The lawmakers’ summon followed a letter written by Suntai to them, informing them of his return to the country and desire to resume his official duties.
They are still not sure if Suntai has sufficiently recovered to resume his duties, considering his inability to speak to anyone since he returned from America.
Suntai who returned to the country on Sunday after 10 months overseas for medical treatment following injuries he sustained in a plane crash, is said to be holed up inside the Government House at Jalingo and refused to see anybody.
On arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Sunday, Suntai who looked frail and unable to walk unassisted was guided into a waiting car by two of his aides who held him by the arms.
He neither spoke to journalists nor acknowledged the cheers by hundreds of his supporters who came to the airport to welcome him.
However, the governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako was allowed to see him yesterday in the inner office of the Government House. Nyako, it was learnt, prayed for the sick governor and wished him speedy recovery.
Efforts by the lawmakers to see Suntai yesterday were rebuffed by his security aides who turned them back at the gate of the Government House. Due to the inability of the lawmakers to have an audience with the governor, they postponed deliberations on the letter written by Suntai, seeking to take over the reins of government from his deputy, Alhaji Umar Garba, who has been acting in his absence.
Many of the lawmakers, P.M.NEWS gathered, were unsure of the physical and mental state of the governor and would prefer him coming to the chambers of the assembly to address them and clear all doubts as to his state of health.
Already youth groups in Jalingo, Osun and Lagos states have called on the ailing governor to appear in public and address the people. They urged the governor to come clean on his health condition so as to remove all doubts about his ability to resume duty as the governor of the state.
One of the groups known as Coalition of Taraba Youth Movement, called on the state’s House of Assembly to summon Suntai to speak to the people of the state.
The President of the coalition, Malam Abubakar Waziri, made the call at a news conference on Monday in Jalingo.
Waziri noted that people of the state had been praying for the ailing governor for the past 10 months and now that he had returned, the uncertainty surrounding his health should be put to rest.
“We want Governor Suntai to speak to the people of the state, either through the media or at the House of Assembly. The state is in a state of confusion now because the people do not know what to believe,” he said.
Suntai has not uttered a word neither has he made any public appearance as his family and personal aides said that his doctors had advised that he should rest for at least 72 hours after his return.
Meanwhile, the Acting Governor of Taraba, Alhaji Garba Umar, has lauded the people of the state for turning out peacefully to welcome Governor Suntai back to the state.
Umar made the commendation in a short address in Jalingo, yesterday.
He also thanked the people of the state for the show of love and affection to the ailing governor.
Senior lawyer and political activist, Femi Falana (SAN), today sent a petition to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) demanding a detailed investigation of the letter purportedly sent to the Taraba State House of Assembly by Governor Danbaba Suntai yesterday indicating he is ready to resume his office.
Governor Suntai returned to Nigeria on Sunday after 10 months away receiving treatment and rehabilitation for serious brain injuries he received when an aircraft he was piloting crashed in October 2012. Reports say he appeared bewildered and uncoordinated as he arrived, needing help and not speaking.
Mr. Falana noted that barely one day after his return, a letter was delivered to the House declaring the governor’s fitness and readiness for work without affording the public a copy of his medical report of mental and physical fitness.
“We therefore urge you in the interest of the people of Taraba State and Nigeria as a whole to use your good offices to cause a detailed investigation to confirm the authenticity of the letter of intention sent by the Governor to the House of Assembly as there are several allegations within and outside Taraba State that the letter of intention may have been forged by the governor’s handlers,” the letter said.
The lawyer indicated he will go to court to compel the IGP to fulfill his constitutional duty if he does not accede to the demand within three days, including today.
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