Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba
State on Sunday afternoon arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport,
Abuja after spending about 10 months abroad for treatment for injuries
sustained when a small aircraft he piloted crashed.
The governor, who left Nigeria
for Germany in October, was supported on his right and left arms by
aides while disembarking from a chartered Gulfstream aircraft with registration
number G4 at the domestic wing of the airport.
The aircraft touched down on
the tarmac at about 12.41pm and the governor was immediately driven
to the VIP lounge of the airport in a Toyota Land Cruiser.
At the lounge, he sat between
two men before he proceeded to Jalingo, the Taraba State capital where
two advance aircraft marked N224BA and 5NBMR were already on the ground.
Suntai was visibly weak and could not
speak, but his associates told journalists that the long haul flight from the
United States where he had the last phase of his treatment, made him tired.
He was shielded from responding
to questions from journalists by heavily armed security personnel.
But a personal friend to
Suntai, Mr. John Dara, said, “I am fully in the picture in all the arrangements
for his return and we are really excited to see him back. What is
clear is that after the long haul flight from the US, he is obviously weak and
tired.
“But we are thrilled by the fact that
he recognised each of us and called us by our names. This shows that he is
mentally alert and this is an indication that he is capable of running the
affairs of the state as governor.”
On why he was prevented from speaking
with journalists, Dara said, “Normally, talking to press can be spontaneous and
can be organised; but we felt that when he has rested well, it will be easier
for him to address the press logically.”
Another associate of the
governor and a former of member Niger Delta Development
Commission board , Mr. Rima Shawulu, said that
Suntai would commence work in earnest.
He said, “We have no doubt in our minds
that when he gets to Jalingo later today (Sunday), it will be whether he will
resume today or in a couple of days from now. But he is clearly okay and
able to function.
“It is what the doctors report says
about him that should be followed. When I met him in Germany in February, he
did not look like somebody that had lost his senses. We discussed.
He told me things and asked me to do some things for him which I did.”
A board member of the Peoples
Democratic Party, Prof. Jerry Gana, who was part of a Peoples Democratic Party
team that welcomed the governor, also told journalists that Suntai was
strong enough to start work.
He said, “We thank God for his safe
arrival and he is hale and hearty as you can see. We give God the glory that he
has returned to start work as governor in his state.”
Suntai arrived Jalingo
around 3.45pm aboard another chartered aircraft marked 5N-12Y amid tight
security and cheers by government officials, his friends and
sympathisers.
Before he alighted from the plane,
his wife, Hauwa, first entered to greete him and then his deputy, Alhaji Garba
Umar, who ran the affairs of the state in acting capacity.
When Umar came out of the aircraft,
Suntai emerged, this time, assisted by his wife, who led him into an unmarked
marooned Range Rover Sports HSE.
The Range Rover –Sports HSE
made straight for the governor’s lodge in Jalingo with the
ailing governor waving to the people that had gathered to welcome him.
Some of them were heard shouting “ya
dawo”, meaning ‘he has come’ while others were saying “shi ne”, meaning ‘he is
the one.’
Security chiefs in the state,
including the commissioner of police and the director of the State Security
Services were cited at the lodge but it was unclear if they were able to
see the governor, whom doctors asked to observe
a 72 hour-bed rest
Meanwhile, Plateau State
Governor has dismissed rumours that he financed
Suntai’s return.
The Commissioner for
Information and Communication, Mr. Abraham Yiljap, told our correspondent
in Jos that Jang didn’t have to do so since
the government and people of his state were capable
of financing his return.
He said, “Governor Jang did not have
to shoulder the financial responsibility for his return as the government
of Taraba and people and people of good will were very capable of
undertaking the operation; after all he (Suntai ) is a sitting governor.
Abraham said that Jang was
happy that the governor was back in the country.
He added, “Jang prayed and visited
him in Germany when he was first taken. He encourages him and he (Jang)
will continue to support him in any way to fulfill God’s plan and purpose
in his life.
“His return gives Jang a feeling of
exhilaration. Being back in the presence of his people will offer
him the perfect atmosphere for complete healing.”
Tags
Politics
ThankGod he is still alive,but we can see he is nolonger fit to rule a state,why don't he resign and let governance continue.must the always hold a state and country stand still by their incapacitation?why northerners love power like dis? Nawaooo,naked we came and naked we will go.
ReplyDeleteIt has nothing 2 do with north bro, It is an African thing.
ReplyDeleteWell we will see we know the man is not mentally fit to work.
ReplyDelete