2nd September, 2013
The House Assembly in the northern Nigerian state of Taraba on Monday passed a resolution adopting the decision of its executive session of 29 August mandating the acting governor to continue running the affairs of the state.
The House, at a special plenary comprising nine members, empowered Alhaji Garba Umar to take full charge of the administration of the state as the acting governor.
The Deputy Speaker of the House, Mr Tanko Maikarfi, who presided over the session, pointed out that the sitting was convened in order to adopt the resolution of the last executive session.
After reading a copy of the resolution to the members present, Mr Aminu Umar (PDP-Jalingo II) moved a motion for the adoption of the resolution which was seconded by Mr Mohammed Gayam (PDP-Gashaka).
The deputy speaker thereafter called for a voice vote and the members unanimously voted in favour of the resolution.
Maikarfi then directed the Clerk of the House to communicate the resolution to the acting governor for action.
The Deputy Clerk of the House, Mr Mellah Ongu, later said that nine of the 24 member-legislature had formed a quorum.
The substantive governor, Danbaba Suntai, an air-crash survivor had returned to the country two weeks ago, after about 10 months of medical treatment in Germany and the USA.
His attempt to take over the reins of power was met with outrage by assemblymen and members of the public, as it was clear that Suntai was yet to fully recover from a suspected ‘brain damage’.