The Taraba State House of Assembly on Wednesday confirmed the Deputy Governor of the state, Alhaji Umar Garba, as the Acting Governor of the state.
This is coming three weeks after the Governor of the state, Mr Danbaba Suntai, survived a plane crash in Adamawa state. He has since being receiving treatment in Germany for injuries sustained in the crash.
The confirmation of Alhaji Garba occurred after a motion was moved by the majority leader of the House Honourable Charles Maijankai representing Karim-Lamido I constituency.
The House session was chaired by the Speaker of the House, Honourable Istifanus Haruna Gbana, which had 18 members in attendance out of its 24 members.
Quoting Section 190 (2) of the constitution, the majority leader stated that “since the governor has not officially given his deputy that power and because of his absence the house has that power to confirm his deputy in that capacity.”
Reacting to the confirmation, the state Commissioner of Information, Mr Emmanuel Bello said that what the state House of Assembly did is in line with the provisions of the nation’s constitution.
“We are living in a democratic society and we have to live by the tenet of democracy, the house has just prove to us that they are true democrats by confirming the deputy governor in acting capacity pending the returned of the governor who has been away for treatment”
While calling on the people of the state to accord the Acting Governor the needed support, the Commissioner also called for more prayers for the speedy recovery of the governor and his aides.
Mr Bello revealed that the Governor and all his aides are responding to treatment and thank all Nigerians for their prayers.
24 hours ultimatum
Meanwhile an association known as “Safe Taraba Group” has given the Taraba State Government a 24 hours ultimatum to inform the people of the state the true state of health of the governor.
The leader of the group Ben Adaji while briefing journalists in Jalingo, the state capital, stated that since the governor is been treated with tax payers money, the tax payers need to be adequately furnished with the current health condition of the Governor.
Alhaji Suntai and three of his aides have for the past three weeks being in an undisclosed hospital in Germany, for treatment on injuries sustained in the plane crash, which the governor was piloting.