Governor Suntai departs New York on chartered flight to Jalingo

The governor's plane will arrive Jalingo on Sunday.
Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba will be departing New York to Jalingo on a chartered flight on Saturday, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

A source close to the family told the News Agency of Nigeria that they could not secure enough seats for those accompanying Suntai, hence the chartered flight.

The source also said another reason was because all the commercial airlines operating direct flight from New York to Nigeria were fully booked.

He, however, declined to name the flight, airport and time of departure as well as the time of arrival in Jalingo, but said the governor's wife, Hauwa, had left for home to prepare ground for the arrival of her husband.

The governor's wife had in a telephone interview on August 20 said that her husband was expected to depart the Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Centre and Home, New York, on August 25.
The acting governor, Garba Umar, had in a statement by his spokesperson, Kefas Sule, Friday announced that Mr. Suntai will first arrive Abuja International Airport by 10 a.m. on Sunday before proceeding to Jalingo, the state capital by 2 p.m.

The new arrangement, however, means Mr. Suntai's chartered plane may fly directly to Taraba and may not land in Abuja.
Mr. Suntai had spent four months at the rehabilitation centre, following injuries he sustained in an aircraft crash on his way to Yola on October 25, 2012.
A source in Jalingo also confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that Mr. Suntai will be flying to Jalingo on a 14-seater chattered flight.

"His Excellency may not be stopping in Abuja as is being speculated. His flight which is a 14-seater chartered plane will fly direct to our new airport in Jalingo," he said.
The source, a top government official, also said Mr. Suntai will be accompanied by Nigeria's Consular General in New York.