BEING
THE TEXT OF A PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSED BY COMMITTEE FOR DEMOCRACY AND RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE(CDRP) IN OSOGBO ON SUNDAY 25th AUGUST 2013
By
Saka Waheed
The trend of events in Taraba State in past few
months have been of tremendous concern to all progressive elements in Taraba in
particular and Nigeria as a whole. Since the unfortunate plane crash involving
the Governor of the State, Gov. Suntai Danbaba, the
executive administration of the State has been a toy in the hands of a cabal
who believes that the fate of the State and its residents must be theirs in fee
simple to determine as they
wish.
The above attitude is completely at variance with
the letters and spirit of the 1999
Constitution
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as
amended) and the interests of the electorate, but these individuals involved are completely unperturbed.
While Section 186 of the Constitution creates the office of the Deputy Governor
and provides in Section 189 for procedure for declaring a Governor or Deputy
Governor permanently incapacitated, leaderships
of the State
and the Federation have pretended
as
if the provisions of Section 189 of the Constitution did not exist and as if
the health condition of Governor Suntai Danbaba and his inability to speak with his people
or House of Assembly did not fit into such as to make such a declaration
in line with Section 189 of the Constitution.
It is incontrovertible that Governor Suntai Danbaba
is not fit to discharge the functions of his office since October 25, 2012 when
his plane crashed in Adamawa. While it was very clear that he suffered brain
damage in the accident and could not recognize anybody, the cabal in Taraba
State and People's Democratic
Party seem hell bent on refusing to allow the
Deputy Governor perform the functions of the Governor and would rather ran the government of Taraba aground in a
manner reminiscent of the latter days of President Yar’Adua in office.
While we all pray for quick recovery of Governor
Danbaba and his imminent
return
to office, it is certain that we must all deplore a situation where an elected
Deputy Governor is prevented from performing his lawful functions under the
Constitution simply because a group of people feel that their personal and
egotistic interests are better preserved by pretending that an ailing Governor
is still in full charge of affairs. These unelected individuals, massaging the
ego of the wife of the Governor, have succeeded
in running the State of Taraba for so long and close to one year now in the shadow of the first lady. Such is never
allowed in a civilized clime and it must be abhorred in this country.
We also understand that the ailing Governor is
being brought back home today
and
this deceptive
announcement has been on air for some time. In a blatant deceit that is synonymous with
the Governor's forum 2013 election, Governor Jona Jang of Plateau, after a
visit to Governor Danbaba in January, informed the nation of a healing process
that would see the Governor resume office 'very soon'. It is certain
that the Governor does not have the mental and physical ability to continue
functioning as Governor. The
federal government and PDP have reduced such issue of national importance as
this to another family affair, at the expense of political stability, accountable
governance and transparency. Why do these people enjoy punishing the innocent
man who is completely in a vegetative state? What is the interest of Governor Jona Jang
in this whole political deceit? They want to continue governing Taraba State by
proxy! This is alarming!
We call on all progressive elements across the country to demand the
immediate public disclosure of the state of health of Suntai Danbaba. We demand
that the Governor be allowed to address a press conference to assure the
residents of Taraba State who elected him that he is fit to continue in the
discharge of their affairs.
The
Federal government and PDP leadership is urged to concentrate on providing
quality leadership and social development for Nigerians and desist from
distracting the populace with avoidable political upheavals that has become
synonymous with this government each time citizens protests government's
misadministration or workers demand their fundamental entitlement.
We reject any form of government by proxy!
We reject a government of the cabal serving only
personal interests!
Saka
Waheed
Ag.
National Coordinator CDRP
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