ONE DEATH TOO MANY...AS BABANGIDA, YOUNGER BROTHER OF FORMER GOVERNOR DANBABA SUNTAI, DIES HOURS AFTER HIS BURIAL

In and around Jigawa State, especially in the sleepy and serene town of Suntai in Bali Local Government Area of the state, the grief is profound, palpable and pervasive. It is understandable. Within the last two months, the town has lost its prominent son, Danbaba Suntai, a former governor of the state. Suntai’s death didn’t really come as a shock to his kith and kin as he had been vegetative and bedridden since a plane he piloted crashed in Yola, Adamawa State in October 2012. He died about five years after on June 28th in Orlando, Florida, United States while undergoing rehabilitation for brain injuries he sustained during the crash. The former governor was buried in his country home in Bali. Hardly had the pallbearers and mourners vacated the burial site than news of the death of his younger brother, Babangida, pierced the fragile peace of the community. Many wailed and wondered what cruel fate had befallen the illustrious family that had in no little way contributed to the uplift of the state in general. The younger Suntai who was very close to his brother and had held the fort for him since his unfortunate crash was regarded as the nexus that held both the biological and political families of Suntai together. Babangida died in Abuja few hours after his brother was committed to mother earth. fact that Nuhu comes almost complete and as such has no reason not to have had his pick of any girl he so desires. The son of Fulani Kwajafa, a retired police commissioner and former boss of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Nuhu is a six footer blessed with the physique of an athlete and the good looks of a movie star. He is a silver spoon and highly connected in the corridors of power. For the past decade however, Nuhu has dedicated his life to humanitarianism through his Global Initiative for Peace, Love & Care, GIPLC, which has been actively involved in humanitarian activities in Nigeria. The NGO, according to Nuhu, raised over $4m for children with critical medical conditions, saying, “We have supported over 4000 orphans and vulnerable children through a ‘back to school’ program. GIPLC has also supported 35 orphanages with food, cloths, beverages etc, on a monthly basis for 10yrs now through its end of month food drive for the less privileged.” In 2014, GIPLC visited South Sudan in the middle of its civil war to support refugee children on the invitation of the country’s First Lady. Another remarkable charity initiative by GIPLC was the successful raising of $234,000 within 72hrs for the surgery of the first baby ever born on earth without 50% of her skull and was operated on in the USA by the renown surgeon, Dr Ben Carson. It is a popular story that Nuhu once sold his only car to pay for the surgery of a dying baby. Despite all these activities, his physical attributes and access to wealth and power, Nuhu has yet to settle down. Many of his friends have taunted him on end about his single status despite being a hit among ladies, but he tells them that it would happen at the right time. What time would be right for the Borno State native? Who knows? Nuhu may truly be waiting for God’s time as some of his friends