The Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) is considering its options in replacing Governor Danbaba
Suntai of Taraba State as it is becoming clearer he is unlikely to recover from
his head injuries. The governor, who was in a plane crash at the Yola International
Airport in Adamawa two months ago, is currently in hospital in Hanover,
Germany. Several sources revealed to Saharareporters, a web news service, that
the party is working with the Presidency to find a suitable replacement for the
governor.
According to one source, several party leaders, including PDP
chairman, Bamanga Tukur, Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and Senate
President, David Mark, have all visited the ailing governor and concluded that
he could never recover from brain injury to run the state.
A separate
delegation led by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal,
failed to set eyes on the governor during an attempted visit two weeks ago as
he had been moved to the intensive care unit and on life support.
He and his four companions could only leave a get well message
with Suntai’s doctors. Saharareporters also learnt that last week, Suntai’s
personal doctor visited Nigeria and confided in family members and friends that
the governor is unlikely to recover from his head injuries anytime soon.
But as in the case of the late Nigerian president, Umaru
Yar’Adua, members of Suntai’s family have pressurised state officials to engage
in propaganda that the brain-damaged governor is “making dramatic” improvements
and speaking by telephone to some people in the state.
Last Saturday, the Taraba State Commissioner for Information,
Emmanuel Bello, denied reports that the governor suffers brain-damage, but when
asked to provide evidence, he only said the governor had spoken to a Senator.
Sources said none of the state officials have visited the
governor in Germany since he was airlifted from Nigeria. Other members of his
government who were hurt in the air crash have left hospitals in Germany and
returned to Nigeria.
On October 4, three weeks before Governor Suntai’s plane crash,
the Taraba House of Assembly impeached Deputy Governor Sani Abubakar Danladi
following allegations of “gross misconduct” leveled against him by a judicial
panel. On October 5, Alhaji Garba Umar was sworn in as Deputy Governor after he
signed an undertaking with the governor not to run as a candidate for governor
in any elections.
On November 14, the House of Assembly, invoking Section 190(2)
of the Nigerian Constitution, empowered Umar to act as governor. With the party
performing poorly in many states and at the centre, the PDP is anxious not to
lose Taraba to other political parties.
A source at the presidency said the party has been mandated to
make formal announcements after the holiday seasons regarding the status of Mr.
Suntai. Meanwhile, the acting governor appears working fully as governor
already by making internal changes and putting structures in place to run the
state as the de facto governor.
Source: National Mirror
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