A source close to a senior member of the delegation described the trip to see Mr. Suntai as highly secretive. SaharaReporters learnt that members of the delegation had officially traveled to Vatican City in Rome to witness the consecration of Archbishop John Onaiyekan as a Cardinal of the Catholic Church. After the ceremony in Italy, the delegation then made a quick detour to Germany to see the injured Mr. Suntai.
A trip put together by Gladys Modupeola Quist-Adebiyi, a staff of the Protocol Department at the Presidency was led by Senate President, David Mark, the delegation included Governor Ibrahim Yakowa of Kaduna State, President Goodluck Jonathan’s chief of staff, Mike Oghiadomhe, also on the delegation was John Kennedy Opara, the secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) and the Chaplain of the Presidential Villa Chapel, Venerable Obioma Onwuzurumba.
Our source said members of the delegation were shocked to see Mr. Suntai in a vegetative state. “His condition was so bad that they could not publicly disclose his condition after they returned to Nigeria,” said the source.
SaharaReporters gathered that Mr. Suntai suffered brain damage in the crash of the small plane he was piloting. The crash happened a short distance from the Yola airport. Initial reports from eyewitnesses said Mr. Suntai had died, but it later emerged that he had survived the crash, albeit with critical injuries. He was transferred to the National Hospital in Abuja before being airlifted to Germany after President Jonathan had visited him and given a rosy picture of his condition. Four state officials traveling with Mr. Suntai in the crashed plane were treated in hospitals in Adamawa and later transferred to Germany for treatment after a public outcry.
Since Mr. Suntai’s airlift to Germany, officials of the Taraba State government have engaged in propaganda, claiming that the governor was making remarkable recovery. But our sources, including an official of the state government, admitted that Mr. Suntai’s mental faculty had deteriorated since the accident and that his memory was virtually impaired.
“It is possible that he suffered brain damage because there was some delay before he could be taken abroad,” said a state official.
“We all know how President Umaru Yar’Adua’s people continued to deceive Nigerians that the man was recovering well and how they even brought him back in a comatose state and declared that he was in control of Nigeria,” said the activist. He added: “I hope President Jonathan and the PDP are not planning a similar scenario whereby they will declare that Governor Suntai is in control – until they find a malleable successor who suits them.”
The activist stated that the Presidency should state the truth about the injured governor’s condition to enable the people of Taraba to move ahead with a new administration. “The fact that the people of Taraba have not heard from or seen the governor since the air crash on October 25 2012 means that the man is no longer fit to govern them,” he said.
SaharaReporters
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Two assumptions are made by the activist here:
ReplyDelete"Until they find a malleable successor who suits them.”
One is that the ascendance of the deputy governor to become substantive governor is unnerving to big players of Nigerian politics, and Jonathan was viewed similarly -- malleable, which he still is.
since governor cannot recognize people he is now a lunatic and he need citric treatment
ReplyDeleteSo unfortunate that the comfort we buy with our money, later gives us discomfort!
ReplyDeleteYea, the accident cud happen to anyone, but some of our Governors must realize that they will need God someday. How he acquired his own aircraft is known to him. But if the man is virtually impaired, let them swear in the Dep Govnor, or are they re-enacting the lame duck scene again? This country is sick and sickening. By the way, I've not noticed any change since this shoeless man took over as President. Or am I the only one feeling it? I'm entitled to my opinion by the way.
ReplyDeleteFellow Nigerians,I can now appreciate my pastor who raised a prayer point in d church one time that what gives us joy will not kill us,jet was made to give joy and comfort,but Otherwise to Govenor Suntai
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing impossible for God. It will surely be well with him IJN!!! Amen!!!
ReplyDeleteWell it has happened, what he only need now is Prayer for his revival and restoration. Pls lets stop judging, we only need to learn from others pple mistakes to plan our life nigerians.
ReplyDeleteNigeria is indeed a COMEDY OF ERRORS!
ReplyDeleteFirst, a Governor breaches his position as a public servant and flies an aircraft with 4 Aides, using a PPL - Private Pilots Licence! A PPL by the way entitles you to fly a private aircraft, either ALONE, or with an INSTRUCTOR! It certainly does not entitle you to endanger other people's lives merely because they are attached to your office and position as a Governor.
Of course, no one has even mentioned this! As it stands, the 4 injured Aides have a right to sue the Governor for endangering their lives, but I trust my fellow Nigerians. They will almost crucify me for drawing attention to the crass negligence on the part of the Governor who now lies sick.
Second, by the Governor's actions, he is liable to be IMPEACHED! He has violated his position of trust and safety as a Governor by his actions.
Again, I am sure Nigerians would like to crucify me on this, but HOLD ON! If we do not make ourselves accountable, we will never correct the ills in the society. I am a Proud NAIJA and will say it as it is, never mind whose ox is gored!
Third, he is according to this report, now critically I'll, unable to recognize and apparently in a vegetative state. It's been about 2 months since the plane crash, yet the Deputy has not been sworn in. I guess we can hide under the constitutional time frame provided for this, but to me and numerous other Nigerians,, it appears to be DEJA VU all over again!
We have been there and done that! The Yar Adua saga all over again.
May God grant us wisdom and direction so tattle immense blessings endowed on this country will manifest very quickly.
I with the Governor a good recovery, but I do not absolve him of the recklessness of his actions that led to this situation and stand by everything I have said here.
God bless NAIJA!
Proud NAIJA.
Chris A said,
ReplyDeleteThe last speaker spoke very well.Pls my brother don't be bothered about how pple will feel about what you said. The truth is always bitter,so don't let that bother you. It will take Nigeria so many years to get to where other countries are,bcos we're getting worse everyday. We ain't getting any better bcos of our way of thinking. Chris A