Why I restricted my wife's movement - Gov. Chime

ENUGU State governor, Mr Sullivan Chime,
has promised to continue to protect the
integrity of his wife, Clara, in spite of
campaigns against him.
Speaking with newsmen in Enugu, on
Wednesday, Chime said it had become
imperative for him to clarify issues about his
wife's health challenges, going by the
campaign of calumny against his person.
"Well, my wife has some medical challenges
and it would be very unkind for me to talk
about her condition on the pages of
newspapers.
"I have done everything to protect her
integrity and I am not going to expose her to
ridicule now, because some people want to
exploit her situation to drag me into a
needless war of words.
"We've been battling this prior to my
inauguration in 2011. It was so bad at a time
that she had to be taken out of here
(Governor's Lodge) for treatment.
"When she stabilised, I pleaded with her
doctors if she could be brought back here to
be receiving her treatment at home and they
graciously accepted.
"There was a time she was confined indoors
and that was strictly on her doctors' advice.
She's here and she can confirm or deny it.
Also, the doctors then advised against
allowing her access to telephones and her
laptop," he said.
The governor said his wife was safe in the
Government House, adding that her
confinement within the premises was at the
instance of her doctor, who was also present
at the briefing.
"Why would I want my wife locked up? If it
had been that I had issues with her, there are
many ways to resolve them. But that's not
the case. She is not well and I'm willing to do
anything to support and protect her.
"It was always more convenient for me to
have taken the easier route, but that would
have been very callous and ungodly.
"When I had my own health challenge, I was
receiving treatment in London and thinking
about her, making sure she received the right
treatment. I'm forever grateful to her doctors
who have done a great job.
"Both families are billed to meet very soon
and after that, I'll take a decision which will
be in the interest of both parties," the
governor said.
On his reaction to a purported petition to the
inspector-general of police by renowned
lawyer, Chief Femi Falana, the governor said
"he's my professional colleague, but
sometimes you leave people to their
conscience."
He said he was not worried about the
development, adding that when he was
receiving treatment in London, some of the
newspapers reported that he had died in
India.
Clara, who was present during the briefing,
denied sending any petition to the National
Human Rights Commission, alleging
unlawful detention by her husband.
She also denied contacting or engaging the
services of Falana or any other lawyer to
seek her freedom from an alleged
incarceration at Government House, Enugu.
"My doctor and I don't have any problem,"
she said.
On the current situation, Clara said she had
the key to her room and controlled her entry
and exit.
She, however, said her grouse was that she
had not been allowed to leave the premises
except on Sundays to attend mass.