STEPHEN OSU examines the unprecedented rigmarole in Taraba State between the ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai and acting governor Garba Umar and its chilling effect since the creation of the State 23 years ago.
In a matter of weeks,it would be two years since the ill-fated lightweight aircraft came down hard with the third executive governor of the twenty- three year old state of Taraba state Danbaba Danfulani Suntai. The governor piloted the aircraft himself and it was one of the many of such facilities that he has.
On board were his Chief Security Officer, his Chief Details and the ADC – all sustained various degrees of injuries – but the rest were treated in Hanova Germany. The case of the governor, who was the pilot of the aircraft was, however, different as he was later moved from Germany to the United states of America.
Before the global medical sojourn he was first evacuated from the crash site near Yola, the capital city of Adamawa state, to the specialist hospital Yola, a facility run by the some German health experts. He was later moved to the national hospital Abuja before he was flown to the Dutch country and later the United states of America.
As fate would have it, out of the four occupants of the crashed aircraft the devastating the effect of the crash was on the governor; the three security aides that crashed alongside with him all have made public appearances except the governor.
The drama in Germany
Several months after the ailing governor arrived the medical facility that he was evacuated to in Hanova, his close associate and personal physician, a professor of Medicine – Zakari Aliyu – undertook a visit to the hospital and raised alarm in the media that the governor’s family was starved of funds by the deputy he appointed few months before the crashed.
The medical expert also suggested in the alarm, that the ailing governor be moved from Germany to the United states of America. His comments attracted condemnations, the state house of assembly also setup a committee to invite Zakari and for the first time, lawyers were involved in carrying out the assembly responsibility.
The media was also not left out of the brouhaha, Fanene Ihyongo of The Nation newspapers covering Taraba was expelled by the state council of NUJ for reporting that he spoke with Suntai on phone while in Germany. Both Stephen Osu and Ben Adaji of Blueprint and National Trail respectively, were petitioned to the disciplinary committee of the union for reporting the unusual part of the health crisis.
His first return
It started as a rumour on the streets of Jalingo that the ailing governor had recovered well and will be in Jalingo. The hearsay lasted for months before Suntai finally emerged in Jalingo on the 25th August 2014 and it was jubilation all through that Sunday morning, as supporters took to the streets in show of solidarity. But days, weeks and months after the governor did not make any public appearance and he was returned to the United Kingdom for further medical care.
There were, however, alleged attempts by a cabal to take over the leadership of the state when it was visibly impossible for the ailing governor to ascend the mantle of leadership at that time. There were some major government decisions linked to the governor inclusive of a communication to the state assembly, the issue is already at the Supreme Court.
The second return
The movie was not different when the rumor resurfaced on the streets of Jalingo in May this year, that the ailing governor who was in the far away United Kingdom, would be back; the rumor again turned out to be the truth three months afterwards, when the ailing governor landed at the Nande Azikiwe international airport Abuja on the 13th September this year.
Prior to his arrival, there was a resolution by the state executive council, chaired by the acting governor Garba Umar, requesting the state house of assembly to constitute a five-man medical team to ascertain whether or not ailing governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai is permanently incapacitated.
Following the setting up of the five-man panel, the associates of the ailing governor saw the shadow the acting governor’s camp therein, considering him as overly ambitious,saying he is ripping where he did not sow, while alleging that the aim of the move was to oust the ailing governor whom they said is fit to resume duty.
The game plan
There was also the speculation that the associates of the ailing governor brought him back preparatory to the November governorship primaries of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, but the chief press secretary to Governor Suntai, Hassan Mijinyawa denied this in a press statement, saying the governor has served his successive two terms as stipulated by the constitution.
A press statement by Suntai support group, signed by Ezekiel Gambo, accused acting governor Garba Umar of being too ambitious as to overthrow his ailing boss. The statement however said the ailing governor is fit to assume duty as governor.
But the acting governor denied all the accusations. According to him, the resolution on the ailing governor’s health status was a unanimous decision of the council, pursuant to section 189 of the 1999 constitution as amended.
Speaking through his Special Assistant on Media, Aaron Artimas, the acting governor said it was not too fair for Suntai handlers to take him to a private guest house when Taraba state governors’ lodge was there for the ailing governor and all the staff are his staff.
Reacting to a question on wether or not the acting governor is ready to handover powers to his ailing boss, he said the responsibility is that of the state house of assembly and moreover there is a pending court case and any contrary move would be prejudice.
Meanwhile, the theater for the Suntai return Drama is moved from Jalingo to Abuja the federal capital territory, all the actors involved therein have also relocated to where it is happening, but the common prayer on the lips of Christians and Muslims in the nooks and crannies of Taraba is for justice to be allowed to prevail.
