A cloud of uncertainty surrounds the whereabouts of Taraba State Deputy Governor Aminu Alkali, who has been absent from public view since November 2024 due to health concerns.
Alkali, who assumed office on May 29, 2023, alongside Governor Agbu Kefas under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was reportedly admitted to the National Hospital in Abuja before allegedly being flown to Egypt for intensive medical care. However, the state government has remained silent, providing no official updates on his condition or location.
The lack of transparency has sparked mounting pressure on Governor Kefas, with political figures and legal experts demanding clarity.
Jalingo-based human rights lawyer Barrister Bilyaminu Maihanchi has written an open letter to the governor and the Taraba State House of Assembly, urging lawmakers to act under Section 189 of the Nigerian Constitution.
“I urge the Taraba State Governor to provide a clear explanation for the Deputy Governor’s absence and to take immediate action to address the situation,” Maihanchi stated. “The people of Taraba State deserve to know the truth about their leaders and to have confidence in the governance of their state.”
The situation has drawn comparisons to the 2012 crisis involving former Governor Danbaba Suntai, who remained in office despite being incapacitated after a plane crash.
As concerns grow, the people of Taraba await an official response from the state government on the fate of their deputy governor.