The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Suntai

  • Taraba agog for Suntai’s Sunday return

    Taraba agog for Suntai’s Sunday return

    Taraba State is in the mood for celebration.

    The Northeast state appears set to receive its long-absent governor, Danbaba Fulani Suntai, on Sunday.

    The governor, who was seriously injured when the aircraft he piloted crashed near Yola, the Adamawa State, on October.

    Suntai has received treatment in German and United States hospitals following the injury he and some of his aides sustained in the crash.

    His scheduled return has become the major issue across the state.

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Muslim Council in the state have urged their members to pray for the governor’s safe return.

    Security is also being tightened, particularly in Jalingo, the state capital.

    The governor’s wife, Hajiya Hauwa, told a New York Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that arrangements have been concluded for the governor to return on Sunday. It was the first time Hauwa was addressing the media on her husband’s health and return.

    Suntai was flown to Hannover, Germany, on October 27, from where he was moved to the United States in March.

    The governor piloted the ill-fated Cessna 208 aircraft which also had onboard his Aide de Camp (ADC) Iliya Dasat; Chief Detail Joel Danladi and Chief Security Officer (CSO) Tino Dangana.

    The Chief Detail and the CSO returned to Nigeria last November after successful treatment in Germany.

    Suntai’s ADC also recovered and returned last month.

    The governor’s return has been long awaited.

    Suntai is expected to leave the Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Centre and Home in New York for Abuja, where he will meet President Goodluck Jonathan; the Peoples Democratic Partys (PDP) National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and other stakeholders from Taraba who are resident in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). He is expected to be flown from Abuja to the Government House in Jalingo.

    Some Nigerians in New York, according to Mrs Suntai, will accompany the governor.

    The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Hassan Mijinyawa, told The Nation yesterday that the governor’s scheduled return is not a joke.

    Mijinyawa said: “He is coming back on Sunday, surely.”

    Information Commissioner Emmanuel Bello also confirmed the governor’s return on Sunday.

    “We are expecting the governor. We have been telling the world that Governor Suntai would someday return to the country as soon as his medical handlers authorise it. The entire state is excitedly expecting him this Sunday.”

    The Senator representing Taraba South, Emmanuel Bwacha said he and other members of the National Assembly from the state will relocate to Jalingo today, to organise the reception for Suntai.

    The governor’s home in his village, Bali, has also been renovated.

    There are dresses – wrappers and T-shirts – emblazoned with the governor’s portrait – all in the anticipation of his arrival.

    A source yesterday quoted Acting Governor Garba Umar as saying: “I want to make the reception (of Suntai) very special.”

  • Suntai to return Sunday, says wife

    Suntai to return Sunday, says wife

    Taraba State Governor Danbaba Suntai, who is undergoing treatment for injuries sustained in an air crash, is expected back from the United States on Sunday.

    Suntai’s wife, Hauwa, said on the telephone that her husband would depart the Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Centre and Home in New York for home on Sunday.

    She said arrangement had been concluded for the return of the governor, who has spent months at the U.S. Rehabilitation Centre.

    He had earlier been treated in a hospital in Hannover, Germany where he was taken after the last October 25 air crash.

    Suntai, a holder of a Private Pilot Licence (PPL), flew the Cessna 208 aircraft that crashed as it approached landing at the Yola Airport.

    Five others were on board.

    The governor’s wife thanked those who supported the family in their trying

  • Suntai and the conspiracy of silence

    SIR: As a concerned citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I chose to address this open letter of appeal to the United States government to reveal to the good people of Taraba State in particular and Nigeria as a whole the exact state of health of Governor James Danbaba Suntai, who has been a patient in John Hopkins University Hospital in Maryland USA since March.

    This open letter of appeal has become necessary because, the people of Taraba State have not seen or heard from their governor for over seven months without any credible information since he personally piloted a CESSNA 208-5N-BMJ which crashed near NNPC depot in Yola, Adamawa State on October 25, 2012.

