Taraba State Governor Danbaba Suntai is back in
the country after months of medical trip to the
United Kingdom.
He returned to Abuja on Saturday night after which
he spoke to reporters at Gen. Theophilus Danjuma’
s guest house in Asokoro in the Federal Capital
Territory.
He said: “I just arrived in Nigeria after my
treatment abroad at Whalton Hospital in London.
“I thank God l’m getting better. l am happy to be
back home and you all are here to receive me.
Thank you all for your prayers and support.’’
Sources said acting Governor Garba Umar was
prevented from seeing Suntai.
Suntai was received by Minister of State for Niger
Delta Affairs Darius Ishaku, who hails from the
state, former Governor Rev. Jolly Nyame and
Senator Emmanuel Bwacha Chairman, Senate
Committee on Agriculture, among others.
Ishaku told reporters that the governor was in
good health, adding that he could now take over
the responsibility of governing the state.
“Taraba State will heave a sigh of relief following
the return of the governor.
“I am excited; he just addressed us and expressed
his joy to be back home. I will like to add that his
health is a miracle,’’ Ishaku said.
Nyame said Suntai’s mental alertness indicated
that he was capable of taking over the affairs of the
state.
“It is obvious that the governor can recognise
everyone here, which shows that he is mentally
alert and lucid.
“He just addressed the press, but the last time he
didn’t, which shows that he can take over as the
governor,’’ Nyame said.
The plane Suntai piloted crashed on October 25,
2012 near Yola, the Adamawa State capital.
He was transferred from a hospital in Yola to the
National Hospital, Abuja, on October 26, 2012, and
later flown to Germany and the United States for
treatment.
He returned to the country on August 23, 2013
after 10 months of medical treatment overseas.
After some controversies on the status of his
health, he was flown to London for further medical
treatment.
President Goodluck Jonathan visited him about
one hour after the governor was admitted into the
intensive care unit of the National Hospital.
Jonathan had said that Suntai’s condition was
stable, and urged Nigerians to pray for his speedy
recovery.
His return is already causing ripples in the political
set-up of the state.
Last week, the state executive council meeting
presided over by acting Governor Garba Umar,
voted to authorise the House of Assembly to raise
a medical team that would include Suntai’s
doctors to medically examine him and declare his
true state of health.
This is with a view to determining whether he is fit
to return to office.
While the move has been applauded by Umar’s
supporters, the governor’s supporters see it as a
way to get rid of him so that Umar could become
the substantive governor and thereby influence the
primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to
his advantage.

let the drama begins