Keep Off Taraba, Suntai Warns Tukur
Political associates of Taraba State Governor, Danbaba Suntai, have warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur to steer clear of the state.
The warning came on the heels of a promise by Tukur to visit Taraba State immediately after the party’s special national convention and stop what he described as government by proxy.
However, Suntai’s political associates have advised the party national chairman to be mindful of the constitutional implications of his actions, and the consequences for the state.
The associates spoke through the immediate past Commissioner for Information, Hon. Emmanuel Bello.
They warned the PDP national chairman against what they described as acts of lawlessness even after Suntai had fulfilled the requirements of the Constitution by transmitting a letter conveying his return after a 10-month hospitalisation.
Bello advised Tukur to ward against being caught in the same web of contempt for the constitution the camp of deputy governor Garba Umar was trapped.
The associates drew Tukur’s attention to alleged contemptuous comments by Speaker of the state Assembly, Haruna Tsokwa, that he cannot be bothered by the provisions of the constitution.
According to Bello, the PDP national chairman should be more worried about Speaker Tsokwa’s penchant for stressing “as far as I am concerned” than visiting Taraba State.
“Tukur should enforce the provision of the Constitution as it relates to the Taraba debacle,” advised the former commissioner, warning, “if Tukur takes sides in the ongoing imbroglio, we shall vehemently resist him.”
Suntai’s associates rejected Tukur’s “proxy” theory, insisting that Umar’s insistence on running a parallel government was responsible for the impasse.
Pointblanknews.com had recently broken the story that a panel set up by the PDP national chairman to visit the United States and ascertain the health status of Governor Suntai was rebuffed by the governor’s wife.
After spending several days in the U.S., the governor’s handlers allowed Tukur’s delegation, which included his Special Assistant, access to the hospitalised governor.