Why would I want my wife locked up?

Why would I want my wife locked up? –
Gov. Chime
on november 06, 2013 at 7:36 pm in news
Enugu – Gov. Sullivan Chime of Enugu State 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,” the
governor said.
“I have done everything to protect her integrity and
I am not now going to expose her to ridicule
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.
Gov Chime
“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.”
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 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.
“I won’t join words with him. Has he met this client
of his as he claimed to assess her state of mind and
determine if she can give him the right brief to guide
his case? Did he ask for access to her or to me and
was denied? I leave it at that.
“That’s the penalty you face as a public officer.
When I was receiving treatment in London, some of
the newspapers reported that I had died in India.
“I’ve never been to India and had never applied for
an Indian visa. Today, the story is that I’ve
imprisoned my own wife in my residence. I know
their motives but I wish those behind such wicked
tales well.”
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.
The quite a long time, Clara could not speak,
prompting her husband and brother, Mr Tony Igwe,
to persuade her to speak.
At a point, her brother took her to an adjacent room
where they spent some minutes after which Igwe
assured the people that she was willing to talk.
After some long silence, Clara said: “You (the
governor) and my doctor can speak on my behalf.”
The governor replied: “Yes, I’m your husband and
should ordinarily do so but you know I’m the one
being accused of detaining you. This way, I’ve lost
that privilege to speak for you, at least on this case.
“The story out there also is that your doctor is
probably scared of me and gives you all kinds of
drugs, sometimes against your wish.”
The governor’s wife then said: “My doctor and I
don’t have any problem.”
She also corroborated an earlier message she sent
to her husband’s telephone that she had not met
Falana or engaged him to seek her release from a
purported unlawful custody.
She rather admitted that she wrote a letter to her
doctor, (Dr Agumuo)and another doctor overseas
whom she was introduced to and wondered how the
letter leaked to the public.
She also admitted that she was once confined to a
room without access to her telephone and laptop,
saying: “that was when I had a serious crisis.”
On the current situation, Clara said she had the key
to her room and controlled her entry and exit.
She said, however, that her grouse was that she
had not been allowed to leave the premises except
on Sundays to attend mass. (NAN