I WILL CONTEST IN 2015 IF GIVEN OPPORTUNITY -TARABA ACTING GOV Acting Governor of Taraba State, Alhaji Garba Umar, yesterday said he will contest for the state’s gubernatorial seat in 2015 if given the opportunity to do so by the people. The statement marked the first time the acting governor confirmed his interest in vying for the governorship, a position he has come under intense pressure not to contest in 2015. Umar, who made the statement during an interactive session with newsmen in Jalingo, explained that he has seen various billboards beckoning on him to run, but said he is still waiting for the people’s calls before throwing his hat into the ring. “Well, I am waiting for their calls. If they ask me to come out, I will come out. I am for the people. I am for the masses and if the masses are happy with my performance, why can’t I come out?” On when Governor Danbaba Suntai would be returning to the Government House, Umar said he cannot tell because he has not been able to meet with Suntai since his return from medical trip in London. He said: “I wouldn’t know because I have never set my eyes on him. If I had met him, maybe I would have known why he is still in Abuja.” He explained that his efforts to meet the governor at the airport was tactically thwarted by some people who had misinformed him that the plane conveying Suntai was going to land at the local wing of the airport when it was billed to land at the international wing. “I was there (the local wing) for about 10-15 minutes and then I got a call that the plane was going to land at the international wing and before I could get there, he had already entered the car and I stood by the aircraft as the car passed. That was it.” On security challenges in some parts of the state, Umar said peace has returned and efforts were on to ensure the safe return of displaced persons to their homes, adding that a reconciliation and restoration committee has been constituted to handle that.
Posted on: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 12:57:41 +0000