Dear readers and lovers of responsive governance and quality representation across the nation, It is my pleasure to bring to your notice, the official celebration of 55th birthday of Rt. Hon. Barr. Jonathan Chukwuma who has hit 55 today, being 27th day of February, 2021.
On this day, many admirers and followers of Jonathan would roll the drums as several thoughts of good tidings will come cascading in the minds of too many lovers of this gem, who was Pioneer Senior Prefect (SP) of the sets that started the current 6.3.3.4 system then at St. Teresa’s College, Nsukka. You will also recall that His Excellency, the Executive Governor of the state also passed through the same renowned school.
Jonathan was former councilor representing Uvuru ward from 1990 to 1993; former Deputy Speaker, Enugu state Assembly; former Board member of Enugu State Rural Waters and Sanitation Agency (ENRUWASSA), former Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Legislative Matters to former Governor Sullivan Chime and former House of Representatives’ candidate in the 2019 general elections, where he had sought to serve the good people of Uzo Uwani/Igboetiti federal constituency without results.
An encounter with Rt. Hon. Barr. Jonathan Chukwuma, a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria will leave this reader with a feeling of having emersed oneself in a pool of knowledge, and drinking from the fountain of wisdom. Jonathan flows with oratory, soundness of mind, simplicity and above all, he exudes with the requisite intelligence and brilliance, uncelebrated.
But a “Genius” according to Immanuel Kan “is the ability to independently arrive at and understand concepts that would normally have to be taught by another person.”
However, Jonathan is selfless, reliant, lovely, lively, accommodating, and with a large deposit of sense of humor; required of every discerning and people oriented public official. Yet, Jonathan is a Diehard GBURUS; infact, one of the most ardent and storngest advocates and preacher of Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s principles and ideologies. And he does this at will, and even unconsciously. I can tell you without mincing words that this is one SPA who hardly completes a statement in any Public gathering without making references to His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s philosophies.
Barr. Jonathan Chukwuma means different things to different people. To the downtrodden and less privileged in the local government and even beyond, the former deputy speaker cuts a picture of one, divinely capacitated to alleviate the plight of the long suffering and abandoned group, both in the city and hinterlands.
This is the reason they cluster around him at every now and then, whenever the former number 4 citizen of the state finds himself in their midst. His recent dinning and winning with over 400 widows in his own community in Uvuru ward, Uzo Uwani LGA of Enugu state, where each of the widows who went home with a bag of rice and cash envelope rained prayers on His Excellency Rt. Hon. Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the executive Governor of Enugu State and the SPA remains an evidence.
To those of us at association of 17 media aides to the 17 LGA chairmen in Enugu state, who upon discovering Hon. Jonathan’s immense and immeasurable love for His Excellency, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwanyi, pleaded with him to become our patron, Hon Jonathan represents a mirror through which we see ourselves, as we keep consulting him for counselling whenever the need arises. And to this end, we want to say a big “thank you.”
Howbeit, the other day, another indication of people’s appreciation of Jonathan surged. This time, while I scrolled through the social media, trying to see what was new in the ever buzzing Facebook, I once again, stumbled on a humble, simple, jovial and large-hearted Jonathon, jubilantly being mobbed by masquerades and youths of Akpotoro village of Obimo, in Nsukka’ local government area of Enugu state who could not hold their expression of gratitude for having such eminent son of Uzo Uwani LGA gracing their masquerade festival. And when I finished watching this massive show of love to a man who had been out of power for a very long time, I quietly said in my heart that what Jonathan Chukwuma needs at present is political power, enormous enough to put too many people into too many positions.
That said. To the political elites, Jonathan represents a veteran and consummate political leader who is well experienced in the art and act of politicking that they would not wish him lifted higher, owing to his antecedents of principally sticking to justice, balance and fairness at every occasion. Another reason: Jonathan is a sworn hater of imbalance, intimidation and harassment; which form the defining traits of the present day political Hawks.
To the youths and aspiring future leaders, the SPA becomes their guardian, source of motivation and inspiration; hence they cling to him like a glue. It is a fact that no single youth who has encountered Jonathan Chukwuma ever dreams of leaving him, as the former number 4 citizen of the state remains a pool of knowledge to this group. They go wherever he goes and are ready to swim or sink with him.
In the end, while I join millions of followers across the nation in celebration of this superstar and paragon of knowledge, I leave this reader with a timeless quote from John Maxwell who once wrote that “a leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way.” And this is who Jonathan is, in my personal opinion.
Happy birthday to Rt. Hon. Barr. Jonathan Chukwuka, SPA to the Governor on Inter-party affairs. Shine on, Sir.
Enugu State is truly in the Hands of God.
Gwiyi Solomon, contributed this piece on behalf of 17 media aides to the 17 LGA
