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Tag: Danbaba Suntai

  • ‘Resolve Taraba crisis’

    A group, the Nigerian Human Rights Community (NHRC), has warned that the unfolding political development in Taraba State will lead to anarchy, if not resolved.

    NHRC Coordinator Samuel Olorunwa said the people have not enjoyed the dividends of democracy since Governor Danbaba Suntai was involved in an accident.

    He said: “We are worried that the Inspector General of Police has not investigated a forged letter to the House of Assembly, which was said to have been written and signed by Governor Suntai.

    “We, in the human rights community, call on the IGP to inform the public on who wrote the letter.”

     

  • Suntai in Church, marks one-year air crash survival

    Suntai in Church, marks one-year air crash survival

    Recuperating governor seeks forgiveness
    Recuperating Governor of  Taraba State, Danbaba Danfulani Suntai caused an emotional scene when he stormed the Unity Chapel Church (UCC) in Government House, Jalingo for thanks giving at the weekend.
    Suntai was pronounced dead when an aircraft he piloted crashed near Yola, the Adamawa State capital, on Thursday, October 25 last year.
    He spent 10 months in Germany and United States hospitals for treatment, returning on August 25.
    He wrote the House of Assembly of his readiness to resume duty but was stopped by the lawmakers on health grounds.
    Last Friday was exactly one year since the governor and his Aide de Camp (ADC) Iliya Dasat, Chief Detail Joel Danladi and Chief Security Officer (CSO) Tino Dangana who were also on board the ill-fated Cessna 208 aircraft survived the air mishap.
    The three aides who were treated in Germany were with the governor during the thanksgiving service. Also accompanying the governor were his wife Hauwa, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) GT Kataps and Chief of Staff, Aminu Jika, among other aides.
    Suntai’s thanksgiving ceremony came a few days after he went out for a fishing expedition to shake off officialdom.
    The congregation was all tears on seeing him. The tears of joy  followed  the governor’s speech, which turned out to be the morning sermon for the worshipers.
    “I thank God that I survived the air crash to see this day. I am happy to reunite with you again,” Suntai said.
    He thanked Taraba residents for their prayers on him which he said have helped him.
    The governor preached forgiveness and asked everybody whom he said he may have offended to forgive him.
    “Do not hold anything against your enemy or anyone at heart. For me and my family, we have forgiven all our adversaries,” he said.
    Suntai said what God has done and shown him, even if he drops dead today (on Friday) he would die a fulfilled mortal.

     

  • Taraba acting governor reaffirms loyalty to Suntai

    Taraba acting governor reaffirms loyalty to Suntai

    The Acting Governor of Taraba State, Alhaji Garba Umar, on Tuesday reaffirmed his complete loyalty to ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai.

    Umar made the declaration during his meeting with traditional rulers and local government chairmen in Jalingo.

    He 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 Governor Suntai is improving by the day,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the acting governor as saying at the forum.

    Umar urged the people of the state to support the good programmes of Suntai’s administration, which he was carrying on with to ensure the rapid development of the state.

    The Chairman of Ussa Local Government Council, Mr. Abershi Musa, 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.

     

  • PDP committee affirms Umar as Taraba Ag. governor

    PDP committee affirms Umar as Taraba Ag. governor

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Fact-Finding Committee on the health condition of Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba has affirmed Alhaji Garba Umar as the Acting Governor of the state.

    Briefing Journalists after about a two-hour close door meeting, the committee Chairman, Sen. Hope Uzodima, stated that the impasse had been resolved with all stakeholders including Suntai’s wife, Hauwa.

    He said the acting governor should from time-to-time for consultation with Suntai on major political issues in the state, while he (Suntai) recuperates.

    The committee chairman further stressed that the issue was a purely PDP in-house problem which, as a family, could be sorted out amicably.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Suntai returned to the state on August 25, after 10 months of medical treatment abroad, following his involvement in a plane crash in October 2012.

