Taraba State Lawmakers to Governor Suntai: "You are Unable to Govern, Return to U.S. for Treatment!"
It has just been announced that Taraba lawmakers decided to ask Governor Danbaba Suntai to go back to the United States to continue his treatment.
Haruna
Tsokwa, the Speaker of Taraba State House of Assembly, speaking on
behalf of the lawmakers asked the governor to return to the U.S. to
continue his rehabilitation programme and only come back to run his
office when he is fully fit.
The Speaker addressed journalists in Jalingo on the morning of August 29, 2013, Thursday.
This address follows the visit of 24 lawmakers to Mr. Suntai on Wednesday night, and their promise to speak out today.
Mr. Tsokwa added that all the lawmakers were convinced Mr. Suntai is not fit to return to office.
Critics
have accused the governor’s family and associates of attempting to
foist a critically ill governor on the
state so they can usurp his
powers: “These charlatans have desperately kept trying to cling to
political power and by extension the resources of Taraba State through
series of craftily woven plots of deceits, meant to hoodwink the Nigeria
public in a manner similar to the unfortunate Turai-Yar’adua saga.”
Events
since Monday appeared to give strength to that concern as the
critically ill governor issued an immediate notification to the House of
Assembly signaling his preparedness to resume work.
Then,
while lawmakers insisted he addressed them before approving his letter,
the governor, on Wednesday, announced the dissolution of the cabinet
and named a new secretary to the state government.
The
governor named the outgoing commissioner for Justice, Timothy Kataps,
as the news SSG, and Aminu Jika as the new Chief of Staff.
But the acting governor, Mr. Umar, dismissed the order as null and void, and laid claim to the office hours later.
The
declaration heightened the political tension in the state that has
endured months of uncertainty as both sides jostled for authority and
sought to outplay the other long before Mr. Suntai returned to Nigeria.
A
source close to the state Assembly said some members loyal to Mr. Umar
had commenced scouting for signatures preparatory for the commencement
of impeachment proceedings against the ailing governor.
The
source indicated that the impeachment plan had already reached advanced
stage with only two more signatures needed to get the required number
of members necessary to actualize the plot.
The
State Assembly itself had on Tuesday backed Mr. Umar to continue as
acting governor until Mr. Suntai was able to appear before the lawmakers
to confirm that he is indeed fit to function as governor as indicated
in the letter he transmitted to the House.
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