Taraba Crisis: Governor Suntai’s Camp Warns Bamanga Tukur

The political camp of ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba has warned the National Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bamanga Tukur, not to support any faction in the ongoing political crisis in the state.

The group spoke through the former commissioner of information in the state, Emmanuel Bello, who issued a press release on Saturday. “If Tukur takes sides in the ongoing imbroglio, we vehemently resist him,” the statement said.

“We also deny in the harshest terms, Tukur’s assertion that Suntai run a government by proxy. Rather the deputy governor, Umar Garba is the one attempting to run a parallel government,” Mr. Bello said in the statement.

Mr. Tukur had while speaking in a media chat on Friday in Abuja said, “People want areas they could see opportunities. You know politics of interests and intrigues. Having realized the feeble condition which Suntai is, they want to take over governance by proxy. We don’t do that. But we are ready.

We are going to resolve the problem.” Mr. Bello, however, advised the PDP Chairman to be guided by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, should he decide to wade into the crisis. “Our country is guided by the constitution, and we can’t afford to be lawless,” he said. Confusion over Suntai’s whereabouts Meanwhile, there is still confusion in the state over the whereabouts of Mr. Suntai.

A resident of the state, Sadiq Waziri, told PREMIUM TIMES over the phone that “Yesterday (Friday) we saw a private jet take off and I can tell you that I also saw the first lady boarding and I ask; can she travel and leave her husband alone in Jalingo with what is going on?”

But a top government official in the state informed newsmen on Saturday evening that the first lady, Hauwa Danbaba Suntai, actually travelled to Abuja and returned at around 10 a.m. on Saturday. He also said she can afford to travel because “she basically does nothing for him. He came back with two specialists from the U.S. who are taking care of him.

I can assure you that he is in Jalingo.” Mr. Suntai returned to the state last week after 10 months receiving treatment abroad following a plane crash. The Taraba Assembly has asked the governor to continue recuperating while his deputy continues to act as governor.

However, the governor’s camp insist he has returned to the country and has resumed office following a letter he sent to the speaker.

Source: Legit.ng