    The abnormal tight-lip posture demonstrated by the governor for the past seven months has continued to generate reactions amongst politicians, interest groups and the general public in Nigeria. Like many others, I feel deeply touched by what the governor is passing through at this time of his life. This is one strong reason why he still enjoys some amount of sympathy from millions of people across the country. Nevertheless, Governor Suntai is like a tap-root in the political equation of his state and the country. However, his prolong absence from office due to ill-health, coupled with his continued silence has started manifesting negative result already. Three religious riots – one from Ibi, two from Wukari and another ethnic crisis have been recorded in Takum. So far the crises have claimed hundreds of lives and properties worth millions of naira were destroyed.

    Before the tragic air crash, Governor Suntai was a blessing to Taraba State and Nigeria. He changed the face of Jalingo the state capital through the provision of massive infrastructure; the establishment of Taraba State University and Jalingo Airport are legacies that are fresh in our memory. More than that, Governor Suntai opened up the rustic hinterland of Taraba with tarred roads, schools, health facilities as well as his ability to keep peace in the state which was moving on the slippery road to anarchy when he came to power in 2007.

    Governor Suntai is not a private patient but an elected governor in one of the 36 states of Nigeria; also he is an employee accountable to millions of people. Information about his physical and mental well being cannot be subjected to the usual medical confidentiality of ordinary citizen and should not be kept secret from the people he leads. Sadly I must admit that President Goodluck Jonathan, acting Governor Garba Umar, immediate family members and close aides to Governor Suntai have failed to be truthful and transparent about the extent of infirmity of the governor which resulted to cat and mouse, hide and seek game.

    In the eyes of many Nigerians, the US government has by default become part of the conspiracy of secrecy that threatens to destabilise our democracy. I therefore, implore the US authorities to as a matter of urgency, let all Nigerians know the true state of Governor Suntai’s health.

    • John Akevi,

    Bauchi

  • ‘Allow Suntai to recuperate’

    A non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Taraba Peace Assembly, yesterday urged Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam and others to allow Taraba State Governor Danbaba Suntai to recuperate.

    Suswam, on return from his visit to Suntai in a hospital in the United States, said the ailing governor nicknamed him “Alhaji Suswam“ while he (Suswam) called him “Mallam Suntai“.

    The group in a statement by its executive Director, Rev Joshua Adiame, said: “Alhaji Suswam is putting further strain on the fragile health of Mallam Suntai. Our governor is undergoing a painfully slow rehabilitative procedure.

    “Medical experts are unanimous that when somebody is brain-damaged or injured, putting extra stress on him further worsens the patient‘s condition. Little stress can further complicate their medical state. So, what neurosurgeon experts recommended is for such patients to be kept under constant nurturing with minimal exposure to energy-sapping activities…”

  • Suntai will soon return, says Suswam

    Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam said his Taraba State counterpart, Suntai Danbaba, who was involved in a plane crash last year, will soon return home.

    Addressing reporters in Makurdi after his return from an overseas working trip, the governor said Suntai was recuperating speedily and doing everything himself.

    Suswam said Suntai would have returned home but the doctors wanted to ensure that he is fit to resume his official duty because of the pressure of running the Governors oOffice.

    “When I visited him in the hospital, he invited me to join him and eat. He was doing everything himself. But some people here in Nigeria are playing politics with his health,” Suswam said.

    He noted that while Suntia was in Germany he had visited and now that he was transferred to USA his condition has greatly improve and advised people to stop playing politics with his health and pray for his quick recover.

     

  • Suntai celebrates 52nd birthday in US hospital

    Suntai celebrates 52nd birthday in US hospital

    •We’ve seen God at work, says Acting governor

     

    Ailing Taraba State Governor, DanbabaSuntai, will today celebrate his 52nd birthday in the Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Centre and Home, New York United States of America, where he is recuperating.

    Suntai had wanted to return home to celebrate the milestone but doctors advised he waits until he gets a “complete recovery”, it was learnt.

    He has been receiving physiotherapy/treatment in the US upon leaving the German hospital in Hannover in March.

    Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam, who visited Suntai in New York and returned at the weekend, said Suntai received him well and spoke on phone with President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo.

    Taraba Acting Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, also said the hand of God is sheltering his boss.

    “We have seen the hand of God at work in your life,” Umar said yesterday in his goodwill message.

