Indications are rife that Taraba State Governor, Mr. Danbaba Suntai, may dissolve the State Executive Council “any moment” from now, even as he has officially notified the state House of Assembly of his return from medical treatment abroad, and “resumption of duties”.
The move may be the anti-climax of a protracted power tussle between Suntai and his Deputy, Alhaji Garba Umar.
Before Suntai’s return to Nigeria on Sunday, after a 10-month absence in Germany and America, it was gathered that Umar had perfected moves to effectively take over the reins of power as governor.
Umar had, during Suntai’s absence, allegedly orchestrated the sacking of principal officers of the state legislature.
He had followed up in July by sacking 11 top appointees of Suntai.
The governor’s return, it was learnt, has already sent jitters down the spines of the state legislators, some of whom, not wanting to lose out politically, have begun serious political realignments.
Suntai, who underwent series of medical treatment abroad as a result of head and limb injuries sustained when his aircraft crashed last October, on Monday formally notified the Assembly Speaker, Hon. Haruna Tsokwa, of his return.
Suntai’s sudden return and letter to the Speaker, it was gathered, have greatly unsettled the Umar camp.
The legislators, it was learnt, had Assembly replied the governor, asking him to come and address them on the floor of the House to prove that he is capable of performing his official duties.
Legal experts said that, by transmitting a letter notifying Speaker Tsokwa of his return, Suntai has fulfilled the provisions of Section 190 (2) of the Nigerian Constitution as amended.
“Section 190 (2) makes it mandatory for a governor who has returned from a leave he or she embarked on with or without the knowledge of the Assembly, to transmit a letter to the Speaker that he or she is back.
“By the provision of that section, the governor on AWOL assumes full powers the moment such letter is transmitted, even if by email,” a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who prefers not to be named, submitted.
The senior lawyer scoffed at reports that the Assembly may sit to consider Suntai’s letter.
“Consider what? There is nothing to consider. The governor has played his part by transmitting a letter to the Speaker. Whatever the Speaker does with the letter is none of anybody’s business. The Assembly, I believe, should have members who are lawyers. They should know better,” he added.
On claims by Umar that he remains acting governor until the Assembly considers Suntai’s letter, the lawyer dismissed it as “idle talk.”
He stressed, “I don’t want to believe deputy governor said that. It will be sad if he actually said that because you cannot have a governor and an acting governor at the same time. As far as the law is concerned, until Suntai is removed from office, he remains the governor and Umar, his deputy.”
It would be recalled that in late April, the state Assembly sacked its principal officers who were primarily considered Suntai’s loyalists, and prominent politicians blamed the change of guard in the Assembly on Umar.
Hardly had the dust on the Assembly palace coup settled than Umar, on July 9, sacked 10 principal appointees of Suntai, including the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ambassador Emmanuel Njiwah.
While Umar said the sack of the SSG, six commissioners and four advisers was in compliance with the recommendations of the Assembly, some argued that it was political vendetta since all the affected officials were considered Suntai’s loyalists.
Umar was nominated by Suntai to become deputy governor after the Assembly impeached the former deputy governor, Sani Abubakar.
Suntai’s plane crashed three weeks after Umar’s swearing-in as deputy governor.
Three weeks after the air accident, Umar was made acting governor by the state legislators.
The sack of the House leadership and top appointees of Suntai, some argue, were acts of desperation by Umar to supplant Suntai as governor.
Meanwhile, the Acting Governor of Taraba, Alhaji Garba Umar, has lauded the people of the state for turning out peacefully to welcome Governor Danbaba Suntai back to the state.
Umar made the commendation in a short address on Monday in Jalingo.
He also thanked the people of the state for the show of love and affection to the ailing governor.
However, a group known as Coalition of Taraba Youth Movement, has called on the state’s House of Assembly to summon Suntai to speak to the people of the state.
The President of the coalition, Malam Abubakar Waziri, made the call at a news conference on Monday in Jalingo.
Waziri noted that people of the state had been praying for the ailing governor for the past 10 months and now that he had returned, the uncertainty surrounding his health should be put to rest.
“We want Governor Suntai to speak to the people of the state, either through the media or at the House of Assembly.
“The state is in a state of confusion now because the people do not know what to believe,” he said.
Some constitutional lawyers in Abuja yesterday said governance in Taraba was built around an individual instead of institutions, and described the situation as sad.
The lawyers further described the situation as unfortunate as some people were making things difficult for the deputy governor to perform his duties.
“So, if Governor Danbaba Suntai is not around then, the development of the state and the policy thrust of governance must come to a standstill.”
Mr Jibrin-Samuel Okutepa, a lawyer, said people should begin to realise that Nigeria or any part thereof was greater than any individual, no matter how highly placed in the society.
He said it was so unfortunate for anyone in the state of mental and physical unfitness to want to cling to power, not minding the challenges facing him.
Okutepa said that for Suntai to transmit a letter of fitness and intention to resume work to the Taraba State House of Assembly was in fulfilment of Section 190 sub-section 2 of the constitution.
In his remarks, a human rights lawyer, Mr Festus Keyamo, said that going back to work was not so significant at this time for Suntai, rather he should endeavour to make a state-wide broadcast to the people.
He said this action was the only way to assure the people that “all is well with him”.
Keyamo also noted that “What he did by writing to the House was constitutional, but he needs to clear the air on the state of his health and eligibility to face the rigours of office’’.
According to him, if the governor fails to address the public then, there can be need for a comprehensive medical examination for mental and physical fitness.
Keyamo cautioned the loyalists of the governor against playing politics with the health of their principal in their own selfish interest.
Our correspondent reports that Suntai has not uttered a word neither has he made any public appearance as his family and personal aides said that his doctors had advised that he should rest for at least 72 hours after his return.