The deputy governor of Taraba State, Garba Umar has been confirmed as the acting governor of the State at the end of a meeting which held in the Jalingo, the state capital yesterday.
Hence, Umar will continue to act as governor but the State Governor, Danbaba Suntai will remain in the Government House.
The resolution was reached by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Fact-Finding Committee on Suntai’s health condition after its meeting with key stakeholders at the Government House Executive Chambers.
They included : Umar, the governor’s wife Hajiya Hauwa Suntai, Speaker Haruna Tsokwa, Senators Emmanuel Bwacha and Abubakar Tutare, members of House of Representatives – Ishaka Bawa, Aminu Male, Jerry Manwe, Ibrahim Elsudi Tukur and a former Minister of Youth Development, Mrs. Salome Jankada, among others.
The members of the committee, headed by Senator Hope Uzodima, who were present are: Political Adviser to the President Ahmed Gulak, new PDP National Treasurer Alhaji Buhari Bala; Special Adviser to PDP Chairman on INEC and Interparty Affairs, Kabir Mohammed; SSA to Tukur on Political Affairs Abubakar Dada; SSA on NDDC Richard King; and a member of the Advisory Committee of PDP and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) board member, Mrs. Bolajoko Doherty.
The committee also paid a visit to the recuperating governor.
Uzodima confirmed that “the political impasse has been resolved by all the stakeholders”.
He said the acting governor will from time-to-time consult Governor Suntai on major political issues “while he (Suntai) recuperates”.
The acting governor appreciated the efforts of President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, for sending the committee to settle the crisis.
“Taraba is one”, he said adding: “All of us were witnesses to the fact that a week ago there were insinuations here and there about Taraba. In fact, Taraba became a household name in the country.
“But today, we thank God that all our differences have been solved and we are one.
“It was agreed that I will handle the affairs of the state until my principal (Suntai) is able to come back and resume duty as our governor.
“And in doing this, I will be consulting my boss while performing the functions of the acting governor.”
He promised to consult with him on the choice of members of the new state executive council to be constituted.
The crises began when Suntai eturned from his medical trip abroad and sent a letter to the House of Assembly and assumed office, of which majority of the House of Assembly members rejected the letter, on the grounds that it was not written by Suntai.
They had also alleged that Suntai was too indisposed to take charge of the state’s affairs. It could be recalled that Governor Suntai had sustained serious injuries while flying a private jet which crashed in Yola, Adamawa State October 25, 2012.
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