Taraba Assembly Adopts Resolution Empowering Deputy Governor To Continue In Acting Capacity, As Suntai Loyalists Plot New Power-Grab Schemes

The Taraba State Assembly, led by the
DeputySpeaker, Tanko Maikarsi, today passed a
fresh resolution asking the Deputy Governor,
Garba Umar, to continue as Acting Governor in
view of the incapacitation of Governor Danbaba
Suntai.
The resolution was a follow up to a press
statement issued by the House last week after
he met with its leadership declaring that Mr.
Suntai was in no condition to run the state in
view of his poor health.
Today’s resolution, which was signed by nine of
the 16 members loyal to the acting governor,
effectively puts a legal stamp on the position of
the acting governor.
Also today, the Secretary to the State
Government, Garvey Yaro, originally appointed
by Acting Governor Umar returned to his office
and carried out his official duties.
Mr. Timothy Kataps, the former Attorney-
General, was appointed to the position by
Suntai last week but the intervention of the
House prevented him from assuming the office.
The return to work of the SSG is a big blow to
the cabal led by Suntai’s wife and Senator
Emmanuel Bwatcha, who had spearheaded the
audacious effort to manipulate Taraba State
under the umbrella of a governor doctors say is
unlikely to regain full functionality.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sunati remains marooned at the
Governor’s Lodge with the two medical
personnel that accompanied him from the
United States, as well as his younger brother,
Babangida.
Sources told SaharaReporters that Acting
Governor Umar is still in Abuja after leading
Taraba State delegates to the explosive Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) convention in Abuja at
the weekend. In the federal capital, he is said
to be facing pressure from Suntai’s supporters
not to contest the 2015 elections so that one of
the Suntai’s loyalists can run.
The cabal is also said to be considering a legal
option with the aid of Damian Dodo (SAN), who
has reportedly assembled a high-powered team.
But the cabal is afraid that a drawn out legal
process my completely destroy their agenda to
frustrate the control of the state by the acting
governor and his loyalists.
Also in Taraba today, a source in the state
government denied reports that banks were not
honoring cheques issues by the acting governor,
asserting that the state was carrying out
normal financial transactions and today paid
allowances to several aides of the acting
governor.
UPDATE: SaharaReporters has received
information that Mr. Suntai loyalists have filed
a lawsuit in Taraba aimed as stopping the
acting governor. We will make details availables
as soon as we get more information.