Suntai not as incapacitated Taraba govt

Taraba State Executive Council has demanded Speaker of the State House of Assembly to constitute a medical team to investigate the health status of the executive Governor, Danbaba Danfulani Suntai, to ascertain whether he has the ability to assume duty as governor.

This was among the resolutions taken at the end of the weekly meeting of the council headed by the state Acting Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar UTC.

Sources at the Government House, Jalingo, venue of the meeting revealed that already, an executive memo has been sent to the Speaker of the House, Hon. Josiah Sabo Kente to effect the constitution of the medical team.

This indicates the culmination of the impeachment process against Governor Suntai, who developed brain problem after sustaining injuries during a plane crash he piloted outside Yola town in Adamawa State about two years ago, which forced him to stay out of office and public functions.

Meanwhile, the state executive council, has debunked reports as been circulated in some social media declaring Governor Danbaba Suntai incapacitated saying it is false.

The Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of Taraba state, Barrister Musa Tende, stated the position of the government while briefing newsmen after the weekly state executive council meeting held yesterday at the Government House, Jalingo.

Tende said the state executive council members do not have the power to declare Governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai as incapacitated but only experts, who are doctors that can do so.

The Commissioner said the exco invoked its power under section one hundred and eighty-nine sub-section one A and B of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to unanimously resolve to send a letter to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly to verify whether the state executive Governor is in the position to resume and will be able to perform his official functions.

He said only the Speaker of the state House of Assembly has the constitutional power to use section one hundred and eighty-nine sub-section four of the constitution to set up a medical panel to verify the declaration of the Governor as stipulated.

The Commissioner further explained that it is the responsibility of the state executive council to protect the public against any circumstance generated through rumour mongering and avert all forms of breach of the constitution.

Tende however stated that the constitution did not spell out any period given to the Speaker, but that the Speaker should consider the situation on ground to manage the matter while urging the public to shun the speculations on the state of leadership in Taraba.