Taraba Assembly elects new Speaker

By stephen Osu
Jalingo

Taraba state House of Assembly yesterday elected Hon Mark Useni as its speaker; the new speaker replaces Hon. Josiah Sabo Kente who tendered a resignation letter on the floor of the House yesterday for what he called personal reasons.
The house also cleared Sani Danladi Abubakar to be acting governor of the state pending when the ailing governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai will fully recover to take charge of the affairs of the state.
Yesterday’s sitting was first of all presided over by the deputy speaker, Hon. Tanko Maikerfi, representing Gassol 1 state constituency, he read the resignation letter signed by Hon Kente himself, after which Hon. Kizito Bonzona, representing Zing state constituency nominated Hon Mark Useni for his replacement.
The nomination was seconded by Hon Hamman Adama, representing Bali II state constituency. There were no further nominations, and the house unanimously adopted Useni as the new speaker.
When Useni later took charge of proceedings at the assembly after his election, Hon Joseph Albasu Kunini, representing Lau state constituency, under matters of urgent public importance moved a motion for  Alhaji Sani Abubakar to be cleared as the acting governor of the state.
The motion was amended by the former speaker, Hon. Haruna Gbana, who in his opinion, said by the ruling of the Supreme Court of Justice, the former governor, Garba Umar, was as good as non-existent; therefore, there was no need for any former motion again to direct Sani to act.
He said the resolution of November 24, 2012, was meant for Sani Danladi Abubakar and not Alhaji Garba Umar, adding that by the decision of the apex court, “Sani is automatically the acting governor of the state.”
Both Hon Aminu Bako Jalingo, Hon, Hamman Adama and Hon. Tanko Maikerfi representing Jalingo II, Bali II and Gassol 1 state constituencies, respectively, in their separate contributions applauded the decision of the house to respect the verdict of the court.