Suntai denies rumoured resignation

THE recuperating Danbaba Suntai has denied ever granting interview to any media organisation to the effect that he has resigned as governor of Taraba State.

   Reacting to a video clip, which was recently aired to the public by an online medium, SaharaReporters, and further published in some national newspapers, the governor regretted that some media organisations could jettison media ethics and not crosscheck facts.

   In a statement by his Secretary to the State Government, Gebon Kataps, which was made available to journalists yesterday in Jalingo, Suntai declared his readiness to resume office as soon as possible.

   He urged the public to disregard the publication, which he observed was not from correspondents in the state, wondering why the “Lagos-based” newspapers that reported the said story never reached out to their correspondents in the state to verify it. 

   “We wonder if the Lagos-based editors noticed the superimposition of voices on a funny caricature of a video clobbered together by desperate politicians, who we know very well and who want Suntai removed from office by all means necessary,” Kataps said.

   The statement noted: “For the avoidance of doubt, Suntai did not at any point grant such interview to any reporter in Jalingo. If and when he grants it, it would be with known reporters and not a faceless reporter as carried in the tale.”

   The video “is a desperate item taken out of context and manipulated to further deceive Nigerians. Even a green horn in such propaganda stunt can see through this ‘monetized’ gambit. The truth, though, is that in most of his public appearances lately, Governor Suntai has continued to assure the state that he would return to office.”

   He added: “The current tale is that Suntai can’t resume work because of his disabilities. We want to put it on record that this is just a malicious media campaign paid (for) with Taraba State’s tax payer’s money to hoodwink the teeming supporters of Suntai.” 

   The said report, which was posted on Youtube and published by some newspapers, claimed that Suntai in an interview admitted that he was not capable to carry on his responsibilities as governor.