    Uzodima’s committee, which was received at the Jalingo airport by the acting governor and many top government functionaries, visited Suntai briefly in his official residence.

    NAN also reports that two parallel organs of governments were being run in the state before Tuesday’s resolution as three commissioners had complied with the purported dissolution of the State Executive Council.

    The three commissioners had handed over their offices to the permanent secretaries of the ministries while four commissioners did not comply.

     

  • Taraba Speaker to Suntai: Go back to hospital

    Taraba Speaker to Suntai: Go back to hospital

    The Speaker of Taraba State House of Assembly, Haruna Tsokwa, on Thursday ordered Governor Danbaba Suntai to go back to the hospital for treatment until he is “capable of administering the state.”

    In a press release, signed by Tsokwa, the House said the Deputy Governor Garba Umar, remains acting governor.

    16, out of the 24-member House signed that Suntai should not resume on health grounds.

    Those for Umar include: Haruna Tsokwa (Takum I constituency), Tamko Adamu (Gassol I), Mohammed Gwampo (Yorro), Josiah Sabo Kente (Wukari I), Mohamed Umar (Gashaka), Ibrahim Imam (Jalingo I), Yahaya Abduraman (Gassol II) and Iratsi Daki (Ussa).

    Others are: Rashia Abdullahi (Ngoroje), Aminu Jalingo (Jalingo II), Emmanuel Dame (Ardo-Kola), John Bonzema (Zing), AA Jugulde (Gembu), Hamandama Abdullahi (Bali II), Abdulkarim Mohammed (Ibbi) and Edward Baraya (Karim II).

    Tsokwa said the House met with the governor on Tuesday, but the governor spoke in a manner that brought more doubt to his authorship of the letter purportedly transmitted to the House.

    The Speaker said: “it is no longer news that the Governor of Taraba State, Pharm. Danbaba Danfulani Suntai was involved in plane crash on October 25, 2012, whereof, he was flown to Germany for treatment in a condition that made him incapable of transmitting a letter to the Taraba State House of Assembly, informing it of his absence in office.

    “The House invoked the provisions of Section 190(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and transmitted power to his deputy to act the office of the governor of Taraba State.

    “We are all living witnesses to the way and manner the governor was brought into the state on Sunday, August 25.

    “The leadership of the Taraba State House of Assembly made several efforts to see him since his arrival, but till yesterday (Wednesday) August 28 that they were allowed access to the ailing governor. And their visit revealed that he spoke in a manner that brought more doubt to his authorship of the letter purportedly transmitted to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly.”

     

     

     

  • Lawmaker wants Taraba Assembly to commence impeachment process against Suntai

    Lawmaker wants Taraba Assembly to commence impeachment process against Suntai

    Deputy Whip of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rotimi Abiru has urged the Taraba State House of Assembly to immediately commence the impeachment process of the ailing Governor of the state, Danbaba Suntai, saying “the governor is incapacitated and unfit to continue governing the state”.
    Speaking in a telephone chat yesterday , Abiru who is representing Shomolu 2 constituency in the Assembly, expressed surprise at the dissolution of the Taraba State cabinet by Suntai.
    According to the lawmaker, “this is a man that just returned after been hospitalized for about ten months and while people are still having doubts about his ability and fitness to continue as the governor of the state, the next thing he could think of is to dissolve a cabinet that has been running the affairs of the state since he became incapacitated.
    “Since he returned, he has not thought it wise to address the state;  he communicated to the House of Assembly through a letter, though, there is nothing wrong in writing a letter to the House of Assembly, but if he is truly fit to continue governing the state, I see no reason why by now he has not addressed the state.
    “These people in his absence were praying for his quick recovery so that he could come back and continue his job, but now that he has returned, he could not even address the state to say common ‘thank you’, that is very bad. So the state House of Assembly should immediately commence his impeachment process if he fails to address the state before the end of the week.
    “If they fail to do what is right, they should have it at the back of their minds that posterity will judge them. Also, his party the Peoples Democratic Party should come in and do what is right by allowing his deputy to take over, so that they won’t tarnish this democracy that took a lot of time to gain,” Abiru added.
  • Suntai speaks, inaugurates SSG, COS

    Suntai speaks, inaugurates SSG, COS

    Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba state on Wednesday evening  addressed the people of Taraba state, commending them for their prayers to recover fast.

