GOVERNOR, FIVE OTHERS INJURED IN A PLANE CRASH

An aircraft flown by Taraba State Governor Danbaba Fulani Suntai yesterday crashed near the Yola airport.
Apart from the governor, five other people including the crew, were onboard at the time of the incident. All of them were injured and taken to the hospital, first in Yola,the Adamawa State capital, before being flown to Abuja.
Suntai is expected to be flown overseas for treatment today. He is said to have injured his arm.
As the Cessna 208 aircraft was approaching for landing, it contacted the Control Tower but was suddenly lost on the radar, The Nation learnt.
The plane crashed near the NNPC depot by Ngurore – four kilometres to the airport.
A statement last night by Joe Obi, Special Assistant (Media) to Minister of Aviation Stella Oduah said:
”An aircraft, Cessna 208 with six souls on board, including the crew, operated by the Taraba State Government, departed Jalingo, Taraba State, for Yola this evening (yesterday evening) and reported contact with the Yola Control Tower (1720Z) and field in sight at 38 miles estimating landing at 1730Z.
“The pilot subsequently lost contact with Yola Control Tower and subsequent effort to raise the aircraft failed.
“Search & Rescue was immediately activated and site of incident located with all victims alive with various degrees of injuries.
“The victims have been evacuated to the hospital for treatment pending further investigation of the incident.”
A source said last night: “The governor was evacuated alongside the others and they were taken to the Nigerian- German Hospital in Yola for initial treatment.
“The hospital was cordoned off by soldiers until about 8.45pm when the governor was flown to Abuja in an Air Force jet.
“He was not in good shape but he is not dead. I think he should be in the National Hospital, preparatory to a medical treatment abroad depending on the degree of injury he sustained.”
It was not immediately clear last night whether the governor flew the plane but, it was late confirmed that he did.
Suntai, a pharmacist,  holds a Private Pilot’s Licence (PPL) which he obtained in 2010, after attending the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) in Zaria, Kaduna State.
To obtain his licence in 2010, he successfully flew the Caravan Cessena plane. He is known to embark on solo flights in his leisure.
Suntai was elected governor in 2007 and reelected in 2011. He was born on June 30 1961 at Suntai Town in Bali Local Government Area of the state.
He attended Federal Government College, Kano (1975–1980) and the School of Basic Studies at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1980–1981). He graduated with a degree in Pharmacy from the Ahmadu Bello University in 1984.
Suntai did his internship at Yola Specialist Hospital and his National Youth Service at the State Hospital, Ijaiye, Abeokuta, Ogun State between 1985 and 1986. He worked at the General Hospital, Ganye in the old Gongola State (which became Adamawa and Taraba states) until 1991.
This month has been full of action for Suntai. His state was one of the 13 hit by a massive flooding. His running battle his deputy, Alhaji Sani Abubakar Danladi ended on the impeachment of Danladi by the House of Assembly on October 4.
He received President Goodluck Jonathan who visted the Lao Lag camp of the displaced persons as a result of the flood last week.