After
about eight months in German and United States hospitals, ailing Taraba State
Governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai, is eager to return home.
about eight months in German and United States hospitals, ailing Taraba State
Governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai, is eager to return home.
The
governor, who survived an air crash in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, last
October – he was the pilot – has told his doctors to allow him return home,
Taraba State officials who visited him said yesterday. They spoke to our
reporter in Jalingo.
governor, who survived an air crash in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, last
October – he was the pilot – has told his doctors to allow him return home,
Taraba State officials who visited him said yesterday. They spoke to our
reporter in Jalingo.
Suntai
sustained multiple injuries, and was initially flown to Germany from where he
was taken to the United States.
sustained multiple injuries, and was initially flown to Germany from where he
was taken to the United States.
The
officials, however, added that doctors, particularly the physiotherapist
handling Suntai, advised that it would be unwise to fly him back now. They
urged him to stay a little more and get “full recovery” before returning to
continue with his job.
officials, however, added that doctors, particularly the physiotherapist
handling Suntai, advised that it would be unwise to fly him back now. They
urged him to stay a little more and get “full recovery” before returning to
continue with his job.
They also
reportedly advised against receiving too many visitors who are also warned
against discussing politics with him.
reportedly advised against receiving too many visitors who are also warned
against discussing politics with him.
It was
gathered that contrary to claims, the ailing governor was never taken to the
John Hopkins University Hospital in the United States. Suntai has been
receiving physiotherapy/treatment at a clinic residence in New York since
leaving the German Hospital in Hannover in March.
gathered that contrary to claims, the ailing governor was never taken to the
John Hopkins University Hospital in the United States. Suntai has been
receiving physiotherapy/treatment at a clinic residence in New York since
leaving the German Hospital in Hannover in March.
The
Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Taraba State Specialist Hospital, who is also
the governor’s physician, Prof. Zakari Yusuf Aliyu, had suggested that Suntai
be evacuated from the German hospital to the U.S.’ John Hopkins because,
according to him, it has better medical gadgets to treat the governor’s
ailments.
Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Taraba State Specialist Hospital, who is also
the governor’s physician, Prof. Zakari Yusuf Aliyu, had suggested that Suntai
be evacuated from the German hospital to the U.S.’ John Hopkins because,
according to him, it has better medical gadgets to treat the governor’s
ailments.
Aliyu
said Suntai was suffering from “spinal cord persistent” and “closed head
injury” which made him have “expressive and receptive alphasia”.
said Suntai was suffering from “spinal cord persistent” and “closed head
injury” which made him have “expressive and receptive alphasia”.
A
member of the Taraba State House of Assembly and a friend to the Suntai family,
Hon. Mark Useni, told The Nation that Suntai had recovered and was looking good
when he was with him a few days ago.
member of the Taraba State House of Assembly and a friend to the Suntai family,
Hon. Mark Useni, told The Nation that Suntai had recovered and was looking good
when he was with him a few days ago.
“The
governor has recovered and even said he is tired of the environment there. His
return is only being delayed on the advice of his doctors,” Useni said.
governor has recovered and even said he is tired of the environment there. His
return is only being delayed on the advice of his doctors,” Useni said.
Useni,
along with a former Deputy Speaker of the Taraba Assembly, Hon. Abel Peter
Diah, and the Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr. Rebo Usman, who visited the
ailing governor in New York, returned at the weekend.
along with a former Deputy Speaker of the Taraba Assembly, Hon. Abel Peter
Diah, and the Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr. Rebo Usman, who visited the
ailing governor in New York, returned at the weekend.
On
whether the governor could walk, read and talk, Useni said: “I cannot lie to
you. We spent a long time with the governor, chatting. When we went outside and
took photographs with him, he suggested that we should go to the Green House to
conclude our discussions.
whether the governor could walk, read and talk, Useni said: “I cannot lie to
you. We spent a long time with the governor, chatting. When we went outside and
took photographs with him, he suggested that we should go to the Green House to
conclude our discussions.
“While
we were with him (Suntai), the Venezuelan Ambassador to Nigeria called him and
they had a lengthy discussion on the telephone. If the governor is not well,
what would he be telling the Venezuelan ambassador on the telephone for such a
long time?
we were with him (Suntai), the Venezuelan Ambassador to Nigeria called him and
they had a lengthy discussion on the telephone. If the governor is not well,
what would he be telling the Venezuelan ambassador on the telephone for such a
long time?
