Angry youths pelt Jonathan’s convoy with stones in Taraba

President Goodluck Jonathan’s convoy was again stoned on Thursday by some aggrieved youths in Jalingo, Taraba State.

Election violence

Jonathan was in the city in continuation of the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential rally.

His convoy had before Thursday been stoned in Katsina and Bauchi states when he went to seek the votes for his re-election bid.

It was gathered that the windscreens and windows of some of the vehicles on the convoy were destroyed before security operatives   used tear gas and   horsewhips to disperse the youths.

Those who witnessed the Thursday incident but pleaded anonymity told The PUNCH that the incident occurred when the President’s convoy was going to the palace of the Emir of Muri,   Abass Tafida, from the airport.

One of them said, “Security agents ensured that people were moved very far from the main but at a point, the convoy got to a particular village where the youths became restive.

“Before we knew what was happening, they started stoning the convoy.”

It however could not be determined as of press time if anyone in the convoy was hurt or any arrests made.

One of our correspondents learnt that Jonathan, who was unruffled by the incident, used the opportunity of his visit to the state to meet with   ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai.

Suntai has been unable to return to work since he was involved in a plane crash in October 2012.

The PUNCH learnt that Jonathan met with Suntai inside the Government House, Jalingo.

But while Jonathan was busy campaigning, another set of angry youths descended on the state PDP secretariat in Jalingo.

It took the intervention of security agents to save the edifice from being reduced to rubble by the angry youths who vandalised 12 vehicles on the premises.

The spokesman for the PDP in the state, Napoleon Adamu,who lamented the incident, said the youths were protesting their non-inclusion in the preparation for Jonathan’s visit.

He expressed anger that despite the Abuja accord signed by all the presidential   candidates , some elements could still go as far as attacking members of the party.

He said, “We are happy that no life was lost and we want to appeal to our teeming youths to eschew violence and not to take the law into their own hands.

“Even before the date the President’s campaign was fixed, the youths had   been complaining that they were not carried along by the committees constituted for the visit.”

At the state stadium campaign ground, Jonathan   said he would ensure the completion of both the Kashimbila Dam and the Mambilla Hydro Power projects in the state if re-elected.

He added that plans were on to establish a presidential resort at Mambilla to attract top government functionaries and business moguls to the state.

Jonathan later moved to   Yola, Adamawa State, where he again assured the people   that Michika and Madagali Local government Areas   would be recaptured by the military from Boko Haram.

Jonathan told the crowd   that his administration would provide funds to enable those affected by insurgency to rebuild their houses and live a meaningful life.

Making inferences about insinuations in certain quarters that he was going about seeking re-election when Boko Haram was intensifying its attacks on parts of the North-East, the President urged the people to disregard such.

“No human being with his right senses, except a mad man, will encourage the insurgents to attack and kill people for political purposes while he is going about looking for votes,” Jonathan said at the Mahmud Ribadu Square venue of the rally.

“No political leader will compromise his stance and connive with terrorists under whatever circumstances to declare war on his country,” he added.

Calling on the electorate to have confidence in the leadership of the PDP for accelerated development, Jonathan warned Nigerians against playing politics with insecurity.

He said that his administration was “disturbed by the insurgents’ activities” and added that it was mad   for   political opponents to claim that he was not doing much to end the insurgency which, according to him, is a global phenomenon.

“This type of allegation from politicians who campaign to garner votes from the electorate amounts to madness.   People   should   disregard such insinuations because they are aimed at   derailing our   democracy,” Jonathan added.

He advised the people to also vote for the PDP governorship candidate in the state, Nuhu Ribadu, whom, he said, would   use his position to fight Boko Haram.

A PDP topshot and a former Petroleum Minister, Prof. Jibril Aminu; former acting Governor Umaru Fintiri;   and the Senate President, David Mark, jointly called on the electorate to vote for Jonathan.

They said the best legacy the President and the government of PDP could leave behind was a good educational standard for the people.

The National Chairman of the party, Adamu Mu’azu, after thanking the people,     presented the PDP flag to Ribadu.

He   also lifted the suspension of   a former National Chairman of the party, Bamanga Tukur, and the state executive   of the PDP .

A little drama however happened when   overzealous security agents on horseback   thrashed some of the party supporters. This made some of the party loyalists to react back by hauling chairs at the security operatives.

Angry youths pelt Jonathan’s convoy with stones in Taraba

I"m addicted to alcohol and sick - Governor Suntai confesses

By Channels Tv

Sick Taraba State Governor, Danbaba Suntai, has said he is very sick and is not fit to return as governor of the state.

