SUNTAI SUFFERS RELAPSE, SET TO BE FLOWN ABROAD

Former governor of Taraba State, Danbaba Suntai, who has been battling with health challenges following injuries sustained in an air mishap in 2012 is likely to be flown abroad again.
LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered from sources close to the corridors of power at Government House, Jalingo, that the government was irked by reports of its abandoning Suntai, and may have decided to wade in though it has cost the state millions of naira to offset Suntai’s medical bills abroad.
Suntai, who celebrated his 53rd birthday anniversary on June 30, 2015 at his private house in Jalingo, has truly been abandoned by friends and well-wishers, a situation which has become most worrisome to the family members. He is believed to have suffered a setback in his health a few days ago.

TARABA ACTING GOVERNOR DECLARES SUNTAI MISSING

The acting governor of Taraba State, Alhaji Garba Umar, has disclosed that his principal, Governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai, is missing.
Umar, who stated this yesterday in Jalingo during a media chat with journalists, said that he had not set his eyes on his boss, Governor Suntai, since he was smuggled into the country by a certain cabal.
“Few of my aides and I were already at the domestic wing of the airport to receive my boss but, unknowingly to me, the cabal was already waiting at the international wing of the airpot where the plane conveying my boss was directed to land.
When I got to know that the plane landed at the international wing, I rushed to the place to receive him, but he was in a jeep which immediately drove him to T.Y. Danjuma Lodge,” he said.

I WON’T APPEAR BEFORE MEDICAL PANEL, SAYS SUNTAI

Ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State has said that he will not appear before the recently-constituted medical panel set up by the state House of Assembly to determine his state of health.
The Speaker, Mr. Josiah Sabo Kente, had set up a five-man medical team to investigate the “true state of health” of Suntai.
The action followed a letter from the State Executive Council to the lawmakers to constitute a medical panel to ascertain the “mental and physical condition of the governor so as to know whether he is capable of steering the affairs of the state.”
The five-man medial panel has Prof. B.B Shehu as chairman. Others are Dr. Inusa Samaila, Prof. Peter Alabi, Dr. Shehu Sule and Dr. Ahmed Kara, who is Suntai’s personal physician, as members.

TARABA HOUSE CONSTITUTES MEDICAL TEAM TO ASCERTAIN GOVERNOR’S STATE OF HEALTH

• They were Handpicked By Acting Governor, Says Suntai’s Loyalist 
A five man medical team to ascertain the actual health condition of Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State has been constituted by the leadership of the state House of Assembly.
In a press statement signed and made available to journalists yesterday in Jalingo, the need to constitute the panel, according to the Speaker of the House, Josiah Sabo Kente, has become necessary, following the unanimous decision of members of the Executive Council of the state to embark on the process.
It would be recall that during their last Executive meeting in the state, the Council collectively beckoned at the House to, as a matter of urgency, constitute the required number of medical team to investigate the health of Gov. Suntai.
The five-man panel, which is to be chair by Professor B.B Shehu, has Dr. inusa Sumaila, Professor Peter Alabi, Dr.Shehu Sule and Dr. Ahmed Kara, the personal physician to Governor Suntai, as members.

JONATHAN VISITS SUNTAI ATTEMPT TO RETURN GOVERNOR TO POWER IS A POLITICAL COUP, SAYS GROUP

The recuperating Governor of Taraba State, Danbaba Suntai, last night paid host to President Goodluck Jonathan.
Since his return, Suntai has been staying at the guest house of Gen. T.Y. Danjuma (rtd) in Abuja.
The low key event was witnessed by Suntai’s wife, Hauwa, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha and Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Gebons Kataps. Sources at the event told THISDAY that the president, led by Danjuma met Suntai in high spirits.
“On sighting Suntai, the president beamed and said: “But you are back now.”
Suntai then thanked the president for his support through out his ordeal. He also asked the president to thank his wife, the first lady, who visited him in the United Kingdom where he went for treatment,” he said.
The source added that the president also expressed his happiness at the recovery of the governor.

SUNTAI SHUNS DEPUTY AT ABUJA AIRPORT

…Moves to reclaim office from Umar
The face-off between recuperating Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State and his deputy, Garba Umar, rekindled yesterday, upon the return of the former to Nigeria from overseas treatment.
Competent sources said that security men attached to Suntai blocked Umar from seeing his boss over claims that he had concluded plans to declare the governor incapacitated following the 2012 air crash that resulted in prolonged hospitalisation abroad.
Vanguard learnt that although Umar had gone to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja around midnight on Saturday to welcome back his boss from his overseas treatment, security men attached to the governor, stopped him from seeing Suntai.
Umar reportedly left the airport in frustration after many unfruitful attempts to meet with Suntai, who was ferried into the country by a chartered private aircraft just before midnight.

