The cabal will soon abandon Suntai – Astimans

The senior special assistant (media and publicity) to the acting
governor of Taraba State Mr. Aaron Astimans speaks on the political
log-jam in the state that followed the plane crash of the substantive
governor, Mr. Danbaba Suntai.
Whatis the truth about an impeachment plot against the acting governor?
In the first place let me tell you the truth that there has been no
reason for the acting governor to be impeached as the House of
Assembly and the acting governor are on the same page in the so called
Taraba state political crisis.
Taraba Governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai yesterday in Abuja.
They have been working together, they have been following the truth in
the Taraba political problem and there has been no disagreement
whatsoever on the steps and process they have been taking in resolving
the crisis.
Relations between the acting governor and the members of the state
executive on one side and the House of Assembly on the other side are
very cordial and that is why we in Taraba enjoy peace which everyone
is witnessing today.
Having said that, I also want to rebuff the insinuation making the
rounds that there was any time the House at all contemplated to
impeach the acting governor Umar and his boss Governor Danbaba Suntai.
Interview with BBC
What the acting governor was explaining in his Hausa interview with
BBC was simply the fact that those people who are agitating or the
members of the cabal who all this while want to impose Danbaba on
power despite the fact that he is not ready to take power, are the
people who are now saying in their own assumption that Umar and Suntai
constitute the problem of Taraba State and that the two of them should
be impeached.
What is your reaction to the recent court decision restraining your
boss and the House of Assembly from interfering with the office of
governor?
The court did not stop my boss or the state House of Assembly on any
issue, I have a copy of the judgment with me, the court said we should
maintain the status quo. The court refused to stop the medical panel
from sitting because the panel was not joined while Suntai earlier
filed his case last year which means the medical team can do its work.
Sir what do you know about the personal relationship between your boss
and Governor Suntai given the allegations that your boss is aiming to
hijack power?
Since the outbreak of this political crisis my boss has not commented
for once on Danbaba's stewardship as governor of Taraba State, he
never commented on the health status of his boss, he never told
anybody whether the man is well or not. He visited him in US and I
want to tell you also that the acting governor has been receiving
constant brief on the health status of Danbaba.
But he considers it out of respect not to discuss it with anybody and
he knows the health status of the governor more than the people that
have been parading themselves as core Danbaba supporters.
I also want to tell the whole world that since the unfortunate
accident of Suntai till date the state government has paid all the
medical bills up till now. Never one day that the acting governor
restrained himself from approving funds for his treatment and he is
prepared to pay more despite all provocations.
All Danbaba travels including hiring of aircraft have been paid for by
the state government, no single individual no matter how powerful has
contributed money for the upkeep of Danbaba's family.
He has refused to join issues with people who are lower than him
politically in the state because politically in the state he is the
highest person and that is why he has reframed from that.
If the acting governor were hungry for power by now he would have
cleared the Government House of all the people who have been hanging
around and causing problems in that place.
Sir if at all there are people behind the crisis, what do you think
has made them to be doing this?
2015 general elections, 2015 is at the corner because they know that
Taraba State is deeply controlled by government, that government is
the only industry so they know that if they go into power they can
manouvere where the governorship of Taraba will come from if you are
not in government you will not be able to that.
So their desperation is to get the acting governor away so that
whoever they want to succeed Danbaba will succeed. After 2015, this
fight will die down they will all abandon Danbaba and run away and the
acting governor will continue to care for him.