    According to him: “On this day, we once again have the opportunity to celebrate the grace, love, blessings, mercy, and kindness of Almighty God upon our leader, mentor, friend, brother and boss, His Excellency DanbabaSuntai, CON, as he clocks 52 years.

    “Though you are marking the event in far- away United States of America, where you are recovering from the injuries you sustained in the air mishap of October 25 last year, we join you in appreciating God for what He is doing in your life.

    “We do so with an abiding faith in the Creator, that He will bless you (Suntai) with many more years of active and meritorious service to our state, the nation and humanity.

    “We wish you a happy birthday anniversary and many returns.”

    Senator Emmanuel Bwacha(Taraba South), who also visited Suntai in New York and returned at the weekend, told The Nation that the birthday celebration will be more of thanksgiving and praises to the Lord.

    “This is his biggest testimony for the governor. His state (Taraba) and the country are joining him to thank God for his merciful wonders in his life,” he stated.

    Suntai’s children, family relatives and friends, including a few leaders from the country, will join him in New York for the celebration.

    His eldest daughter, Miss MariyaSuntai, who bagged her private license as a student pilot from an aviation school in Florida, will also join in the thanksgiving.

  • Crash: Taraba Justice Forum asks Suntai’s loyalists to give up

    Taraba Justice Forum (TJF), an association of professionals from the state, yesterday asked supporters of ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai to accept the reality of his inability to resume work following reports of his alleged relocation to a rehabilitation centre.

    The group says the inauguration of Alhaji Garba Umar as the substantive governor is thus inevitable under the circumstance and therefore calls for the invocation of Section 189 of the constitution.

    The Forum described fresh reports coming from John Hopkins University Hospital in the United States as “a vindication” of its position on Suntai

    The group in a statement by its President-General, Mr Daniel .A. Almukus insisted that Suntai’s condition remains bad.

    He said: “We have been vindicated in our calls for invocation of Section 189 of the 1999 Constitution to ascertain the state of health of the governor and commence process of confirmation of the acting governor as substantive governor of the state.

    “When we issued our statement a week ago, we were called all sorts of names. Now the facts are out. The governor is medically incapacitated.

    “It is time for his loyalists to give up and allow the constitution to prevail. This is how God destined Taraba political wind to blow and it is pointless resisting the will of God.

    “We are not rejoicing at what happened to the Governor. We fully sympathise with the family and his friend, the Acting Governor. What we frowned at is the attempt by some clique to hoodwink the state.

    “A governor is in a rehab and they keep on lying to us that he will soon be back. For how long are we going to allow this fraud to continue?”

    They called for the application of section 189 of the constitution to resolve the issue.

  • Suntai: Video clips stir controversy

    Suntai: Video clips stir controversy

    •Pictures, videos of governor are fake, says group

     •No, they are not- Commissioner 

    Some stakeholders in Taraba State have met in Abuja to perfect their plot to remove ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai from office.

    They are of the view that the state is stagnating on account of the Governor’s long absence from work on account of his hospitalisation, first in Germany and now the USA, for multiple injuries he suffered in a plane crash late last year.

    His supporters are pushing hard to frustrate moves to either cause the State Assembly to impeach him or the State Executive Council to remove him.

    They are believed to be the brains behind the circulation of pictures and video clips of the governor to give the impression that he is fast recovering.

    The Taraba Justice Forum (TJF) is not convinced by the pictures and video clips, dismissing them as fake.

    It challenged those circulating them to come up with credible evidence of recuperation or stop sharing false pictures and clips.

    The Nation gathered that the Taraba stakeholders, comprising some political leaders including federal legislators met between Tuesday and Thursday in Abuja on how to remove Suntai without rancour.

    A court is currently hearing a suit to stop the planned removal of the governor.

    Sources said that at a point, the stakeholders went to Kaduna on Wednesday for consultations with some influential citizens of the state.

    The priority of the stakeholders, sources said, is how to “guarantee a seamless transition for the acting Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar.”

    One of the options agreed upon is “a comprehensive consultation with ethnic associations, Christian groups and the Muslim community in the state.”

