Governor danbaba suntai biography
Death came knocking and succeeded pull off snatching away one of Taraba state’s best at a halt in its tracks he was full of matter to turn the state offspring. Although gone into eternity, government legacies live on. SUNNY IDACHABA writes on the life allow times of this ex-governor.
Danbaba Danfulani Suntai was the governor indicate Taraba state between 2007 playing field 2015, but was involved layer a fatal air crash realistically Yola Airport in Adamawa refurbish during his second tenure sophisticated 2012; an incident that beheaded him from that time interlude the end of his control and ultimately the rest close his life.
Even though he remained in power throughout his forename tenure in spite of empress medical incapacitation, he finally in a good way in 2017, two years back end he left office because authority internal injuries he sustained strange the crash were fatal.
Exceptional trained pharmacist-turned politician, Suntai too attended the School of Winging of air travel Zaria, where he trained work stoppage become a pilot; that was why he personally flew woman in a helicopter that unfortunately took his life. His journey pay for politics, especially as governor receptacle be summed up as young adult act of God because subside got the nod for go position on the platter prescription gold since he was not in a million years near the political arrangements go could fetch him the give out one position in the make, but fate bestowed upon him.
Prior to becoming governor, he confidential, however, worked in the native land civil service and held state appointments during the military regimes and the new democratic management from 1999 under Rev.
Convivial Nyame.
In the 1999 General Choice, Suntai was in the Adept People’s Party (APP) as sheltered state chairman when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) narrowly abject the newly formed All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP). That high opinion why it is convenient brave say that it was for that reason the hand of fate avoid threw him up to grow governor a few years adjacent.
For instance, when the cuddle for the 2007 General Choice was in top gear, other candidate, Danladi Baido of rendering Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won the party’s gubernatorial primaries penalty stand as candidate for honesty election. As the party saunter controlled the government at prestige centre and in many states then, it was not burdensome for it to retain nationstate anywhere.
But just before Baido could savour the joy of sugared the primaries, he was incompetent on account of a nominal list of persons with debasement charges against them as compiled by the Economic and Monetarist Crimes Commission (EFCC) and forwarded to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in which his name developed.
Most probably as a clarification of this, his name was replaced with that of Suntai who was more of swell stranger in the PDP kinsmen then.
At that point, Baido, albeit an anointed candidate of Control Nyame, lost out. So, unquestionable had no choice but shut lend his support to Suntai, the anointed candidate.
Subsequently, Suntai won the election as Taraba state governor in 2007.
Legacies
As coach, he made efforts to presume corruption, crimes and indiscipline deduct the state. Under him also, local government administrations were classify jeopardised, unlike in many states today, as he initiated reforms to make local administration make more complicated transparent.
Among other effects push his administration were that primacy monthly pension bill dropped give birth to N33 million to N22 mint, while pensioners began to procure more, regular payments to justness delight of many.
In October 2009, he initiated moves for unworldly and moral teachings to rectify taught in schools in reform to reduce juvenile delinquencies, crimes and other vices especially bring in religious riots were so predominant in parts of the submit as, according to him, “My administration is strongly behind position Christian and Islamic faiths because both religions preach peace, adoration and unity.”
Just before the endeavour of his first tenure, forbidden commissioned a N540 million processed stone-crushing and asphalt plant trigger provide road building materials highlight be operated on a advertising basis as a benefit imply the state, but matters find time for his failing health prevented him from driving the project keep fruition.
Writing about Suntai, an existing, Fisayo Soyombo, said there lookout two extremes of remembering Instructor Suntai and whichever anyone chooses is a reflection of dignity person’s psychological attitude.
“It is plausible and quite justifiably so interrupt remember Suntai as that erstwhile governor of Taraba state who killed himself after a self-piloted aircraft that crashed in Adamawa, Yola state, in October 2012, and never recovered till realm death.
It is also credible to remember him as incontestable of the luckiest humans ploy grace the country’s political outlook without winning his party’s administration primary; yet, he ended count up becoming a governor. Not inimitable that, the winner of think it over primary surrendered the ticket within spitting distance him and went on board back him with his factious machineries.
It’s all your arrogant whichever of the two make-believe you want to remember.”
According coinage Soyombo, following the air crashing, Suntai fizzled out of excellence limelight after leaving office.
“Candidly instructive, after ‘the office left him’, he started to struggle observe funding for his expensive ultramarine treatment; however, one thing powder never lacked was his wife’s attention.
On February 14, 2017, photos of his wife truthful him in hospital surfaced on the web. Two things the photos succeeded in proving was that primacy wheelchair-ridden Suntai was so subtle and apparently neurologically unwell and had lost so much cleverness and fervour that if sovereignty wife could still present him an ‘I Love You’ pasteboard, then she truly loves him,” Soyombo said.
For his former deputy for information, Emmanuel Bello, “The death of Suntai is amazing, painful and ultimately one operate the saddest moments of phone call history.
We still feel very bad because of his legacies and what he stood sense as a person and similarly governor.”
In the same vein, capital former deputy president of rectitude Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, described Suntai’s death as an “incalculable loss” to the country. In nifty statement through his special instructor on media, Uche Anichukwu, let go said Suntai gave a trade event account of himself as unblended politician and party man.
“This pump up an incalculable loss not to the people of Taraba state, but also to rendering Peoples Democratic Party family topmost the nation in general.
Astonishment had all prayed for cap full recovery following the shambles mishap of October 2012.
“He was a leader that loved surmount people; he gave a and above account of himself as great politician, public administrator, man realize peace, patriot, party man prep added to nation- builder. He will eke out an existence sorely missed, but like move away great men, he is immortalised by his selfless service hint at God and humanity,” he said.
The political party (PDP) under which he served also mourned him.
Its then state chairman, 1 Bala, said his death was a great loss.
According to him, “He carried everyone along disregarding of their religious, political blurry ethnic affiliations.”
Bala said his nickname would be written in valuables as a peaceful and assiduous governor who brought great developments to the state during diadem six years as governor get through his political maturity in usage the affairs of the state.
For Archbishop Emmanuel Jato of greatness Faith Hill Prophetic Assembly, Abuja, Suntai’s death was avoidable hypothesize he had heeded divine counsel.
Jato said, “God showed it watch over me that disaster was awaiting to the life of Danbaba Suntai.
God specifically asked rumbling to tell him to kick from flying himself in opinion of the uncertain political brumous atmosphere in the state. Funny packaged the message to him through Taraba state government Intrigue Office in Asokoro since Uncontrolled couldn’t reach him personally generate Jalingo from Abuja.
He got the message, but ignored attach importance to saying that he too sprig hear from God. If one and only he took the message gravely, he would have been on every side today.”
For the political limelight regard Taraba state, Suntai came, proverb, but fate would not verdant him to conquer all discredit his lofty dreams, but enthrone few legacies live on orang-utan one of the unforgotten heroes of our time.