Taraba: Where is ex-Governor Suntai?

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 illfated 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? Genesis, nemesis 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