Suntai Sorry For His Power Grab Antics; Begs For Forgiveness

At last, Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State has agreed to step down from office until he fully recovers from the injuries he sustained when the plane he piloted crashed on October 25, 2012. 

 His decision is part of the outcome of a meeting he had on Tuesday with a Committee on the state’s political logjam, his deputy, Alhaji Garba Umar; Speaker of the House of Assembly, Haruna Tsokwa, PDP leaders in the North-East and Senators. Asking for forgiveness for grabbing power when he is not yet fit, Suntai said: “I am happy to see you, please pray for me. Forgive me if I have made mistakes". 

When he shook hands the speaker of the House of Assembly, Haruna Tsokwa, he said, “Mr. Speaker, you know my problem. Please, I want you to help me to pray. God will help all of us." Turning to the the PDP National Secretary in the North-East, Bala Endefo, Governor Sundai said, “This one, I have been quarrelling with him.

 Today, I forgive you.” Chairman of the committee, Senator Hope Uzodinma, told journalists that although Suntai was recovering very fast, he was not in a good position to take full charge of governance in the state. He said, “We have resolved the issue because it is just a family misunderstanding. We don’t have a crisis in Taraba. 

The governor is relatively very healthy and he has no disagreement with his deputy. "In fact, he is in support of the fact that the acting governor should continue and should consult with him on major issues pending when he is ready to take over the full governance of the state. Taraba State has one united and strong government and the PDP is fully in charge.” Suntai's wife, who many believe is the one stoking the fire, was also in attendance.

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Enstranged Governor finally Surrenders To Deputy

The Ailing Governor of Taraba State Danbaba Suntai, has surrendered to his deputy, Alhaji Garba Umar, to continue to hold forte pending when he would be medically fit to return to work.

The governor was involved in an air mishap last year. The injury from the accident took him to Germany and the United States for medical treatment.

But he returned to the country, not fully recovered, on August 25th.

The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Committee set up to resolve the crisis brought by his return and determination to resume work, was headed by Senator Hope Uzodinma, who told reporters yesterday that Governor Suntai has allowed Alhaji Umar to continue to act for him as governor, until he is well enough to perform his functions.

Senator Uzodinma said Suntai has, however, said that there were some actions he would take with due consultation with him, and not to act arbitrarily. The stakeholders, he said,have unanimously agreed that Alhaji Umar should continue to act without any dissident voice, because they (stakeholders) were desirous of moving the state forward.

According to him,there was no crisis in Taraba, expressing the hope that there would not be, and that the committee  had met with the ailing governor, whom, he said was recuperating and that all and sundry should continue to pray for him to recover speedily.

Senator Uzodinma urged the media to continue to help democracy to flourish and not to be used to fan the embers of divisiveness in the polity.

 He said the press has a significant role to play in moving the nation forward.

The stakeholders comprised of the presidential committee, the National Assembly members from the state, legislators from the House of Assembly, elders and opinion leaders as well as PDP stalwarts from the state and national levels.

The Uzodinma committee arrived in Jalingo, the state capital and swung into action. On arrival at the airport around 12.46pm, he told journalists that they were in Jalingo to interact with their fellow PDP members.

Paying a courtesy call on Suntai, the members said they were in the state to ascertain the governor’s health and pray for his speedy recovery.

Although journalists were not officially allowed to go in along with the committee members, the few that had access to the governor, said that contrary to the assumption that Suntai had been speechless, confirmed that he actually expressed happiness for their visit and prayer.

The sources also confirmed that the ailing governor was able to identify persons, a development that was also contrary to the belief that he was not aware of his environment.

At the venue of the meeting held in the Government House were the Assembly leaders, Taraba lawmakers in the National Assembly, former commissioners, elders of the party and opinion leaders, Senator Uzodinma had appealed to the stakeholders to sheathe their  swords and proffer solution to the crisis at hand.

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Governor Suntai Asked To Step Down

The Public Interest Lawyers League (PILL) has demanded that the Taraba State legislature declare Governor Danbaba Suntai unfit for office and and take steps to ascertain his true medical situation; as stated in the constitution.

In a statement made available to Nigerian Telegraph, and signed by its chairman, Abdul Mahmud, the group warned that it would go to court if the demands are not met within seven days.

The full text of the statement reads:

“Yesterday, Governor Suntai returned to the country almost exactly ten months after he was evacuated to Germany and later the United States for treatment of injuries he suffered in a plane crash. That he survived the crash and ten grueling months of recuperation from injuries that Nigerian newspapers and online blogs speculate range from a debilitating head injury to permanent mental and physical incapacitation is a testimony to his indomitable spirit.

However, his prolong absence raised, and still raises, questions over the state of his health, the extent of his injuries and the more specific question: is he fit to govern Taraba State?

The picture of a man being helped by aides down the gangway of an aircraft fuels the speculation that Governor Suntai is gravely ill, incapable of discharging the functions of his office. The failure of Governor Suntai to address the media or the people of his state since his arrival in Jalingo appears indicative of a more serious medical case.

We have travelled the beaten path before. Recall President Yar’Adua’s saga. As it was then, so it is now: a public servant, feeling very poorly, is corralled by a criminal cabal intent on subverting the spirit and letters of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

Today, like yesteryear, Governor Suntai is imprisoned by his aides and a wife who is more interested in power than that the desire to help her husband deal with his fate, the circumstances he has found himself, away from prying and inquisitive public.

Nigerians must help Governor Suntai out of his misery.

Source: Nigerian Telegraph 

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