PDP WRITES OFF GOVERNOR SUNTAI

The People's Democratic Party (PDP) is considering its options in
replacing Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State as it is becoming
clearer he is unlikely to recover from his head injuries.


The governor, who was in a plane crash at the Yola International
Airport in Adamawa two months ago, is currently inhospital in Hanover,
Germany.

Several sources have told SaharaReporters that the party is working
with the Presidency to find a suitable replacement for the governor.


According to one source, several party leaders including PDP chairman
BamangaTukur, Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and Senate
President
David Mark, have all visited the ailing governor and concluded that he
could never recover from brain injury to run the state.


A separate delegation led by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, failed to set eyes on the governor
during an attempted visit two weeks ago as he had been moved to the
intensive care unit and on life support. Heand his four companions
could only leavea get well message with Mr. Suntai's doctors.


SaharaReporters has also learned that last week, Mr. Suntai's personal
doctor visited Nigeria and confided in family members and friends that
the governor is unlikely to recover from his head injuries anytime
soon.


But as in the case of the late Nigerian president, Umaru Yar'Adua,
members of Mr. Suntai's family have pressurized state officials to
engage in propaganda that the brain-damaged governor is "making
dramatic" improvements and speaking by telephone to some people in the
state. Party officials have contracted that, however, telling
SaharaReporters that Suntai does not know the difference between day
and night.


Last Saturday, the Taraba State Commissioner for Information,
EmmanuelBello, told SaharaReporters the governor wasn't brain-damaged,
but when SaharaReporters asked him to provide evidence, he only said
the governor had spoken to a Senator.
Our source said none of the state officialshave visited the governor
in Germany since he was airlifted from Nigeria. Other members of his
government who were hurt in the air crash have left hospitals in
Germany and returned to Nigeria.
On October 4, three weeks before Governor Suntai's plane crash, the
TarabaHouse of Assembly impeached Deputy Governor Sani Abubakar
Danladi following allegations of "gross misconduct" leveled against
him by a judicial panel.


On October 5, Alhaji Garba Umar was sworn in as Deputy Governor after
he signed an undertaking with the governornot to run as a candidate
for governor in any elections.

On November 14, the House of Assembly, invoking Section 190(2) of the
Nigerian Constitution, empowered Umar to act as governor.
With the party performing poorly in manystates and at the centre, the
PDP is anxious not to lose Taraba to other political parties.
A source at the presidency said the party has been mandated to make
formal announcements after the holiday seasonsregarding the status of
Mr. Suntai.


Meanwhile the acting governor appears working fully as governor
already by making internal changes and putting structures in place to
run the state as the defacto governor.

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