THERE were indications Wednesday that the estranged wife of Enugu
State governor, Clara Chime, has relocated to Port Harcourt, Rivers
State capital, with her mother, Patience Igwe.
The Guardian
gathered that the change of abode followed the decision of the family
to ensure that she “overcomes the sad memories of her over four years
botched marriage with Governor Sullivan Chime”.
It is not known
whether the family would in the future return her to Enugu as the
source said “they will stay in Port Harcourt for some time for now”.
A family source disclosed that Clara was overwhelmed on Monday morning
when a convoy of six vehicles from Enugu Government House, filled with
her luggage, brought her to her mother’s house at 67, Coal City Garden
Estate, behind Central Bank Headquarters, Enugu.
On arrival at
the residence, she was said to have flung into the waiting hands of her
mother that her years of “pain were over”.
It was gathered
Wednesday that Clara’s mother, had on Tuesday visited their Ozulobu
community, Amuda, Umunneoche Local Council of Abia State, where she
briefed members of the Eze-in-Council on the development in the
marriage between her daughter and Chime.
She was said to have
told the council that the marriage was over as the “governor has
brought your daughter back under the guise that she is ill and cannot
continue with the marriage”.
According to the traditional ruler
of Ozuluobu autonomous community, His Highness, Eze Bob Ogbenna:
“Clara’s mother (Patience Igwe) told us that the governor promised to
take care of her anywhere she is”, adding that he (Chime) also mandated
‘the family to look for cure for her’. They have left for Port
Harcourt,” he added.
“I wonder why he thinks that the family
should be the one to look for a place to cure her. Whatever be the
case, the most important thing now is that our daughter has been
released to us”, he said.
Eze Ogbenna added: “Although we have
not seen Clara, I am convinced that nothing is wrong with her. We have
asked questions through her mother and she has not told us about any
misbehaviour or strange attitude. As a family and community, we support
that she moves somewhere to recover from the trauma she had been
subjected to in the name of marriage. Clara will brief us at the right
time”.
Clara had recently raised an alarm over an alleged
confinement at the Governor’s Lodge, Enugu, on the orders of her
husband. She had written to the human rights organisations, seeking
her release.
Governor Chime had, however, denied any such
motive, stressing that her wife’s restriction was based on her health
challenges and on the advice of her doctors.