The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Fact-Finding Committee on the health condition of Gov. 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 Ag. Governor should from time-to-time be consulting with Suntai on major political issues in the state, while he (Suntai) continued to recuperate.
The committee chairman further stressed that the issue was a purely PDP in-house problem which, as a family, could be sorted out amicably.
Suntai returned to the state on Sunday, Aug. 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, Alhaji Garba Umar and many top government functionaries, visited Suntai briefly in his official residence.
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.
The Secretary to the State Government, the Chief of Staff, four commissioners loyal to Umar are occupying their offices following the acting governor’s statement asking the public to disregard the dissolution of cabinet.
This is a ‘wayo’ solution. What is the meaning of the caveat that the acting Governor should from time to time consult with Suntai on ‘major political issues’ in the state? Does that not presuppose that Suntai is in full control of his mental faculties? And if he is, then he should be considered fit enough to return to office.
The fact-finding mission has failed by sowing the seeds of future crisis in the state.
The solution should have simply been: Suntai should go and properly treat himself while the acting Governor continues. Let’s stop beating about the bush!
I agree with you here. They creating a perfect scenario for crisis and discord. If the governor is sick and unable to perform, his deputy takes over the full function of the office. What is their definition of major political issues?
And it is not a PDP internal affair, it is a Taraba internal affair, to be handled by the people through their elected reps.
PDP is over-reaching here and creating confusion.