Sincere Advice For Chime

These days, it seems I
have become the Enugu State ambassador, especially to my friends and colleagues. Everybody wants to know from me what is the true situation of things between Governor Sulivan Chime and his wife, Clara.
Perhaps they believe that having hailed from the Coal City state, one should be in a position to paint a clearer picture out of the contradictory reports emanating from the state’s first family. A colleague was so certain I will have an authentic information about the situation since, “Sulivan is your man.”
Indeed, Governor Sulivan Chime is a man I respect so much. He is one of the best governors in the current regime by my own rating. His transformation programme for the state is unequalled. He has proved that even with little resources one can achieve quite a lot. It is, therefore, not surprising that his leadership style and developmental strides endeared him to many people, both indigenes and non-indigenes of the state.
However, all the respect and admiration people have for him is being tapered by the current issues between him and his wife and how the issues have been handled so far. Reputations we know, are easy to destroy but most difficult to repair. As a Yoruba proverb puts it, “the disgrace one incurs in one day does not disappear that soon.”
The alleged illegal confinement of Mrs Chime following controversies over reported health challenges and other alleged inhuman treatments mated on the First Lady, by His Excellency was the least attitude expected from such a highly respected man.
The story continues to assume different dimensions daily. The latest being that the First Lady was  bundled out of Government House back to her mother’s  house, “where she would have unlimited freedom.” What a heart-breaking treatment from a “dear” husband!
Is this really what marriage is all about? What happens to “for better, for worse, till death do us part”? If Governor Chime was tired of the relationship couldn’t there have been more dignified way of handling the situation rather than subjecting his family to public ridicule?
The most disappointing thing is that the first family of Enugu has allowed the media to be feasting on their ordeal. As far as I am concerned, what is happening between Governor Chime and Clara is purely a family issue which ought to have remained so.
Many families have faced worse challenges but handled them in more mature ways other than attracting unnecessary media attention.
One is not saying that Mrs Chime should have died in silence but I think she should have considered the damage the wide publicity currently being given to the case will do to her and her family. Marital issues cannot be solved on the pages of newspapers or through the social media. One would have expected Governor Chime and his wife to explore both traditional and Christian ways of resolving marital issues before bringing them to public domain.
I think it’s high time the families involved in this case sat  down and resolve whatever differences they have instead of continuing to wash their dirty linens in public.
I equally think there is need for public awareness regarding the causes, manifestation, treatment and prognosis of mental illness in our society.
The reaction of many people since the alleged mental sickness of Mrs Chime was made public has gone to substantiate a recent report that despite the fact that mental illness is a common problem in society, people’s perception of the mentally ill and community attitude towards them is still rather poor, making their rehabilitation and reintegration into society an uphill task.
It will not be surprising that Governor Chime’s decision to isolate his wife stemmed from the stigmatisation of mentally ill people in Nigeria.
It is high time people were made to realise that mental challenges are diseases just like any other illness. Menta sickness does not happen as a result of a spiritual attack, punishment for evil doing, illicit psychoactive substance use and other negative views. Rather, mental illness is ordinary brain disease which can be treated or controlled.
A highly placed and enlightened person like Chime should have deviated from this barbaric attitude and showed his wife more understanding and love if actually she is mentally sick. He can afford to take her to the best hospital both within and outside Nigeria for treatment and rehabilitation. No prize is too much to pay for a loved one. Only such action will redeem the governor’s image.

Calista Ezeaku