A book chronicling the intrigues, drama and undercurrents that played out in the struggle for the political control of Taraba State following the impairment of former Governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai in a plane crash is set for public presentation. The book written by two-time Commissioner for Information in the state, Emmanuel Bello, will be presented to the reading public in Abuja on September 15.
Titled ‘Suntai: Betrayers, Loyalists and the Media War,’ the 130-page book encapsulates the political manoeuvring and bitter struggle for the soul of Taraba State.
Speaking on the book, whose forward was written by Mr. Segun Adeniyi, Chairman, Editorial Board of THISDAY newspapers and former special adviser to former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Bello said the book covered the period after the plane crash that involved Suntai and his three aides.
The author, who is a former Editor of Daily Trust and Leadership newspapers, noted that the political intrigues that followed the accident was the central theme of the 11-chapter book, which addressed issues like the “bad news, good news”, “the return’, and “a House divided.” He said already, 1,000 copies of the book had been published and were ready for distribution while an additional 10,000 copies would be published and distributed to institutions, particularly, libraries and schools.
Bello said he was motivated to write the book by the seemingly endless questions being asked him by reporters and the general public, being an active participant in the entire saga. “I have been asked all sorts of questions concerning the saga by reporters and the general public alike. So I thought I should write the book to correct some of the misconceptions and also reawaken some debate,” he said.
The incumbent governor, Darius Ishaku, will be the guest of honour at the presentation while Senate Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, who represents Taraba South, will chair the occasion.
