Some Taraba indigenes under the umbrella of Taraba Peoples Forum (TPF) have called on the state House of Assembly, to as a matter of necessity declare the sick Governor Danbaba Suntai incapacitated, and swear in the acting Governor Umaru Garba as the substantive governor
of the state, so as to ultimately end the confusion and disaffection threatening the stability and progress of the state.
The forum said one year is a good time to declare Suntai
incapacitated, urging the speaker and 16 other members of the state house of assembly to go beyond agreeing that Suntai is not well enough to govern the state, and allowed the acting governor to fully takeover.
Speaking on behalf of the forum at a press briefing Friday, in Abuja, former Minister of State, Water resources and Youth Development, Mrs. Salome Audu Jankada, said Tarabans recognized the fact that there is an acting governor in the state but the act of governance in the state has to go on without waiting for the recovery of the sick governor.
According to her, anyone that knows the constitution of the country; if anything befalls the governor; either he dies or incapacitated as the case is today in Taraba automatically the deputy governor takes over; whether his is pagan, Muslim or Christian; what the constitution says is the deputy should takeover.
?Our governor (Suntai) is incapacitated, and we wish him well, but we are saying that if he brought this acting governor as his deputy; and now when he became incapacitated, it is only natural that he takes over from him; it is not debatable as one does not fight the will of God.
?We stand to support the acting governor, as the time has come for him to be sworn and that his proper place as a governor; and people should stop playing politics with Suntai, because his life is worth more than the governorship position.
?Umar since within this one year as the acting governor has done things that gladdens the heart of all Tarabans, because within this short time; our children, husbands, wives and brothers who were not paid their minimum wage got paid the same; and are now collecting their salaries according the minimum wage; also is the payment and upgrading of gratuity due to retirees.
?On behalf of the 16 local governments in Taraba State, we are saying that we are fully in support of the acting governor to be given the proper position of the governorship, if he can do what were are witnessing in the state today, in his acting capacity; we are sure when the state assembly gives him the proper position, he will do
better.?
She added: ?We refused the confusion that Senator Emmanuel Buchwa is trying to cause in the state by calling for power shit to southern zone of the state; it is only aimed at bringing disaffection and disunity among the people of the state regarding the issue; and we are saying that case should be rested because we have not gotten to 2015.
?We refuse a situation where people will be manipulating the development in the state because of selfish reasons, towards the governorship race in 2015; as it belongs to Almighty God; the senator should go and mind his business in the National Assembly because we do know that even as we have elected the members of the national assembly; and when they pass laws, they are binding on us.?
