The face-off between recuperating Governor Danbaba Suntai of
Taraba State and his deputy, Garba Umar, rekindled yesterday, upon the return
of the former to Nigeria from overseas treatment.
Competent sources said that security men attached to Suntai
blocked Umar from seeing his boss over claims that he had concluded plans to
declare the governor incapacitated following the 2012 air crash that resulted
in prolonged hospitalisation abroad.
Vanguard reports that Umar had gone to the Nnamdi Azikiwe
International Airport in Abuja around midnight on Saturday to welcome back his
boss from his overseas treatment, security men attached to the governor, stopped
him from seeing Suntai.
Umar reportedly left the airport in frustration after many
unfruitful attempts to meet with Suntai, who was ferried into the country by a
chartered private aircraft just before midnight.
On Sunday, the acting governor also made spirited efforts to
meet with his boss but was also prevented from seeing him in a private guest
house, where he is said to be resting.
A close aide to the governor told Vanguard that Suntai was
angry with Umar for attempting to declare him unfit to resume work by asking
the House of Assembly to probe his state of health.
The aide said, “Umar is complaining to those who care to
listen that he is being prevented from seeing his boss but what he is passing
through serves him right because he no longer enjoys the confidence of Suntai.
“The governor is upset that Umar is goading the members of
the House of Assembly to declare him unfit to work when in reality he has
returned and is ready to resume work.
“The true position of the law is that Umar should step aside
once the governor returns to the state but in this case he is trying to play
games by considering setting up a medical board to examine his boss, who is
already back and has recovered considerably,” the aide said.
Suntai, according to the source plans to move to Jalingo
this week with a view to resuming work. He is expected to meet with President
Goodluck Jonathan and some Peoples Democratic Party bigwigs before proceeding
to the state capital this week.
Last week, however, the State Executive Council presided
over by Umar, directed the House of Assembly to raise a medical board to
examine Suntai’s state of health.
But a source close to the Assembly told Vanguard on Sunday
that the House was yet to receive such communication from the Executive
Council, adding that the lawmakers were on recess.
New pictures released by Suntai’s Media Office show him
looking calm and relaxed upon his return from the UK. One of the pictures shows
him clapping hands and smiling in front of his wife while others watch in
admiration.
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