A twist was added to the unfolding political drama in Taraba State on Thursday morning as 16 out of the 24 members of the Taraba State House of Assembly barred ailing state governor, Danbaba Suntai, from resuming work, because of his feeble state.
The decision of the lawmakers followed a prolonged meeting with the governor last night, during which, they came to grips with the true state of his health.
In a statement released to journalists, the 16 lawmakers insisted that Suntai was unfit to resume and that they doubted the author of the letter, which was sent to the House of Assembly on Monday.
Based on their assessment of Suntai, the lawmakers authorised Garba Umar, his deputy, who has been acting as the governor of the state in the last ten months, to continue to hold fort until Suntai was fit to steer the ship of state.
The 16 lawmakers opposed to Suntai’s resumption of work, are led by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Haruna Tsokwa, who had on Tuesday warned that Suntai could not resume unless he addressed them.
The Speaker, who is believed to be loyal to the acting governor, was also at the ‘meeting’ with Suntai on Wednesday night.