Governor Chime ‘ll return within 10 days, says Akpabio

Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State yesterday assured Nigerians that ailing Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State, who has been hospitalised in London since September 2012, will return to the country in the next 10 days.

The development came as Akpabio promised to make public any activity of the Governors’ Forum, which negates the principles setting it up, saying the forum would continue to work in tandem with the Federal Government.

Speaking with airport correspondents at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, on arrival from London, United Kingdom, Akpabio, who was among the three governors that visited the sick governor in his hospital bed in London recently, declared that Chime was hale, hearthy and capable of ruling the state upon his arrival.

Akpabio had visited the ailing Enugu governor in a London hospital in company with Governors Gabriel Suswam and Rotimi Ameachi of Benue and Rivers states respectively.

He admonished Nigerians to always trust their representatives and warned against playing politics with people’s health.

His words: “I was a part of the delegation that visited the governor in London and I brought a message of goodwill to His Excellency, the Governor of Enugu State. And like I said, we must learn to mourn with those who mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice.

“We should not play politics out of people’s health. For me, I’m very grateful to God that Governor Chime has recovered fully and he would be assuming duties within the next 10 days.

“It’s not something that any Nigerian should be sad about. Rather, we should be happy and we should pray that he’s returning to the country within 10 days from today and he would be in the government House in Enugu on his seat as the governor of the state.

“I can confirm that because I had interactions with him and he’s in good health and he’s recovering. Once the doctors give him the go ahead, he will be in the office. You can quote me.”

Speaking on the allegation that the Governors’ Forum was becoming a cartel and working against the Federal Government and the Nigerian people, Akpabio denied such claims. vowing that he would not be a party to any association or forum that would attempt to bring down President Goodluck Jonathan and his team, even as he described such allegation as baseless.

“He insisted that the Governors’ Forum should actually be a major collaborator with the Federal Government of Nigeria, maintaining that they are part and parcel of government, which should work together to uplift the living conditions of Nigerians.

“I will not be a party to anything that will attempt to pull down the government of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, and that I’m assuring you.

“The allegation they are making is news to my ears. I’ve not been around the country for a while and I don’t know what is going on. Definitely, when I get in, I will observe things, and if I should find out that the Governors’ Forum is what they are saying, you will hear me.; I will shout out.

“For now, I want to reassure Nigerians that the Governors’ Forum means well for the country. Majority of us are behind Mr President and we are determined to work together collectively so that we have one monopolistic democracy in Nigeria; the government that can deliver the dividends for the good of Nigeria.

“I think that is all that matters. There is no room for any acrimony. I will not be a party to any divisive tendency that will tend to turn the forum into a kind of trade union. I will not support that.”