For the cursory
observer, the event of Monday 7th December, 2015 at Jalingo airport may
hold no serious significance. In fact, some may dismiss it as another
jamboree organised to shore up the image profile of certain
individuals.
But for insiders and those keen on the progress of the
relatively new state, that day marks a watershed in its history.
It was
the day the skies literally opened up to usher in a new day. And as the
curtained was pulled to the side to herald the commencement of air
travel to Jalingo from Abuja, not a few went into wild jubilation.
Clearly, a new era of fresh experiences had debuted and the story of
Taraba might have forever changed. There is probably not a single
Taraba citizen who didn’t feel the sense of pride and fulfilment as the
plane lifted off and landed on those new tarmacs.
And with this,
Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku had actually fulfilled an old dream and
prayer of past administrations. It was a day Rev. Jolly Nyame dreamt
and envisioned when he muted the idea as governor.
It was Governor
Danbaba Suntai who, however, took matters to new heights, literally.
However, the lot of actualising all these visions came to past under
Darius. At this point, it has to be shown what exactly Governor Ishaku
did. Right from his campaigns, DDI (Dickson Darius Ishaku) had revealed
he would activate the comatose airport and that air travel would be
central to the rescue mission. So, on coming
on board as
governor, the former minister swung into action. He put finishing
touches on the runways and met regulatory requirements by providing all
basic equipment.
What we now have is commercial flights that would compete favourably with other airports around the world.
The current
resurgence in avionics could be said to date back to the Rev. Jolly
Nyame administration when engineers and companies were engaged to
fashioned for the state a modern airport. In fact, the dream was a big
one: the state was to run an airline called AIR Taraba. To this end, the
Nyame regime embarked on massive aviation activities. Work began in
earnest on the runway and all the infrastructure that would give the
state a befitting airport. Yet, for whatever reasons, the Nyame
government could not actualise the dreams of a modern mega airport.
Enter the Suntai
administration. Governor Suntai took matters to new levels by adding a
new dimension to the development. He didn’t just only want an airport
and airline company. He wanted to be a pilot himself. Enrolling in an
aviation college, Suntai quickly learnt the art of flying. He was
criticised for this. Many felt he ought to concentrate on running the
state. But in an interview, Suntai told his critics that he was pursuing
his first love. Suntai was a trained pharmacist but aviation has
always been his main desire. But beyond loving the skies, Suntai also
had a dream of opening up Taraba in a way that would change the face of
the state. His philosophy was simply this: that Taraba state must be
accessible to investors and tourists.
The state, he
often noted, is craggy and has a difficult terrain. Without air
transport, he averred, certain places would stay concealed. And certain
potentials in solid minerals, agriculture and tourism may never be
tapped. Thus in various fora, Suntai would regale his audience with the
possibilities inherent in an open sky. On his own flying, he said, “I
have seen things from the sky many people never saw. I can assure you
that Taraba is more endowed than it is generally believed. I have seen
from the air that Taraba is indeed nature’s gift to the nation.”
Indeed, no
serious leadership in Taraba would ignore this. If the exploration of
the state’s natural resources for revenue generation is important,
then air travel is it! Take the Mambilla Plateau in
Sarduana local
government area. This tourism site is arguably one of the finest on the
continent. It is Nigeria’s highest altitude with a weather condition
akin to that of Europe. Yet, its potential has not been fully tapped.
Rather, the smaller Obudu, which is actually the tail end of this
Mambilla summits, gets all the attention. Access has remain the main
challenge. Of course, accommodation and other hospitality components
are needed but access is prime. What Suntai then did was to embark on a
very dramatic road resuscitation program which saw him flagging off work
on an ancient road leading to the Mambilla heights. Today, the road is
near completion.
Governor Darius,
by opening up the skies, has finally driven a nail in the coffin of all
that has held Taraba state back in the past. Now, investors and tourists
can be in Jalingo in less than an hour and take the smooth road to the Mambilla.
Before now, many
an Abuja or Lagos based business man had rue at the very thoughts of
journeying to Taraba. The easiest thing used to be to endure a flight to
Yola and then undergo a tortuous road work to Jalingo. In the absence
of that, the next best thing was a long and frustrating road trip via
Makurdi or Jos, then to Gombe through hills and valleys. Many business
men just wait for top government functionaries to come to Abuja before
transacting businesses. The loss the state has suffered because of this
is enormous.
But all that is
in the past now. With flights (three times a week for now, daily later)
life is expected not to be the same. Darius has thus gone down in
history as the father of modern civilisation as far as the transport
business is concerned. Things, indeed, are no longer the same.
Source:-authorityngr.com
