Guardian Suntai sues Speaker, seeks powers as gov WEDNESDAY, 04 SEPTEMBER 2013 00:00 FROM LEMMY UGHEGBE (ABUJA) AND CHARLES AKPEJI (JALINGO) NEWS - NATIONAL • Acting helmsman asked to continue • Says crisis now over TARABA State Governor Danbaba Suntai Tuesday added a legal dimension to his bid to resume his duties as he sued the Speaker and other members of the state House of Assembly. Suntai had on August 26, 2013 transmitted a letter to the Speaker, notifying him of his return after a 10-month absence and his readiness to take over his office as governor and responsibilities thereof. But the Speaker rejected the governor’s request on the grounds that the letter ought to be deliberated upon by the House before a decision could be reached on it. Accordingly, the State House of Assembly directed that the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, whom it had declared acting governor, should continue in that capacity pending a resolution of the House on Suntai’s letter. Piqued by what he considered a breach of his constitutional powers as governor by the House, Suntai approached the High Court in the state through Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN) vide originating summons, seeking redress. In a copy of the originating summons obtained by The Guardian, Izinyon argued that Suntai’s letter notifying the Speaker and the House of his return and intention to take over was not subject to their discretion to accept or reject. He wants the court to declare that by virtue of Section 190 (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the first and second defendants cannot by a statement or debate, interfere with, do anything in connection with or in relation to the letter transmitted by the plaintiff to the first defendant pursuant to the said Section 190 (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). Besides, the fact-finding committee of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on the actual health condition of Suntai has directed Umar to continue. But they said that he must seek clearance from Suntai before embarking on any major decision. The seven-man committee which was led by Senator Hope Uzodinma, which arrived the state at about 11.55 a.m. The Guardian can confirm, were received by Umar and some top government functionaries. Also on the panel were five of the indigenes of the state in the National Assembly: Senator Abubakar Umar Tutare, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, Ibrahim El-Sudi Tukur, Jerry Mamwe and Aminu Manle. The lawmakers went ahead to visit the governor in his house before commencing their closed-door meeting which lasted for about three hours. Before the meeting with stakeholders, Uzodima said PDP at the national level as well as the Presidency deemed it fit to urgently wade into the ongoing crisis following the important role the state had being playing in the nation’s politics. Briefing journalists immediately after the meeting, Uzodima said: “We support that the acting governor should continue to act and he should always consult with him (Suntai) and clear with him (Suntai) on major issues pending when he is ready to fully take over the governance of the state.” He added that “we have resolved the issue”, which according to him, “is a family issue,” noting that “we don’t have a crisis in Taraba State anymore.” The lawmaker noted that the “Governor of Taraba State is Governor Danbaba Suntai. He is relatively healthy and he has no disagreement with his deputy who is now the acting governor.” He added that Suntai “is also in support that the acting governor should continue to act and should always consult with him.” Though the governor was not at the meeting, his wife, Hauwa, as well as stakeholders from the two factions, were present. Earlier, while Uzodinma and his team were on their way to visit the governor at the Government House, a mild drama occurred as journalists were prevented from gaining access into the compound by security operatives. Umar said the intervention of the national headquarters of the PDP had resolved the political crisis in the state.
Posted on: Wed, 04 Sep 2013 07:14:53 +0000
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