ANXIETY OVER PLAN TO DECLARE SUNTAI INCAPACITATED

Taraba State Governor Danbaba Suntai’s health is stirring controversy again in the state.
Yesterday, a group alleged that the state executive council had voted to ask the House of Assembly to declare the governor as incapacitated.
According to the group, the intention is to get Suntai, who is expected back from his medical trip abroad this week, impeached to clear the way for acting Governor Garba Umar as governor.
Coordinator of Tarabans United for Suntai (TUS), Ezekiel Gambo in a statement said “the governor’s health has considerably improved.”
He added: “We are using this medium to disprove reports emanating from Garba Umar and the Deputy Governor’s camp that the Suntai is now fully incapacitated,” he said.
Gambo said the governor will return “any time this week.”

SUNTAI FOR MEDICAL CHECK-UP IN LONDON

Taraba State Governor, Danbaba Danfulani Suntai will Tuesday leave the country for London, United Kingdom for medical checkup.
The governor was flown from Jalingo to Abuja in a Skyjet plane marked ZS-KBS Monday afternoon.
With him on the trip were his Chief Detail, Joel Danladi and the Chief Security Officer (CSO) Tino Dangana who survived the air crashwith him, his Chief of Staff Aminu Jika, his brother Babangida Suntai and other loyalists.
Suntai’s Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Hassan Mijinyawa told TheNation that the governor will spend 14 days abroad before returning home.

SUNTAI ADMITS HE’S NOT FIT TO GOVERN TARABA STATE

Recuperating Governor of Taraba State, DanBaba Suntai, has in an interview admitted that he is still not well enough to resume office as the governor of the state.
Appearing in a video recording, which was posted on YouTube, Suntai, who was surrounded by some of his aides in the two-minute, 20-second interview, was incoherent in his response to the questions posed to him.
For example, when asked whether he was fit enough to return to office as an executive governor of Taraba State, Suntai in a shaking and low tone replied, “I can tell you that it is well with me to return to my office simply because I want you to support me. You know the truth, I am not well at all to return to office as I am now.”

FRESH ATTEMPT BY GOVERNOR SUNTAI TO RESUME OFFICE FAILS AS HE COULD NOT RECOGNIZE ASO ROCK

A fresh attempt by a political cabal in Taraba State to return to office Danbaba Suntai, the governor who suffered brain injuries in a 2012 plane crash, failed yesterday following a weeklong series of maneuvers.
Working in collaboration with some media outlets, the cabal last Monday took the ailing governor to his office in Jalingo along with some of his physical therapists to see if he could be smuggled back into office but after five minutes, Mr. Suntai could not tell what he was doing. He was then rushed back to the governor’s mansion where, when asked where he was, he answered, “Airport.”

GOVERNOR SUNTAI FLOWN TO ABUJA

Governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai of Taraba State has been flown to Abuja to meet with President Goodluck Jonathan in an effort to ascertain his fitness to resume office as governor of the state.
Sunday Trust gathered reliably that Governor Suntai was flown away in a private jet from the Jalingo airport at about 3.45pm on Friday.
This happened without the knowledge of the state acting governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, who was also said to be in Abuja.
Meanwhile, a group known as Taraba Concerned Indigenes yesterday expressed concern over the whereabouts of Governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai, who was said to have been ‘whisked’ out of the state by some people Friday afternoon without the knowledge of government and people of the state.

SUNTAI’S TRAVEL ABROAD FOR TREATMENT STALLED AS AIDES HOLD ON TO HIS PASSPORT

ABUJA—MOVE by the Taraba State government to fly out the ailing governor of the state, Governor Danbaba Suntai overseas for further medical treatment was said tohave suffered setback against the backdrop that the travelling passport of the governor was reportedly in possession of two of his top associates who have refused to release it.
Meanwhile, strong indications emerged yesterday that plans were underway to impeach both the ailing governor and the acting governor, Garba Umar, to pave way for the Speaker of the State Assembly to preside over the conduct of the 2015 election.
It was gathered that the wife of the governor had agreed for further medical treatment for her husband, but Suntai’s associates were said to have held on to the passport even after what the source described as repeated requests from the family.

RECUPERATING SUNTAI GOES FISHING

RECUPERATING Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State shook off officialdom yesterday.
He drove out of Government House Jalingo to go fishing.
The hunting ground was his fish pond located near the School of Nursing at Jalingo Bye-pass in the state capital.
Suntai, wearing a grey sports suit, was accompanied by members of his family, security agents, friends, aides and newsmen.
Among them were his wife, Hauwa; their twin children, his younger brother Babangida Suntai; Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Publicity, Mr. Sylvanus Giwa, and Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Hassan Mijinyawa.
His over one hour expedition, however, yielded no catch.
The governor jokingly said the fish cheated on him.
“Kifin sun chuche ni, dun sun liga su chi abichi,” he said in Hausa, meaning: “the fish cheated on me because they are already fed.”