“Yet,
while we were still with the governor, the chairman of the Taraba Muslim
Pilgrim Board also called from Nigeria and they spoke,” Useni said.
while we were still with the governor, the chairman of the Taraba Muslim
Pilgrim Board also called from Nigeria and they spoke,” Useni said.
Useni
added that as they were chatting with the governor, a House of Representatives
member representing Bali/Gassol Federal Constituency, Hon. Haruna Manu, also
joined and took photographs with him.
added that as they were chatting with the governor, a House of Representatives
member representing Bali/Gassol Federal Constituency, Hon. Haruna Manu, also
joined and took photographs with him.
Hon.
Abel Peter Diah said their visit to Suntai was not official.
Abel Peter Diah said their visit to Suntai was not official.
“When
I saw the governor walking and talking well with us, I said in my heart that
human beings are wicked – this is a man they are saying he is in a vegetable
state.
I saw the governor walking and talking well with us, I said in my heart that
human beings are wicked – this is a man they are saying he is in a vegetable
state.
“When
we arrived, we were waiting for him on the ground floor. He came down from an
elevator.
we arrived, we were waiting for him on the ground floor. He came down from an
elevator.
“He
greeted all of us by name and even asked about those at home. So, I began to
wonder – is this a dream?
greeted all of us by name and even asked about those at home. So, I began to
wonder – is this a dream?
“You
wouldn’t believe that when we were discussing, he (Suntai) told us not to
bother about what people say about him.”
wouldn’t believe that when we were discussing, he (Suntai) told us not to
bother about what people say about him.”
Acting
Governor Alhaji Garba Umar, who also recently saw his boss in the United
States, said his condition had improved so fast, contrary to what he (Umar) was
told at home by Suntai’s opponents.
Governor Alhaji Garba Umar, who also recently saw his boss in the United
States, said his condition had improved so fast, contrary to what he (Umar) was
told at home by Suntai’s opponents.
Garba
said on BBC Hausa News service at the weekend, that he supported that Suntai
should continue to stay in the United States for “complete recovery”.
said on BBC Hausa News service at the weekend, that he supported that Suntai
should continue to stay in the United States for “complete recovery”.
It was
gathered that Suntai’s residence in his village, Bali, has been renovated.
gathered that Suntai’s residence in his village, Bali, has been renovated.
Besides,
there are dresses emblazoned with the governor’s portrait – all in anticipation
of his arrival.
there are dresses emblazoned with the governor’s portrait – all in anticipation
of his arrival.
It was
gathered that Suntai has not been told that former Speaker Istifanus Haruna
Gbana, his then deputy, and the majority leader, had been impeached.
gathered that Suntai has not been told that former Speaker Istifanus Haruna
Gbana, his then deputy, and the majority leader, had been impeached.
Diah
said even when the governor sought to know whether the House of Assembly under
their leadership was cordial with his deputy (Garba Umar), he just answered in
the affirmative –that “all is well”.
said even when the governor sought to know whether the House of Assembly under
their leadership was cordial with his deputy (Garba Umar), he just answered in
the affirmative –that “all is well”.
Suntai
has also not been told that National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has set up a party panel to probe his health and
office, and the matter and other sundry litigations against his prolong absence
were in court.
has also not been told that National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has set up a party panel to probe his health and
office, and the matter and other sundry litigations against his prolong absence
were in court.
Senator
Emmanuel Bwacha (Taraba South) also spoke to The Nation on telephone from New
York at the weekend while with Suntai.
Emmanuel Bwacha (Taraba South) also spoke to The Nation on telephone from New
York at the weekend while with Suntai.
Bwacha
said he was surprised that Suntai’s opponents were not God-fearing, in spite of
God’s wonders on the Taraba governor.
said he was surprised that Suntai’s opponents were not God-fearing, in spite of
God’s wonders on the Taraba governor.
“Let
anyone say whatever he or she wants (on the governor’s health). I am with the
governor now, but I don’t want to react to what people say because when they
misinform the public and you are trying to say the true things, they say you
are playing politics.
anyone say whatever he or she wants (on the governor’s health). I am with the
governor now, but I don’t want to react to what people say because when they
misinform the public and you are trying to say the true things, they say you
are playing politics.
“But
may God forgive them so that they can repent. They will soon see the governor
returning hale and hearty,” Bwacha added.
may God forgive them so that they can repent. They will soon see the governor
returning hale and hearty,” Bwacha added.
Source:
The Nation
The Nation
