BY SIMON REEF MUSA
When on April 13, 1974, a 29-year-old young man then called Jerry from Busu, near Bida, Niger State walked down the aisle to wed his heartthrob, Lucy, the event was a bright promise for the future. With the newly wedded bride working as a nurse in Zaria, and the bridegroom as a teacher with the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, the couple then felt that confronting the future was worth the leap.
After the exchange of marital vows, Professor Jerry and Mrs. Lucy Gana would embrace the definition of marriage as defined by the Swish physician and author, Paul Tournier: “Helping one another to reach the full status of being persons, responsible beings who do not run away from life”. They have taken each other by the hand and experienced the valleys as well as mountaintops of marital companionship. In all these years, they have stayed the course and confronted their fears and held onto hope for a brighter future. From his teaching years in ABU Zaria to the corridors of public services, especially during his duty tours at Directorate of Foods Road and Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI) and Mass Mobilisation for Self-Reliance, Zero Justice and Economic Recovery (MAMSER), Prof Gana enjoyed the support of a loving and supportive wife whose nursing profession made her an expert in care-giving.
Blessed with oratorical skills and intellectual prowess that have turned him into national relevance, the young lecturer, with the support of his wife, would win election as Senator in 1983. The coup of that year would force him to return to ABU, but in less than two years, he left the academic world to implement the theories learned within the walls of ivory towers. His excellent performance in all duties assigned to him will make a recurring decimal in the corridor of power. Even after the exit of the military in 1999, the sterling qualities of exemplary leadership laced in integrity would see him returning as Minister of Information at the dawn of this unbroken democracy. Supported by his wife who has become the matriarch of the Gana Family, Prof Gana found succour in a soul mate that turned his home into a lair of peace and comfort.
The consummate academic and brilliant politician may not have reached the zenith of his political dream, he still remains the symbol of empathetic political figure in touch with the people, across ethnic and religious divides. In the five decades of marital journey, they are parents to four children, Grace, Joshua, Elizabeth and James who are presently being a pride to not only the family, the church but also the country. In turn, these children have also given the 50-year-old couple many grandchildren
When last Saturday, the couple turned up in church to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary, they were accompanied by former Nigeria’s military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd), and his wife, Lady Victoria, among other distinguished Nigerians, to celebrate the enduring tenacity for patience in a nuptial union that has spanned half-a-century and still undimmed. The thanksgiving service which took place at the St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Maitama also drew the presence of the former governor of Adamawa State, Mr. Boni Haruna; Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Dr. Phillips Salawu, former minister of Police Affairs, Barr. Humphrey Aba, Senator Jonathan Zwingina, former Executive Secretary of Tertiary Trust Fund (TETFund), Professor Suleiman Elias Bogoro and members of the National Assembly, among hundreds of friends and admirers.
Preaching on the virtue of love as contained in 1st Corinthians 13:1-13, the Vicar of the church, Ven. Amb. Dr. Tiwatope A Elias-Fatile paid glowing tributes to the Ganas for being an inspiration to the church. He called on Christians to emulate the love story of Prof Gana and his wife at a time when divorce cases are spiraling, with distraught couples going their separate ways. Love, according to Elias-Fatile, remains a sure foundation upon which true lasting relationship is built upon.
“We’re here to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of Daddy Jerry Gana and Mummy Lucy Gana. What has brought them so far is undiluted love based on Christian teaching. Absolute trust in God and love for each other has brought them to this day, with the blessings of children and grandchildren”, the vicar enthused. Various songs, including special numbers, were sung in praise to God for divine protection and blessings in the half-a-century marital journey of the Ganas. General Gowon, on behalf of the Boys’ Brigade (BB) presented a special card to Prof Gana who is the National Patron of the Boys Brigade to commemorate the 50th wedding anniversary.
Speaking shortly after the service, General Gowon expressed happiness and joy to the Almighty God for sparing the lives of the Ganas to witness the anniversary. According to the former Head of State, the Ganas “have shown a tremendous belief in each other for us all to learn and emulate. They are friends and that has ensured they endure and live a good life together.”
When asked if he felt fulfilled celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary, Prof Gana joyfully looked at his wife and smiled broadly: “Yes, I feel very fulfilled! She’s the reason we are celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary today. She is very patient and always forgiving. She is the sole reason for the success of our marriage and has stood by me all the way, especially during difficult times. My wife is a prayer warrior and her support for me and the children has been tremendous.
Asked particularly what role she played during his active days in politics, he responded: “She stood by me and was a true friend for advice, patient and so nice. She’s the best wife in the world. She’s the quality of being a true wife and mother. She’s very caring, thoughtful and gentle. If she hadn’t been forgiving me, this marriage would have been ruined long ago. Apart from being a good mother, she’s also a prayer warrior. She stood by me and prayed for me while in office so that I will not make any mistakes but succeed. She’s always praying for me and praying for my children. One of the things we prayed for is that God has answered us with 50 years of marriage. She has a tremendous faith in God. Sometimes when I come back from the office very disappointed, she will say, ‘don’t worry, God will show you the way’.”
“Each time I faced a lot of pressure from the office and there was a difficult decision to be taken, my wife was always there, assuring me that God would be there for me. Her God has never failed me. If I were to come to this earth a thousand time, I would pray earnestly to marry her again and again. She is such a wonderful person to be married to.”
In the face of rising divorce cases, what advice for enduring marriage? “The problem with young men and women now is the absence of patience. Young people should note that tomorrow is greater than today and they should be careful not to give up on the future on account of little misunderstandings in the present. For an enduring marriage, a couple must have faith for the future and work through whatever problem that may arise in the course of marriage. Nothing good comes easy,” said the former Minister of Information as he smiled to his wife standing by him.
“You have been a wonderful and supportive wife to your husband, Prof Gana. How wonderful has he been to you”?
She beamed!
“Of course, as you can see the answer in her smile. I have also been a wonderful husband. No one smiles if they are not happy. I can assure that she has been a very happy wife with me,” Prof Gana spoke on behalf of his wife.
During a reception after the church service, a little insight on the character of Mrs. Gana was unveiled by a member of the Gana political family, Senator Jonathan Zwingina. He described Mrs. Gana whom he affectionately refers to as ‘Mummy’ as an extremely patient person who always displays maturity and motherly disposition in managing a big political family of the Ganas. Instead of flaring often, Zwingina revealed he could not remember seeing her frowning at any time. In his words, “Mummy is always compassionate and willing to listen and discuss our problems. In her, we could not wish for a better Mother.”
The President of the National Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku, described the Ganas as phenomenal, stressing that one of the factors that stand the test of time in marriage is for couples to marry their friends.
The surmise of Mrs. Gana’s character is that of a Lady that has transformed herself into the family’s Rock of Gibraltar. Apart from supporting her husband and providing him with the peace required at the home front, in order to enable him to deliver excellently on duties assigned to him, Mummy left no stone unturned in bringing up the children in the fear of God. Giving a vote of thanks after the reception, the first son of the Ganas and member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Joshua Audu Gana, thanked the distinguished gathering for turning up to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of their parents.
No doubt, looking at the gaiety of the couple that walked the aisle 50 years ago, the radiance of this half-a-century love story is not about to grow dim; it is poised to continue glowing more in the decades to come.