    The governor’s address was televised on the Taraba Television (TTV) during the state news.

    Suntai congratulated the people for the state’s 22 birthday which came on Monday August 27.

    In the statewide broadcast, Suntai is seen and heard thanking the people and asking them to live in peace.

    Suntai also inaugurated the newly appointed Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Barr. GT Kataps and the new Chief of Staff, Mallam Aminu Jika urging them to work in the interest of the people.

    The leadership of the House of Assembly also met with the governor .

    The Speaker Haruna Tsokwa was not present for comments, but Suntai’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS) Hassan Mijinyawa said the Speaker said their conversation with Suntai was “meaningful”.

    Tsokwa had on Monday alleged that the House leaders were prevented from seen the governor.

  • Taraba Speaker misinterpreting the constitution – Commissioner

    Taraba Speaker misinterpreting the constitution – Commissioner

    The crisis over Taraba Governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai’s resumption of work continued across the state on Wednesday.

    The state Commissioner for Justice, Barr. G.T Kataps, on Wednesday accused the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Haruna Tsokwa, of misinterpreting the constitution.

    “Misinterpreting the law, as the Taraba Speaker is doing is capable of causing discord to our people who may not have access to the constitution and may not know the correct position of the law,” he said.

    Kataps said that Suntai has indeed returned to work.

    He briefed reporters in his office, State Secretariat, Jalingo –the state capital shortly before the cabinet was dissolved by Governor Suntai.

    The Speaker on Tuesday disagreed with the House Majority Leader Hon. Joseph Albasu over Suntai’s purported resumption of work.

    Suntai was injured when a plane he piloted crashed near Yola, Adamawa State, on October 25, last year.

    He returned to Jalingo on Sunday after a 10-month stay in German and American hospitals.

    On Monday, he transmitted a letter to the House of Assembly, informing the lawmakers of his readiness to begin work. But while the House Majority Leader and other members of the House proclaimed Suntai as physically and mentally fit to govern, the Speaker, who thought otherwise, insisted that Suntai must appear on the floor of the House and speak to them.

    The governor’s return has divided the House of Assembly and the entire state.

     

     

