Former Taraba Governor, Dambaba Suntai, Passes On

BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – Former Governor of Taraba State, Dambaba Danfulani Suntai, who has been bedridden following brain injuries he sustained from a plane crash at the Yola Airport in 2012, died in his US home on Wednesday.

Suntai, a pharmacist, who also trained as a pilot, flew a light plane that crashed into a farm near the Yola international Airport in October 2012.

One of his former appointees, Mr. Emmanuel Bello, who served under him as Commissioner for Information, announced the news of his death.

The late Sunati assumed office as governor of Taraba State on May 29, 2007 and was sworn into office for a second term on May 29, 2011.

Following the plane crash, the former governor was flown to Germany for medical attention after undergoing initial treatment at the National Hospital, Abuja. He was first rushed to the Adamawa Standard German Hospital, Yola, the Adamawa State capital for treatment after the crash.

After undergoing the medical treatment in Germany, the late governor was transferred to a rehabilitation Centre in the United States of America for brain/psychiatry attention.

However, after over 10 months of medical sojourn, which create a lot of political upheaval in Taraba State, Suntai was brought home on August 23, 2013 but had to return overseas for further medical attention.

Born in June 1961, the late Suntai attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he bagged BSc in Pharmacy.