SPEAKER, Taraba State House of Assembly, Honourable Haruna Tsokwa, has said the state acting governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, remains acting governor of the state until further notice.
The speaker, who described the political situation in the state as worrisome, noted with sadness that four days after Governor Danbaba Suntai had returned to Jalingo, the leadership of the assembly was yet to access the ailing governor, stressing that despite several calls to his residence, his wife had refused to comply.
Addressing journalists on Tuesday evening, the speaker said political trend in the state needed to be handled with care to avoid anarchy.
He described the purported press conference granted to some journalists on Tuesday afternoon by the majority leader of the assembly, Honourable Joseph Albasu Kunini, as uncalled for and calculated attempt to plug the state into crises.
According to him, the delay in addressing journalists since the arrival of the governor on Sunday was a deliberate attempt to ensure the assembly was properly acquainted with situation on the ground.
He said the claim by Honourable Kunini and his associates that himself and his deputy ran to an undisclosed destination to avoid meeting with people was unfounded, saying they had been in the state trying to attend to some important matters.
The speaker warned those trying to foment crisis in the state to desist, as the state was in dire need of prayers.
The majority leader had reportedly briefed journalists at the assembly complex that the assembly received governor’s letter and had given him the go ahead to take charge, having fulfilled the provision of the constitution.
The majority leader had claimed he was speaking on behalf of every member, while Honourables Charles Maijankai and Ishaya Gani were with him at the briefing.
They claimed that Suntai was physically and mentally fit to govern the state, as they refuted the allegation that the signature on Suntai’s letter was forged, describing it as mischievous.
“We saw Governor Suntai in New York, United States and now that he has returned, and judging from the conversation we had with him, the governor is sound to resume work,” Kunini said.
Showing the letter to journalists, the majority leader said the assembly had verified that the signature was Suntai’s and not forged.
He said the governor could have thump-printed the letter if he so wished, provided forensic test showed he was the one.
Meanwhile, atmosphere in Taraba remained tense, as combined team of military and armed mobile police officers took over the state capital.
Checks by the Nigerian Tribune in Jalingo showed that the situation was to prevent people perceived as trouble shooters, who may want to take the advantage of the current political situation to cause confusion.
When the Nigerian Tribune sought the views of some individuals in the state, they simply said the political trend in the state since the arrival of Governor Suntai called for security watch.
As of the time of filing this report, political atmosphere in the state remained tense, as the state government had not come out with any official statement on the true position of the state.
Culled: Nigerian Tribune