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Coalition says the elders are shying away from the responsibility of ensuring peace in the state.
A coalition of 12 Youth and Students groups in Taraba State has condemned some elders of the state for allegedly sitting on the fence while the political logjam in the state threatened to disrupt its peace.
Those accused by the coalition include a former Defence Minister, Theophilus Damjuma; former governor of the state, Jolly Nyame; former Internal Affairs minister, Mohammed Shata; former Commerce Minister and Ambassador, Idris Waziri; S.D Gani and others.
The coalition, which addressed a press conference in Jalingo, the state capital on Wednesday, expressed disappointment with the elders for allegedly shying away from their responsibility of ensuring that there was peace in the state.
“The coalition wishes to express her disappointment with the manner some critical stakeholders from Taraba State sit on the fence on this matter, particularly elder statesmen like General T. Y Danjuma RTD, Ambassador Idris Waziri, Dr. Mohammed Shata, Rev. Jolly T. Nyame, Dr. S. D Gani and others,” Abba Waziri and Timothy Phinias, President and Secretary, of the coalition, said at the press conference.
“Our elders cannot shy away from their responsibilities. We urge them to come out and take a clear stand as this is not and should not be seen as family affair,” they said.
The coalition also accused a serving Senator, Emmanuel Bwacha, for being the ‘brain’ behind a ‘cabal’ determined to govern the state by proxy because of his speculated governorship ambition.
It added that Mr. Bwacha’s was desirous of becoming governor because he considered himself the “anointed heir” of Mr. Suntai hence he reportedly masterminded the return of the ailing governor to the country when he was not fit to resume duties.
The youth group, which expressed irritation at the alleged cruelty meted out to Mr. Suntai, said Mr. Bwacha and his associates brought the governor back even though they knew that he had not fully recovered just to achieve the agenda of whipping up religious and ethnic sentiments.
“We call on the Suntai family to wake up to this challenge as Mr. Bwacha cannot and does not have the audacity to represent or speak on or for the family,” it added.
The coalition also accused the senator of disrespecting President Goodluck Jonathan by openly condemning a decision taken by a Committee set up by the presidency to find an amicable solution to the problem.
The coalition also called on the acting governor, Garba Umar, to “take charge and return Governor Suntai back to hospital,” stressing “The governor is a state property, and must be treated as such. Leaving the governor in the hands of his vulnerable wife is tantamount to exposing him to more hazards. Governor Suntai must be accorded his rightful place.”
It also commended the President, leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the State House of Assembly “for their well-timed intervention” since the crisis began.
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