At Last Governor Suntai Speaks!

The Governor of Taraba State, Danbaba Suntai finally addressed the people on Wednesday , exactly four days after his return from a 10-month medical sojourn abroad.

The brief address was however not live but through a video shown on the state-owned television station in Jalingo. Who are they fooling???

His failure to do so earlier and appear before the state House Assembly to formally intimate its members of his desire to resume work had created suspicions that he was incapable of continuing to function as the state governor.

According to a source, before the video was brodcast, he met with the lawmakers and inaugurated the newly appointed Secretary to the State Government, Timothy Kataps, as well as the Chief of Staff, Mallam Aminu Jika.

The governor, who is recuperating from injuries he sustained last October when a small aircraft he flew crashed, had earlier dissolved the state Executive Council, leaving only his special assistants.

In the address, Suntai commended the people of the state for their prayers and for standing by him in his moment of trial.

"I thank the people of Taraba State for standing by me and my family. I also thank the commissioners for holding the fort while I was away. Also enjoin all of you to continue to live in peace," he said.

Suntai, who wore a sky blue suit and a stripe shirt, also congratulated the people on the 22nd anniversary of the state which was on August 27.

While inaugurating the new SSG and the CoS, he enjoined them to to work in the interest of the people.
The new SSG (Kataps), a former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, took over from Mr. Garvey Yawe while Jika, who once served in the same capacity in 2007, replaced Alhmed Yusuf.

Yawe and Yusuf were among the members of the sacked state Executive Council. The others are all the commissioners and 22 special advisers.