Governor Suntai

Suntai, who is recovering from a severe injury sustained from a plane crash, also expressed worry at his excessive intake of alcohol.

In a secret recording by Channels TV, Suntai, whose speech was slurred, appears not too coherent, and says he is addicted to alcohol.

Although it was not clear who was enabling his addiction, some of those seated around him appeared not to care about his worry.

His wife has been accused of being selfish, power hungry and enabler of his addiction.

Below is the transcript:

CHANNELS: I am happy to meet you Your Excellency

SUNTAI: I am happy to receive you, and I believe my governor has received you before me.

CHANNELS: What will be your message to Nigerians?

SUNTAI: If they can put all those things aside and attend to God, because God did not like what we are doing, but we are still doing it. God does not permit us to do bad deeds, but it is unfortunate that we decided to listen to the devil in this case. it is very unfortunate that I am addicted to alcohol (too much drinking of beer)

CHANNELS: Are you well enough to return to your office for the position of the executive governor of Taraba state?

SUNTAI: Well I can tell you it is well with me to return to my office simply because I want you to support me. But you know the truth I am not well at all to return to my office, as I am now.

CHANNELS: But with time will you pick up and be able to discharge your duties?

SUNTAI: I know that I will pick up with time and be able to discharge my duties, but that will take some time. And I promise never to misbehave again.

CHANNELS: Finally, what will be your message to the people of Taraba State?

SUNTAI: Let them try to live according to the laws of God and that will definitely give them a very exciting life on this earth. But if you go outside from God’s laws you will just destroy yourself, and this is what is happening to me. Drinking of alcohol is not a good thing at all.

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I"m addicted to alcohol and sick - Governor Suntai confesses

Governor Suntai missing - Acting governor raises alarm

The acting governor of Taraba State, Alhaji Garba Umar, has declared that his boss, Govenor Danbaba Suntai, has gone missing.

Governor Umar stated in an interview on Monday, that he had not set his eyes on Governor Suntai ever since he came back from the UK some weeks ago.

He narrated how he tried to connect with his boss as soon as he got back but all efforts to meet with him were abortive.

Umar said: “Few of my aides and I were already at the domestic wing of the airport to receive my boss but, unknowingly to me, the cabal was already waiting at the international wing of the airport where the plane conveying my boss was directed to land. When I got to know that the plane landed at the international wing, I rushed to the place to receive him, but he was in a jeep which immediately drove him to T.Y. Danjuma’s lodge.”

Umar also insisted that his missing boss is a self-centered mechanism employed by some cabal to hold on to power by holding him hostage.

He assured the people that his administration will continue to uphold the values of democracy and ensure that the citizens enjoy its dividends.

He called on citizens of state to eschew religious differences and work towards unity in the state.

“I thank God that this year’s Sallah was peaceful; peace has returned to some of the crisis areas in the state. I have also constituted a reconciliation committee to ensure that those who fled their homes because of crisis return,” he said.

He assured people of the state that his administration would continue to work to ensure that everyone enjoys the dividend of democracy.

However, a former commissioner for information in the state, Mr. Emmanuel Bello, told reporters that Suntai was not missing.

He explained that governor Suntai was doing well and would soon return to the state to continue his business of governance.

“Since our dear governor returned from his medical trip, he has been at the Governor’s Lodge, otherwise called T.Y. Danjuma House, located at Asokoro in Abuja,” Bello said.

He stressed that the acting governor, was only waiting for this tenure to elapse, and that after the expiration of Suntai’s administration that brought him as deputy governor, he would pack his luggage out of Government House.

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Governor Suntai missing - Acting governor raises alarm

Governor Suntai"s return causes anxiety in Taraba

There is anxiety in Taraba State as ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai, returns to Nigeria.

Suntai, who went overseas for treatment landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja late Saturday night.

The ailing governor has been in and out of the state for medical treatment abroad following an air crash in Yola of the Cessna 208 aircraft, which he piloted.

An earlier press statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sylvanus Giwa, had noted that he was expected back on Saturday and expected to arrive Jalingo later on Sunday or Monday.

However in Jalingo, the state capital, there is confusion and apprehension over the fate of the governor as he is expected to resume duties as the executive governor of the state.

The apprehension is further heightened by the order state executive council to the speaker of the house of Assembly asking the house to set up a medical team to assess the state of health of the acting governor.

But the letter has generated heated debate as to the real intention of the investigation. Loyalists of the ailing governor are accusing acting Governor Umar Garba, of trying to use the investigation to assume full executive powers by declaring the ailing governor permanently incapacitated, an accusation aides of the acting governor have vehemently denied.

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Governor Suntai"s return causes anxiety in Taraba