  • Suntai has resumed, says divided Taraba Assembly

    Governor of Taraba State, Danbaba Suntai has resumed work. His deputy, Alhaji Garba Umar is no longer acting but deputy governor, a section of the State House of Assembly said on Tuesday.
    Suntai returned into the country on Sunday after spending 10 months in Germany and United States, treating the injuries he sustained when a plane he piloted crashed near Yola, Adamawa State on October 25, last year.
    On Monday he transmitted a letter to the legislature, informing them of his readiness to begin work.
    The House Majority Leader, Hon. Joseph Albasu who briefed reporters at the state Assembly Complex, Jalingo, Tuesday  said the House received the governor’s letter and gave him the go ahead to take charge, having fulfilled the provision of the Nigerian Constitution.
    Albasu is representing Lau constituency in the Assembly. The Speaker, Haruna Tsokwa was not present but Albasu said he was speaking on behalf  of every member. With him at the briefing were: Hon. Charles Maijankai (Karim-Lamido constituency), Ishaya Gani (Wukari) and another member representing.
    The Taraba Assembly also said Suntai was physically and mentally fit to govern.
    But a section of the House is alleging that the signature appended on the governor’s letter is not Suntai’s.
    The members, believed to be pro-Umar also said they were stopped from seeing Suntai, “an indication that he is not fit”.
    But Albasu refuted the allegation, citing mischief.
    “We saw Governor Suntai in New York and now that he has returned, and judging from the conversation we had with him, the governor is sound to resume work”, Albasu said.
    Showing the letter to journalists, the Majority Leader said the House has verified that the signature is Suntai’s. Whoever that is denying is only bringing confusion.
    “The governor could have thump printed the letter, if he wished, provided forensic test shows he is the one.”
    The Majority Leader said: “Pharm. Danbaba Suntai who is the Executive Governor of Taraba State has transmitted a letter to this very House indicating his intention to resume work and take over the functions of the state as the executive governor.
    “The letter was caused and addressed to the Taraba State House of Assembly, and I, as the Majority Leader being the Chairman of the business of this Assembly received the letter.
    “The Clerk of the House acknowledged the letter and handed over to the Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly Hon. Haruna Tsokwa.
    “Governor Suntai has complied with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in Section 190(2)”.
    The other group wants Suntai to appear before the House.
    But the House majority leader yesterday maintained that the Constitution does not compel a governor to appear before the house on the matter in contention.
    “The governor can even transmit a letter in soft copy via e-mail to the House. But Suntai went a step further to transmit a letter to us in hard copy, so what are those mischief makers talking about?
    He said it is even against the Constitution for the House to hold plenary on the matter.
    “This issue is not a debative matter anywhere in the worid. Governor Suntai has done exactly what the Constitution requires him to do”, he said.
  • Suntai arrives Jalingo

    Suntai arrives Jalingo

     Taraba State Governor, Captain Danbaba Danfulani Suntai has arrived the state capital Jalingo.
    He left the Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Centre and Home in New York the previous night and first landed in Abuja at the old wing of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, at about 1.10p.m before he was flown to Jalingo, the Taraba state capital.

    Suntai landed at the Jalingo Airport at about 3:40p.m. He was conveyed in a chattered white airplane marked 5N-12Y.

    Before then two advanced planes (also white coloured), marked N224BA and 5NBMR first landed at the state’s airport at 2:58pm and 3:37pm respectively.
    Security was very tight.
    As the plane conveying the governor landed, his wife, Hajiya Suntai first entered the plane apparently to greet her husband.
    Suntai’s deputy, Alhaji Garba Umar, who has been holding the fort also went in to the plane and greeted his boss. He came out.
    Suntai then alight from the plane –assisted by his wife into a red Range Rover –Sports HSC. The car had no registration number.
    Suntai waved at the people briefly. His body looked healthy but weak and tired.
    The governor was clad in a navy black suit with a blue strip shirt, without a tire on.
    He did not speak to the crowd; either he spoke to journalists there. But reporters were allowed to cover him even at close range amid the tight security.
    His natural fair skin complexion was radiant –unlike when he was pictured some months ago in the German hospital.
    The governor was conveyed in the red Range Rover –Sports HSC straight to the Government House, Jalingo.
    In the vehicle, he sat with his wife at the back row, him in the honour (right) seat.
    The glasses were wind down and he waved –with his hand inside the car, at the mammoth crowd along the road. People who saw him were shouting “ya dawo”, meaning he has come.
    Others said “shi ne”, meaning he is the one.
    Others did not catch a glimpse of him due to the tight security presence and huge crowd.
    Our Jalingo reporter saw him, as he pictured him.
    Security personnel were seen escorting the governor’s car on foot.
    Truckloads of security men –police and the army were in front and behind of the governor’s car, to lead and guard.
    The deputy governor’s car and a few other vehicles followed.
    From the airport, they drove Suntai through the Road Block, enroute Hammaruwa Way via Barde Way into the Government House.
    By virtue of his return yesterday, Umar ceases to operate in the capacity of acting governor.
    It also means Suntai has reclaimed his seat.
    Suntai’s return into the Government House, Jalingo yesterday also put to rest the succession saga that has been heating up Taraba in the last 10 months.