TARABA DEPUTY GOVERNOR’S SILENCE FUELS CONCERNS DESPITE RETURN FROM MEDICAL TRIP
Despite officially returning from a four-month medical trip, Taraba State Deputy Governor Aminu Alkali has remained absent from public functions, sparking renewed concerns over transparency in governance. Sources confirmed that Alkali returned quietly to Jalingo last week, but no public appearances or formal statements have been made since.
Information Commissioner Emmanuel Bello confirmed his return and downplayed health concerns, saying Alkali was recovering and would resume official duties soon. However, heavy security around his residence and the absence of even symbolic appearances have fueled speculation.
Alkali reportedly received treatment at the National Hospital in Abuja before being flown to Egypt. Access to him remains restricted, even for journalists and senior officials, and scheduled visits by deputy governors from other states were canceled.
Observers have drawn parallels with past opacity in Taraba politics—most notably the concealment of Governor Danbaba Suntai’s condition following a plane crash—calling for more transparency and constitutional clarity on the handling of long-term medical absences by elected officials.
