From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos and Yusha'u Alhaasn Jalingo Power tussle between a cabal around the Taraba state governor, Danbaba Suntai and his deputy, Alhaji Garba Umar on one hand, and between the ailing governor and the state House of Assembly on the other, is currently threatening effective governance of the state.
Suntai, yesterday, purportedly announced the dissolution of the state executive council through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Sylvanus Giwa.
There was suspicion that the plot to sack all members of the cabinet may have been hatched by the ailing governor's cabal, who had provided a protective wall around him, denying Suntai's deputy, Umar and members of the Assembly and other top government functionaries access to him.
However, Umar, in his response to the announcement of the sack of the cabinet members early yesterday had said the government was intact, urging the people to ignore the directive purportedly dissolving the executive council.
But by evening yesterday, another twist was added to the unfolding drama in Taraba state when Suntai was shown on the local television, Taraba Television (TTV) as making a broadcast to the people, in which he thanked them for their sympathy and prayers, while urging them to live in peace.
He was also shown to have sworn-in a new Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Gibon Timothy Kataps and the new Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mallam Aminu Jika. Kataps was the attorney general and commissioner for justice in the cabinet that was dissolved yesterday.
But, there were fears that the television broadcast may have been stage-managed by the cabal around the governor as journalists in television and radio stations, including the NTA, AIT, FRCN were not at the event.
The suspicion that the broadcast may have been stage-managed was raised by most journalists operating in the state, who pointed out that the voice in the broadcast appeared to be that of a sick man, "but was not distinct".
The atmosphere in Jalingo, the state capital, as at the time of filing this report, was tense as people were confused over the state of governance in the state, even as high wired negotiations were said to have been on between some members of the Taraba House of Assembly and Suntai's loyalists to ensure the return power to the ailing governor.
In the meantime, a lawmaker in the state said they were allowed to meet with Suntai yesterday, but simply told newsmen that the talks with the ailing governor were "meaningful".
In announcing the dissolution at the cabinet early yesterday, Giwa said those who lost their jobs included all the commissioners and special advisers.
The Suntai aide, who said the dissolution and appointments were with immediate effect, directed former members of the state Exco to hand over to the permanent secretaries in their respective ministries.
Asked if the development will not throw the state into further crises, Mr. Giwa told a correspondent of the Hausa service of the BBC that, "the reason (for the cabinet shake up) is to strengthen the government".
Asked why Suntai was yet to come out and address the people of the state, three days after his return, the SSA said, "he'll surely come out to address the public".
But the acting governor, Umar, yesterday urged the people of Taraba to remain calm and go about their normal duties.
Umar, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Kefas Sule, deliberations were on at the top to resolve the current impasse in the state.
He however said, it was the state House of Assembly that passed a resolution making him acting governor, and that it was the same House that should transfer power back to the governor.
He said he was yet to brief his principal, Suntai, on developments in the state while he was away for medical treatment abroad.
The acting governor said citizens would be informed of the outcome of the consultations he intended to have with his boss in due course.
In another development, Kefas, has said that no condition was attached to the transmission of a letter of resumption of office by the governor to the state House of Assembly.
He stated this yesterday in his office while briefing newsmen shortly after the dissolution of the state executive council.
According to Kefas, Section 90(2) of the 1999 Constitution made it categorically clear that the governor was only expected to communicate to the House of Assembly that he has resumed duty, which he did.
He said no section of the Constitution compelled Governor Suntai to appear in person before the Assembly before his resumption of duty.
Suntai, yesterday, purportedly announced the dissolution of the state executive council through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Sylvanus Giwa.
There was suspicion that the plot to sack all members of the cabinet may have been hatched by the ailing governor's cabal, who had provided a protective wall around him, denying Suntai's deputy, Umar and members of the Assembly and other top government functionaries access to him.
However, Umar, in his response to the announcement of the sack of the cabinet members early yesterday had said the government was intact, urging the people to ignore the directive purportedly dissolving the executive council.
But by evening yesterday, another twist was added to the unfolding drama in Taraba state when Suntai was shown on the local television, Taraba Television (TTV) as making a broadcast to the people, in which he thanked them for their sympathy and prayers, while urging them to live in peace.
He was also shown to have sworn-in a new Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Gibon Timothy Kataps and the new Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mallam Aminu Jika. Kataps was the attorney general and commissioner for justice in the cabinet that was dissolved yesterday.
But, there were fears that the television broadcast may have been stage-managed by the cabal around the governor as journalists in television and radio stations, including the NTA, AIT, FRCN were not at the event.
The suspicion that the broadcast may have been stage-managed was raised by most journalists operating in the state, who pointed out that the voice in the broadcast appeared to be that of a sick man, "but was not distinct".
The atmosphere in Jalingo, the state capital, as at the time of filing this report, was tense as people were confused over the state of governance in the state, even as high wired negotiations were said to have been on between some members of the Taraba House of Assembly and Suntai's loyalists to ensure the return power to the ailing governor.
In the meantime, a lawmaker in the state said they were allowed to meet with Suntai yesterday, but simply told newsmen that the talks with the ailing governor were "meaningful".
In announcing the dissolution at the cabinet early yesterday, Giwa said those who lost their jobs included all the commissioners and special advisers.
The Suntai aide, who said the dissolution and appointments were with immediate effect, directed former members of the state Exco to hand over to the permanent secretaries in their respective ministries.
Asked if the development will not throw the state into further crises, Mr. Giwa told a correspondent of the Hausa service of the BBC that, "the reason (for the cabinet shake up) is to strengthen the government".
Asked why Suntai was yet to come out and address the people of the state, three days after his return, the SSA said, "he'll surely come out to address the public".
But the acting governor, Umar, yesterday urged the people of Taraba to remain calm and go about their normal duties.
Umar, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Kefas Sule, deliberations were on at the top to resolve the current impasse in the state.
He however said, it was the state House of Assembly that passed a resolution making him acting governor, and that it was the same House that should transfer power back to the governor.
He said he was yet to brief his principal, Suntai, on developments in the state while he was away for medical treatment abroad.
The acting governor said citizens would be informed of the outcome of the consultations he intended to have with his boss in due course.
In another development, Kefas, has said that no condition was attached to the transmission of a letter of resumption of office by the governor to the state House of Assembly.
He stated this yesterday in his office while briefing newsmen shortly after the dissolution of the state executive council.
According to Kefas, Section 90(2) of the 1999 Constitution made it categorically clear that the governor was only expected to communicate to the House of Assembly that he has resumed duty, which he did.
He said no section of the Constitution compelled Governor Suntai to appear in person before the Assembly before his resumption of duty.
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