To avoid a constitutional logjam in the state, the Taraba State House of Assembly is to constitute a medical panel to ascertain the fitness of Governor Danbaba Suntai.
It would be recalled that the State House of Assembly had on Thursday reaffirmed Alhaji Garba Umar as the Acting Governor of the state.
The assembly had also advised ailing Gov. Danbaba Suntai to proceed for further treatment.
In a statement signed by 16 out the 24 members of the House of Assembly, the legislators said the decision was taken in the interest of the state.
“The leadership of the assembly made several efforts to see the governor since his arrival, but till Wednesday they were not allowed access to him.
“The ailing governor spoke in a manner that brought more doubt to his letter purportedly transmitted to the speaker.
“In view of the above, we, the undersigned members of the state assembly unanimously resolved at our meeting that the Deputy Governor, upon whom power was earlier transmitted to by the state Assembly, still remain the acting Governor of Taraba.
“He will continue to act in that regards until such a time the governor is capable of administering the state,” the statement said.
Daily Review Online however gathered from competent sources in the Assembly that though the lawmakers had written to the governor to go back on further medical examination, a constitutional crisis may be in the offing in the state as the constitution is specific on what happens should the governor return.
“It is very clear, the constitution say the governor should only communicate to the assembly in writing his readiness to resume duties. He has already done that. If there is any doubt in the mind of the lawmakers they know what to do.
`”Section 189 (4a) and (4b) state that in a case where the governor is showing unfitness of sorts, the Speaker of the House shall constitute a five-member medical panel to which the “personal physician of the governor must be a member,’’ our source said.
He said if there was any suspicion on medical fitness of the governor, the best thing to do in compliance with the constitution was for “the executive council of the state” to notify the house of assembly.
Meanwhile, the lawmakers, who signed the statement that the Acting Governor was still in charge include: the Speaker, Haruna Tsokwa, Deputy Speaker, Tanko Maikarfi, Chief Whip, Mohammed Gwampo and Deputy Majority Leader, Josiah Kente.
Others are Deputy Chief Whip, Mohammed Umar, the Minority Leader, Ibrahim Imam and the Minority Whip, Yahya AbdulRahman.
Also in the list are Mr Iratsi Daki, Rashida Abdullahi, Aminu Umar, Emmanuel Dame, John Bonzena, Dr Abubakar Jugulde, Hamman Adamu Abdullahi, Abdulkarim Mohammed and Edward Baraya.