Politics Of Suntai’s Return

After 10 months of medical treatment overseas, Taraba State Governor, Danbaba Suntai , arrived in the country Sunday.  DONALD OJOGO examines the intrigues of the return and the likely implications

Taraba state governor, Danbaba Suntai’s return to the state was a long awaited one. For one, his absence from the state due to no fault of his, had indeed, carried with it varied comments and observations.

Understandably too, the manner of the debate preceding his return to the state was such a reminder of the scenario the nation was compelled to face in the days of the deteriorating health of the late president Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

Suntai had sustained injuries when his self-piloted plane crashed on October 25, 2012 in Yola, Adamawa. He was flown abroad after a brief stint of immediate first aide at the National Hospital in Abuja. But as his stay overseas became longer than expected, the state House of Assembly had declared Suntai’s deputy, Garba Umar as Acting Governor.

 Governor Suntai, accompanied by family members and only trusted aides, had arrived at the domestic wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Sunday afternoon aboard a chartered aircraft with number N3889A.

On Monday, Governor Suntai reportedly wrote to the state Assembly, notifying it of his return and preparedness to resume work. But confusion had followed this 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  Garba Umar, would  continue to act as governor  until the Assembly deliberated  on the letter by the recuperating governor, 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. He said he was speaking for   all the lawmakers, adding that the governor was mentally fit to carry out his duties.

Albasu is representing Lau Constituency. Tsokwa was not present, but Albasu said he was speaking for all the House members. With him were: Hon. Charles Maijankai (Karim-Lamido Constituency), Ishaya Gani (Wukari) and another member.

The lawmakers proclaimed Suntai as physically and mentally fit to govern.

 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.”

But as the governor’s state of health became an issue, Suntai on Wednesday, left no one in doubt that he had effectively resumed as the governor as he sacked all commissioners and special advisers in the state.

Those affected include the newly-appointed secretary to the state government (SSG) Mr. Gavey Yawe and the chief of staff, Government House (Administration) Engr. Ahmed Yusuf Gamaliya.

Announcing the dissolution yesterday in Jalingo, the special assistant to the governor on media and publicity, Mr. Sylvanus Yakubu Giwa, who spoke on behalf of the governor, stated that the dissolution took immediate effect. He directed the affected officials to hand over all government property in their position to the permanent secretaries in charge of their various ministries.

He announced the former state attorney-general and commissioner of justice, Barr. Gibon Timothy Kataps, as the new SSG while the former commissioner for information and one-time chief of staff, Government House (Administration), Mallam Aminu Jika, as the new chief of staff, Government House (Administration) respectively.

The governor’s actions notwithstanding, the speaker, who had earlier doubted Suntai’s capacity to resume work, has already declared the governor unfit.

With the uncertainty hovering around the state, civil society groups and other stakeholders have maintained divergent opinions on the propriety or otherwise of Suntai’s appearance before the Assembly.

In Abuja, the Conference of   Nigeria Political Parties and the Inter Party Advisory Council have called on the state House of Assembly to set up a medical panel to examine Suntai’s state of health.

CNPP’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Osita Okechukwu, told NAN that the Assembly should set up the panel immediately “to determine if Suntai is capable or incapable of carrying out his constitutional functions.”

IPAC, through its chairman, Mr. Yusuf Tanko,  also said the governor’s health status must be established before any action could be taken.

Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), was also not left out in lending his comments, but with a caveat as he gave a three-day ultimatum to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, to   investigate the   governor’s letter of intention to resume duty.

Falana, in a letter to Abubakar threatened to go to court if his demand was not met before the expiration of the ultimatum.

Amidst these, the state lawmakers were said to have visited Suntai at his residence yesterday in Jalingo to ascertain the true position of his health condition. But after their visit to the ailing governor, they went into a closed door meeting with the acting governor and promised to brief the press later.

The lawmakers further told journalists on Wednesday night that they would brief them about the state of affairs the following day. It could not be confirmed as at press time if Thursday’s declaration by the state lawmakers that Governor was unfit was primarily informed by the meeting they had with him.

As it appears, the next line of action of the two slugging groups remains unpredictable even as they continue to carry quivering effects. At least, the dramatic reversal by the deputy governor, who was acting before Suntai’s return, of all actions taken by Suntai, including the dissolution of the state executive council has laid the path of an ugly situation that is peaking.


Leadership