountability. SEG eschews violence and formally declares itself a non-violent association.

“In our agitation and advocacy campaign we are entitled and would extract the benefits of our fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). We refer particularly to sections 39 and 40.

“It is therefore our prayer that as the political leaders of other Igbo speaking states, and in the spirit of ONYE AGHANA NWANNE YA, you would use your influence and network to get to the truth of this matter and restore responsiveness to our governance.”