Senator Bwacha: Suntai Out of Danger, Will Return Soon

Senator Emmanuel Bwacha

Senator Emmanuel Bwacha is the Senate Committee Chairman on Agriculture and Natural Resources, representing Taraba South district. In this interview with Chuks Okocha, Bwacha gives a graphic account of his visit to Hannover, Germany, where he went to visit the ailing Taraba State Governor, Danbaba Suntai, as well as the recent Ibi crisis in the state. Excerpts:

You just returned from your to visit Governor Suntai and his aides in Germany. Did you get to see them?

Yes I did. Everyone who went to see the governor saw him and his aides.

So, how is the governor doing?

He is doing very well. And I can assure you that he would soon be back to continue the good work he has been doing. And contrary to the rumours, the governor is doing very well. He didn’t sustain any life threatening injury. He doesn’t have any brain damage or spinal cord issue and he is recuperating by the day. In fact, for a plane crash, this is nothing short of a miracle. I know people are apprehensive, worried about him because he is a true leader, a good man.

But they will have to be patient. He would return to continue to do what God has asked him to come and do. So, people should just keep on praying. His aides too are doing great. There was a day we went to see Dasat, the ADC, and he recognised all of us, calling us by name. He was even humorous about it and laughed when we expressed surprise.

As a doctor, can you tell for certain that Suntai would be able to function effectively when he returns?

Of course, he is coming back and very soon too. German doctors don’t lie and when they tell you a thing, better believe it and don’t argue. Like I said, the governor did not suffer any debilitating injury that could render him incapable of discharging his duties. If this were the case, the doctors would have just spilled it out.

What was your encounter with him like?

It was fantastic. I saw God at work. You know, there was a day I sat by his bed and was just silently singing a certain gospel song I like. He was silent all the while, and then he suddenly looked up and smiled at me. Then he said “Amen”. I just started shedding tears of joy. I’ve seen many things in my life but nothing compares to this.

In his absence, the House of Assembly has mandated his Deputy to act… cuts in
That was the right thing to do; it is a constitutional thing. The house exhibited great patriotism and political sagacity in doing what they did. I commend them really. That is the sort of thing Governor Suntai would have encouraged anyway. If you know him, he has always supported his deputy to act whenever he is not around.

So, it is not like this is something strange we are seeing in our state. It is the right thing and from what I have seen, the acting governor is making the most of the situation, given the circumstances and continuing with the good works. In all his broadcast, he has been consisted with the fact that he would continue all the legacies on ground.

Although, he is still hospitalised, how would you rate your governor?

Governor Danbaba Suntai is an astute worker and a silent achiever. If you say he’s taciturn, it is because he believes that his work ought to speak for itself. He detests every form of sycophancy, praise singing and showmanship. I think Nigerians are tired of loud mouthed leaders who talk the talk but don’t ever do the walk. Danbaba is a different breed politician- serious-minded, direct, and kingdom-conscious. Take the last five years for instance, he has transformed Taraba State in a tremendous way. If you take his road expansion effort, you will score him more than a hundred percent. But it is not even his effort in roads, schools, agriculture, solid mineral, tourism and others that endear him to Tarabans. It is his style.

The governor has restored faith in leadership. This is the biggest tribute that we can pay him. He took a state that was adrift and has practically restored decency, accountability and people-centred programs. His emphasis on kingdom politics has also helped us to live better lives. Many of us have really found our way back to God because we listened to him as he weaves the role of the Almighty in everything he does. That is why for some of us, politicians from Taraba, we are more heavenly minded and strive to play this game by conscience.