Late Governor Suntai: an architect of modern Taraba

By Emma Umaru

Pharm. Capt. Danbaba Danfulani Suntai was born on 30th June 1961 in Suntai town-Bali Local Government of Taraba state. He had his early education in Taraba state, and attended Government College, Kano from 1975-1980. He proceeded to School of Basic studies at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria from 1980-1981. He was admitted into Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria after the one-year program that earned him proper admission to study Pharmacy and graduated in 1984. He did his internship at Yola Specialist Hospital and National Youth service at the State Hospital, Ijaiye, Abeokuta, Ogun state, from 1985-1986. He worked at General Hospital Ganye in the old Gongola state until 1991. He returned upon creation of Taraba state to serve in various civil and political capacities starting from the bottom- Council chairman of Bali Local Government to Secretary to the State Government.
He was elected as Governor on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in April 2007 general election.

Upon sworn in as Executive Governor of Taraba state on May 29, 2007, Suntai said without mincing words in his inaugural speech that we have come a long way as a people but haven’t fared remarkably as a people in the face of abundant human and natural resources at our beck and call. He immediately kept the ball rolling with a view of turning around the fortune of the state. He first of all set up machinery to reform education and civil service in the state. This laudable initiative birthed staff verification exercise and the Taraba state university Jalingo- a project he held so dear to his mind and ensured that it was achieved.

It was Suntai’s view that for a democratic administration to achieve its set goals, there should be need to prioritise measures that will lead to the standardization of her civil service and educational system-because the two remain the catalyst of development in every sphere. He inherited civil unrest and political thuggery. But Suntai crushed the two civil disturbance by establishing a strong and strategic relationship with the security outfits in the state through availing the security sector with needed operational apparatuses like vehicles, gadgets and other incentives. It is an understatement to say this soft-spoken pubic figure made security of lives and properties of Tarabans top on his governance agenda- He banned the use of motorcycle when told by the Secret Security Outfit that BH terrorists have started infiltrating the state, and that motorcycle would be their means of transportation. In fact, he fast tracked the ban when there was bomb blast at the Police Force Headquarters’ gate, which claimed lives of innocent Tarabans. Since then, he never joke with security issue. No doubt there was rarely civil unrest of higher magnitude throughout his tenure, in any cases where there were pockets of tribal conflicts, his swift response to such situations as Chief Security Officer of the state was often exceedingly timely.

Known for his frankness and manly disposition, though with a tiny voice, diminutive status and friendly facial outlook, he was a working encyclopedia and an architect of development that has no boundary. In fact you will get it wrong trying to access his might by physical appearance. Immediately he came in as Governor, he was not satisfied with the shack-look of Jalingo and the Local Government Areas in the state. He began a renewal project that saw the demolition of illegal structures and payment of compensation where necessary to pave way for road construction in Jalingo- This superlatively led to the ring-road networking of the headquarters through the bypass, which was then an undeveloped outskirt. It paved way for the landlocked town to usher in development, thereby crushing remoteness and encouraging rapid expansion. He doubled the effort by ensuring that every Local Government Area in the state got at least 3km road, with insistence that environmental issues such as trees planting, sanitation and adherence to urban development are taken seriously. Today, this achievement opened the beauty of the Nature’s Gift to the Nation, especially in the state headquarters.

In the spirit of equity and distribution of academic development, he relocated the State Polytechnic and College of Education to Bali and Zing Local Government Areas respectively.
Suntai, as an astute medical practitioner who was vast in knowledge of politics and civil service midwifed the Taraba School of Nursing and Midwifery project to an international standard by ensuring full accreditation and licensed through the authority of Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. One outstanding leadership quality imbedded in the man- Suntai was his supervisory tendency- He was a leader who assigns and supervises; At least the civil servants in the state can attest to the fact that he was known for paying unscheduled visits to government establishments to see for himself state of affairs, and make corrections where necessary.

Aside this, he was humanistic in nature; full of compassion. He liked seeing his people looking sound and healthy. He hardly hear of one’s health challenges and remain adamant. As told yesterday by one of his close associates who added as a beneficiary to his medical largesse when he held sway, that even if Suntai picked up quarrel with you and walk you out of his home or office, he often retired back to his senses and go for your aid when informed that you are down with some sort of health challenges. There, he would tender apology, and jokingly challenge you for a bet in badminton court, his favorite game. How he sponsored the medical bills of many across the shores of Africa has proven that he was humane.

Unfortunately this unassuming noble mind was involved in an air crash sometimes in October 2012, immediately after reelected to serve his second tenure. Since then he was undergoing rehabilitation as a result of the head injury he sustained during the accident at John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, USA- Until received the news of his sudden death yesterday, 28th June, 2017. His death is a colossal loss to both his family and entire people of Taraba state.
May his gentle soul rest peace.