Sylvanus Giwa is the special adviser on media to Governor Danbaba Suntai
TAJUDEEN SULEIMAN
Please, tell us about the condition of Governor Suntai?
Contrary to speculations, I want to assure you that he is in a very stable condition. There were speculations that he was in a [vegetative] state. I was in Germany when they brought him after the plane crash, and he was like a corpse. After the fourth day in the hospital in Hanover, the nurses called to break the news that Governor Suntai had opened his eyes. After another two days, he started asking about his wife. This was somebody that they speculated was dead. I consider his case a miracle because out of how many air crashes can you get a survivor in his real senses like him? Two months ago, I got a call from his phone and I thought it was his wife. When I picked the call, I heard Governor Suntai calling my name and asking me how I was doing. That day I shed tears.
Forget about the issue that he was assisted into the car when he arrived Nigeria. You know the difference in terrain between the US and Nigeria. We had to consider his condition when he arrived Jalingo here, and that is why we didn’t allow him to speak to anybody. But 72 hours later, the man was back on track and talking. He recognised everybody. I saw him signing his signature on the letter to the state assembly. And when the SSG (secretary to the state government) was sworn in, he walked into the hall by himself. He also signed his signature by himself, and in the process when the paper was falling off, he called the guy seated next to him to hold the paper for him to sign and he appended his signature. So I keep wondering where some people get the information that the man was mentally incapacitated. He was able to recognise everyone. That is why I found it funny that the House alleged that he was not the one that signed the letter he wrote to the state assembly. He signed for himself.
The House said Governor Suntai should appear before it or address the state so that all doubts about his condition is cleared. What advice is he getting on this issue?
What you need to understand is that we are considering the constitutional provision that all he needed to do was transmit a written note to the House to say he is back. The constitution did not say he must appear before the House. The House shouldn’t have made that statement because it is controversial. It is not a debatable issue that they can capitalise on. That is why we think that there are some paid agents behind this development.
But if Governor Suntai is to appear before the House or in public, is he physically and mentally fit to do that?
I feel he is in a fit state to do so because if you look at the situation surrounding his broadcast, we told him that there was propaganda in town that he had not addressed the people of the state and he understood with us. In the broadcast, he thanked the people in both English and Hausa and they are still saying he should appear. Do they want him to appear in the moon? The world saw him reading his speech and congratulating the people of the state and the new SSG. I want to assure you that very soon he will speak again. But I want people to consider that Governor Suntai’s condition is a very rare case, it is an air crash and not a road crash. How many people have survived such air crashes? Rather than criticise the issue, we would have preferred a situation where Tarabans and Nigerians should celebrate the man for God’s miracle on him. But some people are bent on overheating the polity by saying he should appear before them. When the leadership of the House visited him, he shook their hands one after the other and even cracked jokes with them.
We gathered that the acting governor has not been allowed to see Suntai since his arrival.
There was never any brick wall. Why the deputy governor could not see him was because of the doctor’s advice that he should rest for 72 hours after the long trip from the United States because of the change in time zone. So it was because of this medical advice that the deputy governor could not see him. The deputy will be able to see him very soon; it’s just a matter of time.
Are you saying there is no conflict between Suntai and his deputy?
I believe there is no conflict between them. It’s people that are trying to cause confusion.
Do you think Governor Suntai may be flown abroad again for treatment?
He may likely go and he may not. You know a case of this nature needs regular checks. As far as my assessment is concerned, I think he’s very normal.