In this undated photo, the ailing governor of Taraba State (he had his brain partially damaged after surviving a nearly fatal plane crash), Danbaba Suntai, is shown with his wife and daughter, helping to cut a birthday cake.
The photo-release follows a decision by the People's Democratic Party (PDP) to constitute a committee specifically aimed at replacing the ailing governor.
The governor's image-makers did a good job of reassuring the state and particularly his supporters that it was a matter of days and the governor would be strong and healthy to resume his office. Then they said it would be a matter of weeks; as the weeks rolled on, it became a matter of months. Now it is over six months and it may as well become a year. Danbaba is still on his sick bed.