- By Modinat Adenekan -Lagos, with Agency Report
A leading human right group in Nigeria, Committee for Democracy and Rights of the People (CDRP) has urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and friends of ailing governor of Taraba State, Danbaba Suntai, to allow the returning governor to address world press conference on his state of health without the support of his aides.
This is just as it said governance of any state in the country required the mental and physical capability of a governor, adding that when Governor Suntai could not perform his duty again, his deputy should be sworn in without further delay.
In a statement issued and signed by group’s acting national coordinator, Saka Waheed and made available to newsmen in Osogbo, Osun State, the group stressed that the political drama going on in Taraba State currently was completely at variance with the letters and spirit of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended).
The group also warned the state House of Assembly to stop the ongoing political impunity in the state and respect the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, by swearing the acting governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, adding that no amount of shielding of Suntai from the public could save him.
It said the absence of the governor from the state for over 10 months was unconstitutional, adding that it contravened the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
The group said if Suntai failed to address the world press conference within 24 hours after returning to the state, the acting governor should be sworn in as substantive governor.
Another renowned civil society group in the country, Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), also issued seven days ultimatum to the ailing governor to declare the true state of health or face the consequence.
Addressing newsmen in Lagos, on Monday, its chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, said the nation could no longer continue to depend on party and family propagandists to continue misinforming and misleading the populace, stressing that Governor Suntai and the PDP should save the country a repeat of the ignominious experience of the late President Musa Yar’Adua’s saga.
Olanrewaju stressed the need for the state House of Assembly to rise up to the political challenge by commencing the process of ascertaining the health status of Suntai, to determine his capacity to continue in office as a governor or otherwise.
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