Jonathan visits Suntai Governor Danbaba Suntai Attempt to return governor to power is a political coup, says group Wole Ayodele The recuperating Governor of Taraba State, Danbaba Suntai, last night paid host to President Goodluck Jonathan. Since his return, Suntai has been staying at the guest house of Gen. T.Y. Danjuma (rtd) in Abuja. The low key event was witnessed by Suntai’s wife, Hauwa, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha and Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Gebons Kataps. Sources at the event told THISDAY that the president, led by Danjuma met Suntai in high spirits. “On sighting Suntai, the president beamed and said: “But you are back now.” Suntai then thanked the president for his support through out his ordeal. He also asked the president to thank his wife, the first lady, who visited him in the United Kingdom where he went for treatment,” he said. The source added that the president also expressed his happiness at the recovery of the governor. He later left with Danjuma to the villa. Suntai’s return has become a subject of controversy. The president’s visit may be one to have an on- the-spot assessment of the governor. Intense debate over his fitness to resume office has continued to headline discussions within and outside the state. The acting governor of Taraba State, Garba Umar, last Wednesday mandated the state House of Assembly to start an impeachment process on Suntai. Last Saturday, though Umar was at the airport in Abuja to welcome Suntai, he was denied access by the governor’s handlers who said they cannot trust him anymore. Meanwhile, following the declaration by the Minister of State for Niger Delta, Mr. Ishaku Darius and former governor of the state, Rev. Jolly Nyame that the ailing governor is fit to resume duties as governor of the state, a group, Taraba Liberal Youths Congress, described the present attempt to return the governor back to office in his present state as a coup against democracy. The Chairman of the group, Bilyaminu Maihanchi, who stated this at a press conference in Jalingo yesterday, said the present attempt to return Suntai as governor of the state despite obvious evidences that he is yet to fully recover from the injuries he sustained in the October 25, 2012 plane crash is at best a political coup and a greatest show of shame and disservice to the people of the state. Insisting that it is a public knowledge that the governor is far from being fit to return to office, the group maintained that the present plan to return the governor by all means not only portrays the people of the state as not only being callous, but irresponsible people who are ready to subject the life of the governor to grave danger in primitive quest for power. “This is clearly the greatest show of shame and disservice on the image of our dear state. It portrays us as callous and irresponsible people who are ready to subject the life of our dear governor to grave danger in primitive quest for power. “Subjecting our governor to this humiliating and dehumanising treatment is not only criminal but also deserves serious condemnation from all well meaning people,” he stated. The group further stated that the governor’s posture on the social media where he appeared disoriented, especially on You Tube where he stated that he was coming from Abuja in response to an inquiry rather than Wellington Hospital London has proved beyond reasonable doubt that Suntai is far from being fit to resume duties as governor of the state. Besides, the group noted that what is more dangerous in the present political saga is the anarchy, bureaucratic friction and tension that the attempt would generate in the state considering the current security situation in the country more especially in the North-eastern part of the country where Taraba is located. The group further averred that the cabal that is behind the attempt to return Suntai as governor at this auspicious moment has turn his health status into a laughing stock not better than a movie insisting that the greatest hallmark of democracy is the rule of law and freedom of expression. The group however expresses its support to the resolution of the State Executive Council of September 10 mandating the state House of Assembly to constitute a medical panel to ascertain the true health status of the governor and determine whether he’s fit to return to power as provided in Section 189 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). In the same vein, the group called on the leadership of the National Assembly, the people of Taraba and all well meaning Nigerians to support the bold steps taken by the executive and legislative bodies of Taraba State towards resolving the constitutional impasse and as well as avoid the serious threat to the nation’s democracy which the present plan portends.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 14:01:38 +0000
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