Dear President Obama,
As a concerned citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,I chose to
address this open letter of appeal to your government to reveal to the
good people of Taraba State in particular and Nigeria as a whole the
exact state of health of Governor James Danbaba Suntai,who I believe
has been your guest and patient in John Hopkins University Hospital in
Mery land USA since March,2013.
This open letter of a appeal has becomes necessary because,the people
of Taraba State has not seen or heard of its Governor for over seven
months without any credible information since he personally piloted a
CESSNA 208-5N-BMJ which crash near NNPC depot in Yola,Adamawa State on
the 25th October,2013.
Mr President,the abnormal tight-lip posture demonstrated by the
Governor for the past seven months has continued to generate reactions
amongst politicians,interest groups and the general public back home
in Nigeria.
Mr President,human silence is a very deep,pregnant and multi-faced. It
is influenced mostly by shock,regret,anger,disappointment,shame or
desire for peace. Sir,one other important reason for keeping silence
is when one is in the premises of a sitting law- court. However,as far
as I know,John Hopkins University Hospital is not a law court and
Governor Suntai could therefore not be undergoing trial there. Like
many others,I feel deeply touch by what the Governor is passing
through at this time of his life. This is one strong reason why he
still enjoys some amount of sympathy from millions of people across
the country. Nevertheless,Governor Suntai is like a tap-root in the
political equation of his State and the Country. However,his prolong
absence from office due to ill-health,couple with his continue silence
has started manifesting negative result already. Three religious
riots one from Ibi,two from Wukari and anthor ethnic crises has
recorded in Takum. Sofar the crises has claimed hundreds of lives and
properties worth millions of
Naira were destroyed.
Mr President,before the tragic air crash. Governor Suntai was a
blessing to Taraba State and Nigeria. He change the face of Jalingo
the State capital through the provision of massive infrastructures,the
establishment of Taraba State University and Jalingo Airport are
legacies that are fresh in our memory. More than that,Governor Suntai
open up the rustic hinterland of Taraba with tarred
roads,schools,health facilities as well as his ability to keep peace
in the State which was moving on the slippery road to anarchy when he
came to power in 2007.
Mr President,Governor Suntai is not a private patient but an elected
Governor in one of the 36 States in the Federal Republic of Nigeria
also he is an employee accountable to millions of people. Information
about his physical and mental well being cannot be subjected to the
usual medical confidentiality of ordinary citizen and should not be
kept secret from the people he leads. Sadly I must admit
that,President Goodluck Jonathan,Acting Governor Alh. Garba
Umar,immediate family members and close aides to Governor Suntai had
failed to be truthful and transparent about the extend of infirmity of
the Governor which resulted to cat and mouse,hide and seek game.
Mr President,in the eyes of many Nigerians the US government has by
default become part of the conspirecy of secrecy that threatens to
distabilize our democracy. I therefore,implore you to as a matter of
urgency to use your good office to let all Nigerians know the true
state of Governor Suntai’s health.
Yours truely,
John Akevi,Bauchi State Nigeria
Tel:08188188081
Email:john4akevi@gmail.com