    A timeline of one month was set for the consultation before the removal of Suntai is effected.

    Similarly, the stakeholders agreed to present an action plan on the issue to the presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party any moment from now.

    One of the sources said: “We have agreed to replace Suntai with the acting governor in line with Section 189 of the 1999 Constitution.

    “Having met for three days, the stakeholders designed an exit plan for Suntai, including the readiness of the state to bear his medical bill.

    “We will present our proposals to the presidency and PDP leadership any time from next week.”

    Asked if they were no longer interested in the legal process to remove Suntai, the source said: “Our political decision will even hasten the legal action in court. Once, we are able to build consensus, Suntai’s fate will be sealed in court.”

    Justice Elvis Chukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja had, during the week, referred the suit to remove Suntai to the Federal High Court in Jalingo, Taraba State.

    He said the matter ought to have been heard in Taraba State in the absence of insecurity issues in the state.

    He declared that in line with the new policy direction of the Federal High Court, cases are to be heard in jurisdictions from where they emanate

    In dismissing the governor’s pictures and clips shown on NTA, the general secretary of the TJF, Mr. Abulus John said the circus show would lead the state nowhere.

    “The game started when a picture of Governor Jonah Jang with Suntai was released with the Plateau State governor assuring that Danbaba will soon return to the country to resume work. Four months after, Danbaba is yet to return. That is false propaganda one,” he said.

    “Few months ago and on more than three occasions, the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Emmanuel Bello, went on air to boast that he would put the governor on telephone once he reached Germany. Danbaba is well and he will soon be back, Bello told the whole world. The next thing we heard was that the governor has been flown to USA for intensive care

    “Up till date, Bello has not put the governor on telephone for Channels or any other medium. The next thing was a picture of the governor and his wife and another of the governor cutting birthday cake. All such pictures confirm that all is not well with Danbaba.”

    He added: “The last circus show was on NTA. It was so embarrassing that even the NTA had to apologise that the audio quality was bad. Why will there be a good visual without good audio? The fact is that the governor cannot talk or converse correctly because he is brain damaged.

    “If truly the governor is okay and recuperating why not take Channels and NTA along to USA so that they can independently interview the governor? Why are they bringing all these fake clips to further embarrass Taraba?

    “The fact is that the governor is not suffering from physical deformity but he is brain damaged and so medically incapacitated.

    “This is the bitter truth that Bello and others are trying to cover up. But the matter can no longer be swept under the carpet.”

    Responding to the allegation, the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Emmanuel Bello, said: “The pictures and videos showing Governor Suntai are not fake. I don’t understand. Are they saying anyone who visited the governor is also fake because all those who visited the governor took pictures with him? So, are they all lying?

    “In any case, those who say the pictures and videos are fake should prove their point. The onus of proof is on them. They are the ones making the charge.”

     

  • Taraba: Tension over move to smuggle in Suntai

    Taraba: Tension over move to smuggle in Suntai

    • Group asks Acting Gov to produce medical report
    • Pressure mounts on PDP, Assembly to confirm Umar

     

    Taraba State is on the edge again following an alleged plot to ‘smuggle’ in ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai from his sick bed abroad with a view to stopping the planned confirmation of Alhaji Garba Umar as substantive governor.

    Umar has been acting since the October 2012 air crash in Yola, Adamawa State, in which Suntai was injured.

    He is currently receiving treatment in the United States of America (USA) following initial medicare in Germany.

    The State Executive Council, comprising mostly loyalists of Suntai, is also said to be holding the acting governor to ransom by refusing to raise a Medical Board to advise it on Suntai’s health.

    Sources said pressure is mounting on the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the House of Assembly to confirm Umar as substantive governor.

    A pressure group, Taraba Justice Forum (TJF), yesterday asked the acting governor to produce an official medical report on Suntai’s state of health to justify why the state would have to await his return.

    It was gathered that the governor’s loyalists are resisting moves to confirm Umar by insisting that the governor will soon be back to resume work.

    They are pushing for what observers call the “Umaru Yar’Adua” treatment for Suntai while some others want the invocation of Section 189 of the Constitution.

