Disquiet In Nasarawa Over Gov’s US Trip

*Assembly summons emergency sitting over Sule’s vacation
letter

There is disquiet in Nasarawa State following the denial of
Governor Abdullahi Sule that he travelled to the United States for
medical check-up.

The Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon Ibrahim Balarabe
Abdullahi, had announced during the plenary that Sule had notified
the state House of Assembly that he was travelling to the US for
medical check-up begining from December 13 to 29.

Abdullahi read a letter, titled: “Notification to Travel to the
United States of America,” purported to be from Sule to the
lawmakers.

The letter read: “I wish to inform the Rt Hon Speaker that I
shall be travelling to the United States of America for medical
check-up from Sunday, December 13 to Saturday, December 29,
2020.

“Accordingly, in my absence, the deputy governor would oversee
the affairs of the state pending my return”.

But while appearing on a Channels Television programme,
monitored in Lafia on Sunday, the governor denied the portion of
the letter that he was on medical tourism in the US, saying that he
was on a vacation.

He explained that he was visiting the US to see his children
while on his annual vacation.

The governor, who was visibly amused by claims that he abandoned
hospitals in his state for medical tourism in the US, said he
usually goes on annual vacation in December and takes the
opportunity to spend time with his family in Houston, Texas.

Sule added that while on vacation in the US, where he has stayed
for quite some years, he equally uses the opportunity to carry out
routine medical check-ups.

“My trip here has nothing to do with my health. I’m here on my
annual vacation. You know, I used to live right here in Houston and
my doctors are here.

“Usually, I carry out my medical check-ups even while I was the
managing director of the Dangote Group. There is nothing wrong with
my health. I have just finished my routine medical check-ups,
dental check, eye check and everything went perfectly,” the
governor said.

While dismissing insinuations that he travelled to the US on
medical tourism, Sule said he has a medical doctor at the
Government House who conducts regular medical checks on him, adding
that even recently, his wife gave birth to a set of twins at a
hospital in Abuja.

According to him, since he has his family members living in
Houston, whenever he visits the US, usually in December while on
his annual vacation, he uses the opportunity to meet his
longstanding medical doctor and to carry out routine medical
check-ups as well.

However, members of the state House of Assembly are to cut short
their recess and hold an emergency sitting today, on the
matter.

THISDAY learnt from impeccable source that the emergency sitting
is at the instance of the speaker.

The source said the speaker called on all members to attend the
emergency sitting unfailingly.

The source added that the lawmakers will debate and investigate
the origin and source of the letter read on the floor of the
Assembly.

*Assembly summons emergency sitting over Sule’s vacation
letter

There is disquiet in Nasarawa State following the denial of
Governor Abdullahi Sule that he travelled to the United States for
medical check-up.

The Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon Ibrahim Balarabe
Abdullahi, had announced during the plenary that Sule had notified
the state House of Assembly that he was travelling to the US for
medical check-up begining from December 13 to 29.

Abdullahi read a letter, titled: “Notification to Travel to the
United States of America,” purported to be from Sule to the
lawmakers.

The letter read: “I wish to inform the Rt Hon Speaker that I
shall be travelling to the United States of America for medical
check-up from Sunday, December 13 to Saturday, December 29,
2020.

“Accordingly, in my absence, the deputy governor would oversee
the affairs of the state pending my return”.

But while appearing on a Channels Television programme,
monitored in Lafia on Sunday, the governor denied the portion of
the letter that he was on medical tourism in the US, saying that he
was on a vacation.

He explained that he was visiting the US to see his children
while on his annual vacation.

The governor, who was visibly amused by claims that he abandoned
hospitals in his state for medical tourism in the US, said he
usually goes on annual vacation in December and takes the
opportunity to spend time with his family in Houston, Texas.

Sule added that while on vacation in the US, where he has stayed
for quite some years, he equally uses the opportunity to carry out
routine medical check-ups.

“My trip here has nothing to do with my health. I’m here on my
annual vacation. You know, I used to live right here in Houston and
my doctors are here.

“Usually, I carry out my medical check-ups even while I was the
managing director of the Dangote Group. There is nothing wrong with
my health. I have just finished my routine medical check-ups,
dental check, eye check and everything went perfectly,” the
governor said.

While dismissing insinuations that he travelled to the US on
medical tourism, Sule said he has a medical doctor at the
Government House who conducts regular medical checks on him, adding
that even recently, his wife gave birth to a set of twins at a
hospital in Abuja.

According to him, since he has his family members living in
Houston, whenever he visits the US, usually in December while on
his annual vacation, he uses the opportunity to meet his
longstanding medical doctor and to carry out routine medical
check-ups as well.

However, members of the state House of Assembly are to cut short
their recess and hold an emergency sitting today, on the
matter.

THISDAY learnt from impeccable source that the emergency sitting
is at the instance of the speaker.

The source said the speaker called on all members to attend the
emergency sitting unfailingly.

The source added that the lawmakers will debate and investigate
the origin and source of the letter read on the floor of the
Assembly.