Medical panel set up ‘not to remove Suntai’

The acting governor of Taraba state, Alhaji Garba Umar, has debunked reports that the medical panel set up to ascertain the health of ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai was to remove him from office.

He spoke with journalists after paying a courtesy call on the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic (PDP) on Thursday in Abuja.

He was received by the PDP deputy national chairman, Mr Uche Secondus, and other members of the national working committee (NWC).

Umar said the medical panel was to ascertain the state of health of Suntai, to know if he was fit to govern the state.

He, however, added that the medical condition of Suntai was improving, following treatment received from hospitals both within and outside the country.

Suntai had been ill since Oct. 25, 2012, following injuries he sustained from an air crash when he piloted a private jet.

“We are waiting for doctors to certify him fit to resume his duties,” he said.

He added that the government under his leadership, had taken measures to ensure peace and stability in the state.

This, he said, was in spite of tension occasioned by the recent return of Suntai to the state from medical treatment abroad.

According to him, the insistence of some politicians in the state that he handed over to Suntai against professional advice is the reason for the current tension in the state.

“This has forced the state executive council to request the state house of assembly to set up a medical panel to verify the state of health of our governor.

“I have had people say that the motive behind the setting up of the panel is to remove the governor; this is not true. It is mainly intended to determine if I can hand over to him or not,” he said.

The acting governor, however, said that government was doing everything possible to ensure security and stability in the state, adding that over 100 security vehicles had been provided.

“We are ensuring that everyone that fled the state returns and I am forming a resettlement committee to look at the losses of each individual in order to assist them.

“It is my hope and believe that virtually everyone that left the state will come back in the next one or two months.”