DANBABA SUNTAI SPEAKING WITH REPORTERS AT THE JALINGO AIRPORT IN JUNE BEFORE HE TRAVELED OUT TO LONDON FOR CHECK UP
Amid growing speculations that political associates of the recuperating Taraba State Governor, Danbaba Suntai, are reportedly plotting to return him to office in an active role, the acting governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, has described those behind the move as interested in power than a sincere concern for Suntai’s health.
Suntai, who was involved in an air mishap in October 2012, spent close to a year in hospitals in Germany and the United States of America, where he was treated for the life-threatening injuries he sustained.
However, he was flown back to Nigeria last August with the intent of resuming so as to prevent his deputy from being confirmed as acting governor, but his state of fitness soon became public knowledge as it was revealed that Suntai could barely recognize anyone and muttered incoherent words.
He was flown to London, United Kingdom in June this year for scheduled medical checkup and has not returned.
Speaking in a chat with reporters in Jalingo, the state capital yesterday, the Senior Special Assistant to the Acting Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Aaron Artimas, described the imminent return of Governor Suntai to the state as desperation by those who have their eyes set on 2015.
“Why are they so desperate about 2015; the truth is that those people don’t mean well for Danbaba and the state. They are only concerned about power and themselves”, Artimas said.
In a related development, the Taraba Peoples Assembly has warned that the plan to return Suntai to the state by his political associates will again deteriorate his health.
The group’s coordinator, Martin Andekin, in a statement, alleged that the latest plot to bring the governor into the country was aimed at disrupting the fragile political peace in the state with the ultimate goal being for the recuperating Suntai to take over the reins of power of the state from the acting governor, thereby launching another round of political chaos in the state.
“For several months Governor Suntai has been placed under intensive care to at least reverse his downward slide. Our governor is now, as before, a toy in the hands of agents of darkness desperate to rule Taraba by proxy”, the group said.
The group said the governor’s associates have neglected members of the governor’s family after their refusal to play politics with Suntai’s health.
“No member of the cabal has contributed to the upkeep of the governor or give support to his family. They want him to just return and use him to achieve their selfish political goals”, the group alleged.