Mystery Surrounds Suntai's Health Condition As Wife Stops Dep Gov,Speaker etc From Seeing Him

There was confusion in Taraba State on Wednesday as the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr.  Haruna Tsokwa and the Majority Leader, Mr. Joseph Albasu, disagreed on who ran the affairs of the state as governor.

While Tsokwa said the Deputy Governor, Alhaji  Alhaji Garba Umar, would  continue to act as governor  until the Assembly deliberated  on the letter by the recuperating Governor Danbaba Suntai seeking to resume duty, Albasu  claimed that Suntai had already taken charge as the state’s Chief Executive.

The   Majority Leader told journalists  at the assembly complex in Jalingo that the lawmakers  gave the governor the nod to begin work since he had  fulfilled the provisions of the  1999 Constitution.

Albasu, who said  he was speaking for   all the lawmakers, added that the governor was mentally fit to carry out his duties.

He argued  that the constitution did not  make it mandatory  for a governor to appear before the assembly  on the matter in  question.

The  Majority Leader, also stated that it was against the spirit of   the constitution for the  assembly to debate the letter by Suntai.

 But the Speaker faulted him, saying the governor must  appear before the Assembly  or be prepared to receive  its principal officers  in his office in the Government House,  Jalingo.

 He  said,  “Governor Suntai has transmitted a letter to the Assembly, but his deputy, Alhaji Umar, will continue to act, until this assembly deliberates on  his letter.”

It was however learnt that the lawmakers might deliberate on the letter on Wednesday (today).

The speaker, who claimed that he was  unaware of the claims by the  Majority Leader, also confirmed earlier reports  that  Suntai’s wife  blocked  him  from seeing   her husband  on Tuesday.

Tsokwa became the speaker when Istifanus Haruna Gbana –an ally of  Suntai, was  removed while Suntai was still  receiving treatment abroad for injuries he sustained last October when a small plane he piloted crashed.

 Findings on Tuesday showed that apart from the speaker, who led a delegation to the Government House,   Alhaji Umar;  the  Commissioner in charge of the state Police Command  and the Director of State Security Service    were  prevented from   seeing the governor    by Suntai’s  family members and influential associates  on Tuesday.

There were reports on Monday that Umar, who acted as governor during the 10 months  that  Suntai was out of the country, was barred  from seeing the governor on his arrival at the Jalingo Airport. But  a credible source had  said that the deputy governor  met the governor  in Jalingo even  before he alighted  from the aircraft  that flew him there.

Sources close to the  state government  informed one of our correspondents on Tuesday   that  Umar, Tsokwa and the two security chiefs  were told that Suntai would not  be able to see them  until he had rested for 72 hours.

One of the sources  said, “What we have been told is that the governor will rest for 72 hours in compliance with the instructions of his doctors. This was the explanation they also gave to the D-G, SSS and the CP. They were there to see him, but they were stopped.”

According to another source, “the speaker’s delegation was kept waiting for about one hour and the governor’s wife (Hauwa) later told them that Suntai was resting.”

He added that because of  the development, the state House of Assembly had resolved to sit on Wednesday (today) and debate the governor’s letter.

“What the members have decided is to sit tomorrow (today) and formally invite the governor to address the House. He has been away for about 10 months; so, coming to address them will at least put all the speculations and uncertainties surrounding his health to rest”, the source added.

Asked what Taraba stakeholders considered to be the way forward for the state, a top  Peoples Democratic Party member from the state, said that much depended on the assembly’s decision.

He said, “This situation must be addressed with all the caution that it requires. There is no point rushing things or being unnecessarily preemptive.

“If the House say they are going to invite him, the right thing is to await the outcome of the decision of the House. Let them come up with their decision.”