2015: Suntai, Nyame reconcile; move to stop Umar.

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Jalingo — Recuperating Taraba Governor, Mr.
Danbaba Suntai, has reconciled with his
estranged predecessor in office, Rev Jolly Nyame,
in a bid seen as trying to stop the acting
governor, Garba Umar, from taking over from
him.
Vanguard gathered that Suntai, who had fallen
out with Nyame over some political issues,
however, changed his mind and invited his
predecessor for a birthday party in his house,
during which they warmly embraced themselves
and settled their differences.
Associates of Suntai, said he had waited for an
opportuned moment to reconcile with Nyame,
who fell out with him as a result of the latter’s
attempt to dictate to him even after leaving office
in 2007.
The political feud between the two was so fierce
that Nyame was forced out of the Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP, and even his attempt to
contest for a senatorial seat in the state was
effectively stalled by Suntai.
Suntai, who acknowledged the truce with his
predecessor, said in a state-wide broadcast that
his reconciliation with Nyame was an act of God
but did not give further explanation.
But Vanguard learnt that the decision by the two
political leaders in the state to mend fences was
taken to stop the acting governor, Garba Umar,
from spreading his political tentacles further
ahead of the next general election.
The duo reasoned that with their coming together
to present a common front, it would be difficult
for Umar to present a senatorial candidate from
Nyame’s zone and win.
Nyame and Suntai are said to be opposed to
Umar becoming the substantive governor of the
state just as their loyalists are working round the
clock to stop Umar from gaining more political
visibility in the state.
Umar is alleged to be working hard to promote
the senatorial aspiration of Ahmed Yusuf, who was
a commissioner under Nyame and has been
contesting as an opposition governorship
candidate in the state for a long time.
However, the acting governor has repeatedly said
that he is not working against Suntai’s interest
since he brought him into political limelight.
“I have no reason to work against my boss, who
brought me into politics,” Umar said through his
aide, Kefas Sule.
“Whatever we are doing in this state is based on
the masterplan put in place by Governor Danbaba
Suntai and we cannot go against it,” the governor
stated.