Suntai Can't Talk With Deputy But Wants To Take Over Power; Assembly Disagrees

gHeavy tension is building in Taraba
State, OluFamous.Com gathered, which could degenerate into a
religious crisis between Christians and Muslims as the principal
actors are already playing the religion card.
The confusion in the state reached new heights on Wednesday as
the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr. Haruna Tsokwa and
the Majority Leader, Mr. Joseph Albasu, disagreed on who is now
in-charge of the affairs of the state as governor.
The speaker insisted that Deputy Governor Garba Umar remains
the governor:
And that would continue until the Assembly deliberated on the
letter by the recuperating Governor Danbaba Suntai seeking to
resume duty.
But the majority leader, Joseph Albasu, is claiming that Suntai had
already taken charge as the state’s Chief Executive. The Majority
Leader told journalists at the assembly complex in Jalingo that the
lawmakers gave the governor the nod to begin work since he had
fulfilled the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
Joseph Albasu, who said he was speaking for all the lawmakers,
added that the governor was mentally fit to carry out his duties.
He argued that the constitution did not make it mandatory for a
governor to appear before the assembly on the matter in
question, arguing that it was against the spirit of the constitution
for the assembly to debate the letter by Suntai.
But the Speaker faulted Joseph Albasu, saying Governor Suntai
must appear before the Assembly or receive its principal officers
in his office in the Government House, Jalingo.
“Governor Suntai has transmitted a letter to the Assembly, but his
deputy, Alhaji Umar, will continue to act, until this assembly
deliberates on his letter” and ascertain that he is indeed fit.