• They were Handpicked By Acting Governor, Says Suntai’s Loyalist
A five man medical team to ascertain the actual health condition of Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State has been constituted by the leadership of the state House of Assembly.
In a press statement signed and made available to journalists yesterday in Jalingo, the need to constitute the panel, according to the Speaker of the House, Josiah Sabo Kente, has become necessary, following the unanimous decision of members of the Executive Council of the state to embark on the process.
It would be recall that during their last Executive meeting in the state, the Council collectively beckoned at the House to, as a matter of urgency, constitute the required number of medical team to investigate the health of Gov. Suntai.
The five-man panel, which is to be chair by Professor B.B Shehu, has Dr. inusa Sumaila, Professor Peter Alabi, Dr.Shehu Sule and Dr. Ahmed Kara, the personal physician to Governor Suntai, as members.
Part of the release, which was personally signed by the speaker reads: “Consequent upon the receipt of the resolution of the Taraba State Executive Council Meeting on the September 10, 2014, evoking the provision of section 189 (1) (b) and 189 (4) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), whichever requested me to appoint a medical panel to verify the health condition of the Executive Governor of Taraba State, Danbaba D. Suntai, I hereby constitute the medical team…”
In a swift reaction, a source from the camp of the state governor, who craved for anonymous told The Guardian on a telephone that the case “is already in the court,” hence the need to remain mute.
He however felt sad that the leadership of the House and the cabinet members are being manipulated by the acting governor of the state, Alhaji Garba Umar, whom according to him, single handily picked members of the medical panel.
According to him, “the list was prepared and forwarded to the speaker by the acting governor, because I’m sure that if the speaker is asked to identify those panel members, he cannot identify them.”
Though no time frame was given to the panel to complete their investigation and report back to the House, a source from the House told our reporter that, “I believe the panel will not waste time in swinging into action,” adding that the “ only thing that would hinder them as I have foreseen is when those shielding the governor away from the public, refuse them access to the governor.”
Source: Guardian
