The return of Suntai

There is reason enough to feel happy for him and his family that Suntai survived the plane crash and has got better since that accident. It would be recalled that after the crash, Suntai was first taken to a hospital in Yola, then the National Hospital in Abuja and later flown to Germany where he […]

There is reason enough to feel happy for him and his family that Suntai survived the plane crash and has got better since that accident. It would be recalled that after the crash, Suntai was first taken to a hospital in Yola, then the National Hospital in Abuja and later flown to Germany where he spent six months before being moved to Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Centre and Home, New York, United States of America, for better medical attention. The other occupants of the plane were Suntai’s Aide de Camp Iliya Dasat, the Chief Security Officer Joel Danladi and Chief Detail Tino Dangana. All three were treated in Germany and had since returned home.
But watching the circus at the airport upon his arrival at the Nnamdi Aizikwe International Airport, Abuja, on Sunday, 25 August 2013, it was clear that some politicians intend to continue using him to manipulate things in that part of Nigeria. The television showed a frail and absent-minded Suntai, raising his right hand and attempting to wave as someone held him by the waist, apparently to stop him from hurtling down the steps. It appears that Suntai is still unwell and far from being hale and hearty. There has been no statement from the hospital that he has been officially discharged. Obviously, people just took him away from there and brought him home to prove a point.
The story has been told of how the Acting Governor Alhaji Garba Umar was called munafuki (hypocrite) and all sorts of names by some people who also prevented him from shaking the hands of the returning governor in Jalingo. Since the accident, Suntai’s deputy, Alhaji Umar, has been empowered by the resolution of the Taraba State House of Assembly to perform the functions of the governor. The appointment of Alhaji Umar as deputy governor was made on 5 October 2012 shortly before Suntai’s air accident and it followed the impeachment of the former deputy, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Danladi.
How long will it take Suntai to walk unaided? How long will it take him before he is able to look after himself?  Will Suntai be able to return to work? All these will unravel in the days ahead. But at the moment there is a heavy spin around his cognitive abilities. Among those who received him were Professor Jerry Gana, the Minister of State for Niger Delta Mr Darius Ishaku and other well-wishers. According to Professor Gana, Suntai “will be able to do his work effectively”.  One other Suntai’s associate, John Dara, was even more emphatic: “We were thrilled by the fact that he (Suntai) recognised everyone by name which shows that he is mentally alert and lucid. That itself is a clear indication that he is capable of running the affairs of Taraba as governor”. Is he?
Meanwhile, there is a struggle for power in Taraba between the supporters of Suntai and his deputy. The supporters of Alhaji Garba Umar maintain that Suntai is incapacitated and it is therefore necessary to swear in their man as the substantive governor. In Suntai’s absence, there has been a change in the leadership of the state House of Assembly. Equally, some commissioners and special advisers appointed by Suntai were dismissed on charges that they were responsible for the misappropriation of N400 million the Federal Government gave the state to ameliorate the suffering of the victims of the 2012 flood.
It is for this reason that Suntai’s supporters returned him to the country this past Sunday. They want the world to see that Suntai is alive and capable of resuming work. It is all well connected to the 2015 general elections. For Suntai’s supporters, as long as he is seen by the public, he is in charge; if not, they will be displaced in the calculations for the next elections. It is not known what has happened to the report of the Senator Hope Uzodinma-led committee set up by the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Bamanga Tukur which visited New York to assess the health status of Suntai.
According to Section 190 (2) of the Nigerian constitution, “In the event that the Governor is unable or fails to transmit the written declaration mentioned in subsection (1) of this section within 21 days, the House of Assembly shall, by a resolution made by a simple majority of the vote of the House, mandate the Deputy Governor to perform the functions of the office of the governor as Acting Governor, until the Governor transmits a letter to the Speaker that he is now available to resume his functions as Governor”.
Putting aside the spin, the Danfulani Suntai brought out of the plane last Sunday looked too absent-minded to govern a state. It is doubtful if Suntai recognised or mentioned anybody’s name among those who received him. The man appeared to be looking into the distance and it appeared that everything around him looked strange. It is difficult to see how Suntai can transmit a letter to say he is resuming work. No wonder his spokesmen said he was immediately proceeding on leave.
The situation confirms our sham democracy. It is about how we have refused to depersonalise an office and allow the constitution to guide us. Suntai who used to issue orders as Governor of Taraba State was on arrival being told to smile and wave his hand at the crowd. A politician arrives home after ten months’ absence and is unable to address those who have come to receive him. It is how our people want to use sick officials to control others and feather their own nests. They will not allow Suntai to look after his health; they will seek to profit from it. In the next few days, Suntai’s henchmen will hide him in a room and begin to bring out instructions purported to be his. They will turn Suntai into a puppet and do things in his own name. The constitution which says incapacitated officials should be replaced so that governance will go on in the interest of the people has been ignored for ten months and will remain so for the rest of the season. The people of Taraba, the largest party in Africa and the rest of Nigeria will be told all kinds of reasons why Suntai will not be replaced, even though he is incapable of discharging the functions for which he was elected.