    That section says: “The Governor or Deputy Governor of a state shall cease to hold office if (a) by a resolution passed by two-thirds majority of all members of the executive council of the state it is declared that the Governor or Deputy Governor is incapable of discharging the functions of his office; and

    “(b) the declaration in paragraph (a) of this subsection is verified, after such medical examination as may be necessary, by a medical panel established under subsection(4) of this section in its report to the Speaker of the House of Assembly.

    “Where the medical panel certifies in its report that in its opinion the Governor or Deputy Governor is suffering from such infirmity of body or mind as renders him permanently incapable of discharging the functions of his office, a notice thereof signed by the Speaker of the House of Assembly shall be published in the Official Gazette of the Government of the State.

    “The Governor or Deputy Governor shall cease to hold office as from the date of publication of the notice of the medical report pursuant to subsection (2) of this section.”

    It was gathered that to pave the way for the emergence of the acting governor as governor, the House of Assembly had in April impeached its Speaker, Mr. Istifanus Gbana, his deputy, Peter Abel Diah and the majority leader, Mr. Charles Maijankai.

    But enough support could not be mustered to declare Suntai incapacitated by the State Executive Council (SEC).

    Worried by the pressure on PDP leadership and the State House of Assembly, Suntai’s loyalists have opted for “Yar’Adua’s treatment.”

    A reliable source said: “There are plans to bring the governor back into the country by some of his loyalists. Under the plot, `the governor will be kept in a way that the public will be told the man is still recovering. You remember the dark room Yar`Adua was kept, that is what they are planning. I am making this disclosure because this game is not in the best interest of Suntai.

    “The PDP had set up a panel to check the health status of Suntai but loyalists of the governor have obtained court order to stop the panel from sitting.

    “Following the stalemate, President Jonathan has been considering Taraba Stakeholders Session to find constitutional and political solutions to the leadership vacuum in the state.

    “But Suntai loyalists want to stop such possibility. They want to stop the presidency from intervening.”

    Asked why the stakeholders cannot give Suntai some time to recover, the highly-placed source added: ‘‘We heard from the hospital that the governor could not recognise the acting governor when he visited. Umar too did not show any sign of surprise. We heard the governor said some things that made no meanings at all.”

    Another source added: “I think some Abuja politicians are just desperate to remove Suntai from office. They know the state of health of Suntai but they are blinded by hate politics. They cannot have their way in the State Executive Council.

    “They are also not taking cognisance of the fact that the acting Governor once said that Suntai is recovering.”

    It was, however, gathered that the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Taraba State House of Assembly are under pressure to confirm the acting governor.

    A party source added: “The presidency is getting security brief on Suntai’s health and at the appropriate time, the PDP leadership will be advised on how to consult with stakeholders and effect change… but a final decision will be taken in a manner that it would not breach the peace of the state.”

    The Taraba Justice Forum (TJF) in a statement by its General Secretary, John Ambulus, wondered why Umar is “playing along with those trying to stop the state from moving forward? Why is he joining them in lying to the public? It is time for him to ask for the medical records and let the public know the truth so that we can progress.

    “History will not forgive the acting governor if he fails to do the right thing at this critical point of the state history.”

  • PDP sets up panel on Suntai

    PDP sets up panel on Suntai

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday named Senator Hope Uzodinma the chairman of a seven-member panel to ascertain the health status of ailing Taraba State Governor Danbaba Suntai.

    Suntai has been in hospital overseas since last year following an injury he sustained when the plane he piloted crashed near Yola, the Adamawa State capital.

    The deputy dovernor, Garba Umar, has been acting as the governor.

    Suntai was recently said to have been transferred to a hospital in the United States for further treatment.

    But his condition is still subject to speculations.

    The PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, yesterday told reporters that the party found it expedient to intervene in the situation in Taraba.

    A statement the party chairman read at the media briefing stated the terms of reference of the panel as follows:

    . To find out and report the extent of the political harmony or otherwise among the key stakeholders within the ruling PDP family in Taraba State;

    . Interact and establish the most effective approach to reduce tothe barest minimum the fears of all the contending interests in Taraba State, among others.