SUNTAI’S WIFE ADMITS HE IS UNFIT TO RUN TARABA

The wife of brain-impaired Governor Danbaba Suntai today admitted that her husband was physically unfit to resume official duties as the chief executive of Taraba State.
Mrs. Suntai made the admission when a PDP fact-finding committee led by Senator Hope Uzodinma visited the ailing governor today. The Acting Governor of Taraba, Umar Garba, as well as the Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Haruna Tsokwa, accompanied Mr. Uzodinma. Mrs. Suntai as well as Senator Emmanuel Bwatcha were also present at the meeting.

TARABA ASSEMBLY EMPOWERS ACTING GOVERNOR

The House Assembly in the northern Nigerian state of Taraba on Monday passed a resolution adopting the decision of its executive session of 29 August mandating the acting governor to continue running the affairs of the state.
The House, at a special plenary comprising nine members, empowered Alhaji Garba Umar to take full charge of the administration of the state as the acting governor.
The Deputy Speaker of the House, Mr Tanko Maikarfi, who presided over the session, pointed out that the sitting was convened in order to adopt the resolution of the last executive session.

PLOT TO IMPEACH TARABA ACTING GOV THICKENS •WE MET SUNTAI IN VERY BAD STATE –LEGISLATOR •NO TO GOVT BY PROXY –TUKUR

FOLLOWING the resolution by members of Taraba State House of Assembly that the acting governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, should continue in office, there are strong indications that loyalists of the ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai are plotting to remove the acting governor.
Insiders within the governor’s camp disclosed that the plot is already concluded and that implementation is already underway. A team is reported to have been set up to source for lawmakers and break the camp of the 16 legislators supporting the speaker.
A source told Saturday Tribune that a very influential figure is bankrolling the plot, and he is said to have vowed to pursue the agenda with all resources at his disposal.
“They are looking for lawmakers to engage and conscript into their plot. For them to realise their plan, they need to get more than half of those presently with the Speaker. The Speaker now has two-third of the members,” the source said.

SUNTAI UNABLE TO RECOGNIZE STATE LAWMAKERS WHO VISITED HIM

The severity of Governor Danbaba Suntai’s brain damage became obvious to the leadership of the Taraba State House of Assembly who visited him today, two of the legislators have told SaharaReporters.

A surprise invitation was extended to the lawmakers to meet Mr. Suntai after a group of state legislators threatened to commence the ailing governor’s impeachment. One of the lawmakers who saw Mr. Suntai said the sudden invitation was designed to placate lawmakers.

TARABA CRISIS DEEPENS AS SUNTAI SACKS CABINET, NAMES NEW SSG, COS

The political crisis rocking Taraba State deepened on Wednesday morning with the dissolution of the state Executive Council by the Governor, Danbaba Suntai.

Apart from sacking the cabinet, Suntai also removed the Secretary to the State Government and appointed Mr. Timothy Gibon Kataps in his place. Similarly, Suntai fired his former Chief of Staff and named Alhaji Aminu Jika as his new CoS.

TARABA LAWMAKERS SUMMON GOV SUNTAI

To substantiate his claim that he is ready and capable of resuming his official duties as governor, lawmakers in Taraba State have summoned ailing Danbaba Suntai to address them.

The lawmakers’ summon followed a letter written by Suntai to them, informing them of his return to the country and desire to resume his official duties.

They are still not sure if Suntai has sufficiently recovered to resume his duties, considering his inability to speak to anyone since he returned from America.

Suntai who returned to the country on Sunday after 10 months overseas for medical treatment following injuries he sustained in a plane crash, is said to be holed up inside the Government House at Jalingo and refused to see anybody.

On arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Sunday, Suntai who looked frail and unable to walk unassisted was guided into a waiting car by two of his aides who held him by the arms.

WHY AILING SUNTAI WAS RUSHED HOME –SOURCE

Indications emerged yesterday that the ailing Taraba State Governor Danbaba Suntai was flown home to abort a move by some powerful individuals in the state to force the hands of the executive and the state House of Assembly to declare him incapacitated and remove him from office.

Suntai, who arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at 12.05p.m. after a 10-month absence, was immediately driven in a black Toyota Sequoia SUV with registration Lagos SC 989 AAA for some rest at the VIP Lounge before boarding a connecting flight to Yola.