Governor of Taraba State, Danbaba Suntai who sacked the state executive council and approved the appointment of two principal officers yesterday, is facing a mutiny of some sort, as his deputy, in cahoots with the state House of Assembly, has labelled his return to office “premature.”
Speaking to newsmen in Jalingo, Rt. Hon. Haruna Tsokwa, speaker of Taraba State House of Assembly said the lawmakers have decided to ask Governor Danbaba Suntai to return to the United States to continue his rehabilitation programme and only come back to run his office when he is fully fit.
Tsokwa stated that the decision of the members followed their visit to Mr. Suntai on Wednesday night, and affirmed that the lawmakers were convinced that Suntai was unfit to return to office. The House therefore voted the deputy governor of the State to continue in office.
The House had been divided over the return of the governor and on whether he was fit to take charge of the state. While some thought he was fit enough, others said he needed more time to recuperate. The House then decided that he should visit it to address his health status.
The members also paid a visit to his house on a fact-finding mission last night but refused to make any comment relating to the governor’s predicament.
The lawmakers have now decided that Governor Suntai should return to the United States to continue with the treatment he had been receiving for the past 10 months following the crash of his private jet late last year. They assured him of returning to his office when he is truly and fully fit for the job.
Addressing journalists in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital on Thursday, Tsokwa, stressed that the findings of the 24-member House had shown that the governor is not fit for the job.
Since returning from the US last Sunday, Suntai has not given the residents of the state cause to believe that he has fully recovered. In fact, his return was as dramatic as it was controversial. He was shielded from the people and acted only on instructions while looking and acting confused.
His handlers, including Professor Jerry Gana, former Minister of Information lied to Nigerians by insisting that he had shown he was strong enough to govern the State.
This resulted in various groups in the state protesting his return and demanding that he addresses the House and gives a broadcast on his preparedness to take over his seat.
The drama continued on Wednesday when he sacked Secretary to the State Government and named outgoing Commissioner for Justice, Timothy Kataps, as the new SSG, and Aminu Jika as the new Chief of Staff, a decision the deputy governor kicked against as having no substance.
It is believed that with this latest action from the lawmakers, the House could commence impeachment moves against the governor.
