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Renowned legal luminary and former Minister of Justice and Attorney- General, Chief Richard Akinjide, has called for a peaceful resolution of the political logjam in Taraba State through constitutional means.
To him, the situation in the state is internal politics which can be “resolved democratically.”
He said: “The government and the state assembly should decide whether the governor should stay or go. A medical report is critical in this matter. They need to get the appropriate medical report that will determine if he’s fit or not.”
While stressing the role of the constitution on the matter, he stated: “The constitution is clear on cases like this-there should be expert report. They can’t resolve the crisis without it. The onus falls on medical report.”
He called on the main actors in the unfolding drama to eschew violence and toe the line of peace. “They should keep the peace in the state, eschew violence and follow the law,” he advised.
Speaking in the same vein, legal practitioner and human rights activist, Fred Agbaje, advocated a medical solution to the situation, noting that there was adequate provision in the constitution in settling such cases. “My advice is that a medical panel consisting of five medical personnel, one of which must be the personal physician of Governor Suntai, be constituted to examine him to determine if he’s fit to govern the state. When the panel decides whether he is fit or not, then the matter will be resolved.”
He noted that the country is in a constitutional democracy which presupposes that everything should be done according to the rule of law.
He said: “Anything short of that would be taking us back to the military rule or dictatorship. There is adequate provision in the constitution in Section 189 of the Amended Constitution to resolve the situation. If both parties are prepared to toe the line of the constitution, there will be no problem.”
While supporting the state lawmakers’ call on the governor to return to the hospital to continue with his treatment, Agbaje said: “The lawmakers are correct in insisting Suntai go back to hospital to continue with his treatment. They are the ones on ground, and they know the truth that the governor is not medically fit , that he is not the same Suntai they used to know.”
Agbaje added: “The situation is a re-cap of the Turai-Yar’Adua case of a few years ago. I think Nigerians and Tarabans have learnt their lesson and don’t want a repeat of that episode. If he goes on TV with his picture by proxy to address the people of the state whereas he is not fit, he would have succeeded in doing what I call civilian treachery and is invariably causing damage to the fabric of the constitution,” Agbaje added.
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