Events moved at an amazing rapidity in Taraba
State following the plane crash involving
former Governor Danbaba Suntai in
October 2012. His continued
absence on medical vacation
overseas even with his then deputy
assuming office in acting capacity
never helped matters. Rather, it led
to a whirlwind of controversies that
created a rumble which threatened
the very political fabric of the
North-East state ahead of 2015
general elections. Where is
Danbaba Suntai, and what is his
current health status? This is one
question Daily Trust on Sunday
sought answers to in this piece.
With the 2015 elections over and a
new government put in place in
Taraba, Suntai’s matter appeared to
have gone with the wind. To many
analysts, he has been reduced to a
song unheard. This has left several
questions begging for answers:
Where is the ailing former Taraba
State governor in the aftermath of
the 2015 election? What is his
current health status arising from
the ill-fated air accident? Has he
been abandoned to his fate as is
being alleged in some quarters?
What is his current status in the
scheme of Taraba politics?
Suntai had always had a date with
history. Providence beckoned on
him when he became governor of
Taraba state in 2007 even without
aspiring for the coveted office. He
was sworn in on May 29, 2011 for a
second term upon winning the
governorship election for the year.
Though a pharmacist by training,
Suntai enrolled for training as a
pilot at the Nigerian College of
Aviation in Zaria in 2010 and was
thus licensed, albeit under
controversial circumstances, as a
qualified pilot.
Prior to his plane crash in 2012,
Suntai had been flown to Germany
for medication after returning from
his annual leave in August 2009,
following a sudden ailment that
was suspected to have developed
from food poisoning.
Upon returning from Germany,
Suntai confirmed that his illness
was actually as a result of food
poisoning. He spoke at the opening
ceremony of a three-day regional
convention of the Full Gospel
Businessmen’s Fellowship
International in Jalingo, the Taraba
State capital, where he told the
congregation that his meal was
actually poisoned.
Although he could not give further
details of the food poisoning,
Suntai, who used the occasion to
offer thanksgiving to God for
sparing his life, also thanked the
people of Taraba State for praying
for him during his overseas medical
trip.
He had had several successful
flights with his private aircraft even
while piloting the affairs of Taraba
State as governor. But his current
travails started precisely on
October 25, 2012, when a private
plane he piloted crashed in Yola,
the Adamawa State capital. After
receiving the initial treatment at
the Adamawa Standard German
Hospital in Yola he was later
transferred to the National Hospital
Abuja on October 26, 2012. From
there he was flown to Germany and
was later taken to a rehabilitation
centre in the United States for
further medication.
Consequently, there was a
crescendo of political brouhaha in
Taraba state amplified by a
‘conspiracy of silence’ over Suntai’s
health status in the aftermath of
the accident.
After 10 months of medical sojourn
overseas, Danbaba Danfulani Suntai
finally returned to the country on
August 23, 2013 following claims by
his supporters backed by a ‘cabal’
that he was fit to return to
Government House, Jalingo.
But after weeks of political
intrigues in the North-East state
based on claims and counterclaims
over his health status, it was
revealed that the former Taraba
State governor was not healthy
enough to live in Nigeria without
adequate treatment, or to govern a
state.
He was subsequently flown abroad
again for treatment, even as his
then deputy, Garba Umar, was
empowered by the Taraba State
House of Assembly to fully take
over the ship of the state in acting
capacity. He was brought back in
the build-up to the 2015 elections
and remained confined in Jalingo
until after the change of guards on
May 29, 2015.
Suntai now in Florida, USA
Following the swearing in of
Architect Darius Ishaku as governor
of Taraba State on May 29 last year,
Danbaba Suntai’s condition was
said to have deteriorated
prompting, his return back to the
United States where he is currently
undergoing periodic therapy.
Checks by Daily Trust on Sunday
have shown that Suntai was ferried
back to the US in June last year and
has been living at a private
residence in Orlando, Florida. He is
said to be living there with his
family members, including his wife,
Hauwa, who shuttles between US,
Dubai and Nigeria.
Mariya, one of the daughters of
Suntai got married to Shehu
Abdullahi on Friday December 11,
2015 at a colourful ceremony held in
Abuja, Nigeria, but Suntai was not
present at the wedding ceremony.
His wife, Hauwa, was present.
However, he was said to have
witnessed the wedding of another
of his daughter, Zainab, who got
married to a Canadian. Although
the traditional marriage rites were
said to have taken place in Nigeria,
the white wedding took place in
Orlando, USA on August 13 this year
and was witnessed by Suntai.
Photographs of both weddings went
viral on the social media.
It was gathered that while he
remained on his medical sojourn in
the United States, the Taraba State
government and close associates of
the former governor have
abandoned him to his fate even as
his health deteriorates. A source
said the Taraba State government
has been overwhelmed by the cost
of catering for Suntai’s family and
his medication, especially in the
face of the current recession.
Consequently, Adamawa State
Governor Bindo Umaru Jibrila, was
said to have taken over the task of
shouldering part of financial
responsibility to Sunai’s family.
Coordinator of the Taraba Peoples’
Assembly, Martins Andekin had, in
an article titled, ‘Let’s pray for
Governor Danbaba Suntai,’
lamented that those who rode on
the former governor’s back to get
political offices in the state had
abandoned him as his health
deteriorates daily.
The article reads in part: “While
Governor Danbaba was battling for
his life in a German hospital, the
group, now widely known as the
cabal, spread all forms of lies,
falsehoods and propaganda to
mislead and hoodwink ordinary
people to believe that indeed,
Danbaba had miraculously
recovered and would return in a
matter of days.
“Twice, the cabal abducted
Governor Danbaba Suntai from his
sick bed in America and Great
Britain, claiming that he had
recovered. The two incidents ended
in total disaster and disgrace for
the organizers.
“As soon as Sani Abubakar Danladi
was installed, Danbaba Suntai was
completely abandoned by these so-
called associates and some
members of the Christian
Association of Nigeria, who claimed
to be fighting for him…”
A former commissioner for
information in Taraba State,
recently appointed senior special
assistant on public affairs to
Governor Ishaku, Emmanuel Bello,
insisted that Suntai had not been
abandoned.
Bello, who confirmed that Suntai is
currently in Orlando, USA, said he is
still recuperating while undergoing
physiotherapy.
“He recently had a public function
when he gave out his daughter at a
small wedding event in the state.
He is undergoing a lot of
physiotherapy and is doing well. He
is surrounded by family and
friends,” Bello said.
The Senior Special Assistant on
Media and Publicity to Taraba State
Governor, Sylvanus Giwa, also
confirmed that Suntai is currently
living in Orlando, USA.
Giwa said Suntai was living at a
private residence in Orlando, where
a team of doctors come to attend
to him occasionally. “His wife,
children and family members are
there, and he is getting stable
everyday,” Giwa said.
Giwa also denied allegations of
abandonment, insisting that the
state government is still footing
Suntai’s medical bills.
Babangida Suntai, younger brother
to the ailing former governor, is
embittered over the current state
of his brother. Asked to comment
on Suntai’s current health status,
Babangida fumed: “Was it not you
people (referring to the media) that
were busy claiming that all was well
with him; what else do you want to
hear from me?’’
With that, Babangida ended the call
after telling this reporter never to
contact him over Sunta’s ill health
again.
The pertinent question is: How long
will Suntai remain in Orlando, USA
to undergo his physiotherapy, and
when will he return back to Nigeria?
Emmanuel Bello and his
counterpart on media and publicity,
Sylvanus Giwa, said they could not
provide an answer to this question.

-DAILY TRUST