Suntai Asserts Control, Addresses Taraba State
29 Aug 2013
Governor Danbaba Suntai
• Dissolves cabinet, sacks SSG, aides
• Governor, lawmakers meet
Wole Ayodele in Jalingo
Amid the raging political crisis in Taraba State, the recuperating governor, Mr. Danbaba Suntai, moved yesterday to assert his authority on the state by dissolving the State Executive Council (SEC) and addressing the state in a televised broadcast.
Besides the sack of the commissioners, the governor, whose letter to the state House of Assembly that he had returned from medical treatment abroad and was fit to discharge the responsibilities of his office has caused a division among the leadership of the legislature, also relieved the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and his Chief of Staff of their appointments.
He named Mr. Gebon Timothy Kataps as the new SSG and Mallam Aminu Jika as the Chief of Staff, saying their appointments take immediate effect.
Prior to his current appointment, Kataps was the former state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice.
Also, all special advisers were sacked in the unfolding dispensation announced yesterday, aimed at consolidating Suntai’s hold on power.
The governor returned to a tumultuous welcome in Jalingo on Sunday after spending 10 months in health facilities in Germany and the United States where he had undergone treatment for injuries he sustained in a plane crash in Yola, in October 2012.
Also, all special advisers were sacked in the unfolding dispensation announced yesterday, aimed at consolidating Suntai’s hold on power.
The governor returned to a tumultuous welcome in Jalingo on Sunday after spending 10 months in health facilities in Germany and the United States where he had undergone treatment for injuries he sustained in a plane crash in Yola, in October 2012.
On arrival, he looked frail and was assisted by aides to disembark from the chartered aircraft that brought him from New York, the United States, to Abuja from where he left on another chartered flight for Jalingo.
In both Abuja and Jalingo, Suntai was prevented from addressing the crowd, thus raising suspicions about his fitness.
He has been in seclusion in the Government House since then while access to him has been restricted to a coterie of friends and family members.
He has been in seclusion in the Government House since then while access to him has been restricted to a coterie of friends and family members.
Suntai’s deputy, Alhaji Garba Umar, who held sway during the governor’s absence, intervened to douse tensions yesterday with a call on all stakeholders to maintain calm, just as he rallied support for his principal.
In another intervention, Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has demanded the setting up of a medical panel, in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution to ascertain the state of health of the governor.
The dissolution of the state executive council and the removal of other political appointees were announced yesterday by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, Chief Sylvanus Giwa, who told reporters that all special advisers were affected in the sweeping gale.
The governor thanked the commissioners for their contributions to the development of the state and directed that they should hand over to the permanent secretaries of their various ministries.
Suntai, at a brief ceremony later in the day, swore in Kataps after which he thanked the people of the state for their support.
In a video clip of the ceremony shown to journalists, the governor, his words slurred, read a prepared text in which he urged the people to continue to pray for him and the unity of the state.
In a video clip of the ceremony shown to journalists, the governor, his words slurred, read a prepared text in which he urged the people to continue to pray for him and the unity of the state.
Also, in a state broadcast shown on Taraba television, the governor thanked the people of the state for their patience, love and fate in him during his absence.
He also congratulated the people on the 22nd anniversary of the state and assured them of his commitment to govern the state and deliver on his promises to the people.
Members of the state assembly later visited the governor and as at 9pm yesterday, they were still locked in a meeting behind closed doors with Suntai.
Similarly, Umar, in a statement by his press secretary, Mr. Kefas Sule, appealed to the people to remain calm and go about their lawful duties as stakeholders continue the search for peaceful ways of resolving the crisis in the state.
He called for support for the governor, adding that there is only one government in the state headed by Suntai and as such every effort would be made to preserve the peace and unity of the state.
But in a letter dated August 27, 2013 to the state assembly Speaker, Hon. Haruna Tsokwa, a copy of which was given to THISDAY, Falana demanded the constitution of a medical panel to determine the mental and physical fitness of the governor.
The letter titled: ‘Request for the constitution of a medical panel to authenticate the mental and physical fitness of Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State,’ read: “Following the involvement of Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State in a plane crash in Yola on the 25th of October, 2012, His Excellency arrived Nigeria on the 25th day of August, 2013 having undergone 10 months of treatment in Germany and the United States of America.
“Barely a day after his return, a letter was delivered to the Taraba State House of Assembly purportedly written by the governor declaring his fitness and intention to resume office immediately.
“In the letter written by the governor to the state House of Assembly, he claimed to have fully recovered from the injuries he sustained in the plane crash of 25th October, 2012 without affording the public a copy of his medical report of mental and physical fitness.
“Having confirmed that there is a medical report, we hereby request for the information on the medical state of the governor which should be made public in the interest of the people of Taraba State and Nigeria as a whole.
“Please take notice in the event that our demand is not acceded to within three days inclusive of the day of receipt of this letter, we shall not hesitate to approach the law court to mandate the leadership of the House to carry out its constitutional duty.”
Falana further observed that since Suntai was brought back to the country “by a cabal of political mongers in Taraba State, he has been held incommunicado by those who have held him hostage.
“All efforts by the acting governor, speaker of the state assembly, Director of State Security Service and Commissioner of Police of Taraba State to meet with the governor have been turned down by his captors due to the fact that he is not in a mental position to recognise anyone.
“The popular demand of the people of Taraba State that the Governor should address them has also been ignored by the cabal.”
On the letter said to have been transmitted by Suntai to the state assembly informing them of his return, Falana said: “Out of the 24 members of the House only seven have claimed that the letter was written by the governor. Others members are convinced that it is forgery in every material particular.
“The popular demand of the people of Taraba State that the Governor should address them has also been ignored by the cabal.”
On the letter said to have been transmitted by Suntai to the state assembly informing them of his return, Falana said: “Out of the 24 members of the House only seven have claimed that the letter was written by the governor. Others members are convinced that it is forgery in every material particular.
“Today, the political joke was carried to a ridiculous extent when the state cabinet was purportedly dissolved. The governor who is alleged to have resumed duty and taken the decision has not been able to report in his office.
“In the circumstances, the members of the Taraba State Executive Council should remain on their duty posts and insist on an urgent meeting with the governor with a view to confirming if he had actually taken the decision to sack them.
“On its own part, the House should not screen and confirm the list of commissioners being prepared by the cabal to replace the ‘sacked’ cabinet members.”
Falana reminded the captors of the governor that Section 1(2) of the constitution stipulates that no person or group of persons can take over the country or any part of it except in accordance with the provisions of the said constitution.
Terming what was happening in Taraba a coup d’etat, he called on the federal government to direct the security forces to round up the coup plotters who are currently ruling Taraba State by usurping the constitutional powers of the elected governor.
“Having regard to the experience of acting President Goodluck Jonathan (as he then was) under the cabal that illegally ruled the country when the late President Umar Yar’Adua was in a state of coma, the federal government should not hesitate to defend and protect the constitution in Taraba State in the interest of law and order in the country.
“All men and women of goodwill in the country should team up with the democratic forces in Taraba State to end the brazen impunity of those who are exploiting the health of Governor Suntai to achieve dubious political objectives.
“The governor should be freed to return to the hospital for further treatment without any further delay,” Falana charged.
SOURCE: THISDAYLIVE
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