Taraba Acting Gov pledges loyalty to Suntai

Alhaji Garba Umar, the Acting Governor of Taraba, has reaffirmed his
complete loyalty to ailing Gov. Danbaba Suntai.
Umar made the declaration during his meeting with traditional rulers
and local government chairmen in Jalingo, Tuesday.
He spoke as the former Military Governor of the state, Dr Amen
Oyakhire, blamed the political quagmire in Taraba on indiscipline
among the political gladiators in the state.
According to Oyakhire, it was wrong for Suntai to have flown the plane
that crashed in Adamawa State, resulting in the injuries he sustained
in the accident.
"Currently, what is happening in Taraba is disheartening. There is
indiscipline in the polity. It is wrong for a governor to be seen
flying an aero plane. It is against protocol. We must learn to obey
laws, rules, regulations and guidelines.
"It is also wrong for the House of Assembly to say that he must not
govern. He is still the governor of the state, his poor health
notwithstanding. Sections 188 and 189 of the 1999 Constitution are
very clear as to how a Governor is produced and how he can be removed
from office.
"In the circumstance, only a Medical Panel of five distinguished
medical practitioners in Nigeria, one of which must be his personal
physician can sit down and analyse his health condition before he can
be stopped from performing his duties.
"However, it is also wrong to force the governor to govern with his
ill-health. Candidly, he still needs continuous medication. The acting
Governor is his deputy. There is the need for understanding of the
peculiarity of the situation and there should be no need to quarrel.
He should in the circumstance be consulted, since he is at home; when
major decisions are to be taken in public interest.
"Right now, the citizens in Taraba State are suffering because of the
quagmire. This situation is not pleasant for the public. It must be
quickly and sensibly resolved," he told Vanguard in an interview in
Benin City.
Meanwhile, the Acting Governor stressed that there was no division in
the structure of government in the state. "Let me restate the fact
that there is no division in the structure of government in the state.
"This government remains the Suntai-administration and we are all
aware of the circumstances that necessitated my being designated as
acting governor.
"I am happy to note that the medical condition of Gov. Suntai is
improving by the day," he said.
Umar urged the people of the state to support the good programmes of
the Suntai-administration, which he was carrying on with to ensure the
rapid development of the state.
Mr Abershi Musa, the Chairman of Ussa Local Government Council, noted
that the meeting provided an opportunity for stakeholders to look into
how to move Taraba forward after the political crisis which engulfed
the state over Suntai's health condition.