HE may be an enigma of some sort if, you don’t understand his person. The moment you come to an understanding of who he is, that is when the struggles he has been involved in over the years will matter to you. It is only then that you realize the struggles should have been better if you had joined him. 

He was before his demise on September 9, 2020; Da Sen Luka Gwom, the Gwom Chomo of Kabong (Sarkin Yaki) translated: Defender of the People. He had several responsibilities to shoulder, yet, despite those enormous tasks; he did not discard his love for writing, neither was that for the things of God, which until his last day, it didn’t matter his situation; they did not get cold as to imagine he had given up hope to serve.

That hope was to keep shinning the path to translate the warmth of an old man who neither had choices of those to respect, whether man or woman, boy or girl he gave his time in equal measure of the amount of love to those that came in contact with him.

He was in numerous ways the strength of many, family and orphans; having ‘holy words long preserved, for our walk in this world’. In truth, he loved the Lord, his people and the land and equally defended it as it should be through his writings which started with the first title, Fighting Unholy Forces in 1979.

Since that first effort, nothing took away his interest; rather, he devoted his time and energy researching to change the perception of people about the state and its people. But the love which exemplified his life in the last ten years God was, if anything contagious; as that zeal drew those who had thought otherwise closer to him. His wife, Ngo Monica Gwom who spent days nursing him on the sick bed said he was consistent in prayers to the amazement of many who thought his health condition should matter to him.

About three decades in journalism practice, yours sincerely came early to reading several pieces of articles authored by him. Initially for many, it didn’t make sense to continue to read materials that were essentially on the local government system; it was not a forte to elicit any interest in. It was in the same system that between 1980-88 that he became the pioneer president of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees; and today, as a result of the foundation he and other comrades laid; NULGE has become an institution.

In service after teaching, the local government was for him, a veritable tool to excel. Even when activism brought him on collision course with the authorities which led to him being twice dismissed and reinstated, God had destined him to rise to be Sole Administrator as far back as 1991 when Langtang South was created; indeed having acted in the same capacity at Kanam local government area. 

They may call it a dry field; yet it was instructive for those in the system to be educated, he having been a major player in the local government administration system. The reader may therefore understand why he had that burning desire to put certain issues about the system in the right perspective. If he believed in an issue, he pursued it even if it meant turning to seek for redress; as he had implicit faith in the judiciary. On this account, he was misunderstood as controversial, however the cases which have been dispensed of have vindicated him as ensuring justice was served.

That couldn’t stop him, rather, the flair in him was the more inspired, as he continued to churn out one material after another to educate people about the system. It was a different ball game when the pendulum swung to an area which for decades has been our albatross: Insecurity and the need to build peace between and amongst communities in Plateau State; having gone through untold hardships as a result of constant pummeling through attacks.

The casualties significantly have been a source of worry to all sane men and women in the state as well as elsewhere. However, to imagine that in a society such as ours is without a voice is to conclude that we are a people without a future. Despite official duties which should occupy his time; Da Sen Luka Gwom had a nagging concern to chronicle the history and concerns of communities, but particularly the land of his birth and of the places where he served over the years.

If you thought that at old age the momentum would slow down given the demanding nature of research, your assumption may not fit his thoughts; for he was blessed with stupendous grace to write than he had when he was younger. He walked and drove around researching on various materials he had interest spread on and was dutifully at various business centers to get the manuscripts out. The books he authored had the insignia of a Prophet warning and defending the people of what lies ahead.

At the family house on September 14, 2020, his daughter; and one of the women who has had a tremendous impact in my life and several hundreds of thousands, Pastor Faith Musa told me when we discussed about the writings of her father; she had this to say: Dara ya bar mana aiki (I have been left with a lot of work to do). Truly he did, given the manuscripts that are yet to be handed to his publishers. This, they have to in order to keep his dreams alive and incandescent.

No wonder, the family has plans to set up a library that would accommodate his numerous books and other materials which are principally going to serve as research materials for students, administrators and other such class of people that may have need for them. In this part, it is not on record to have private libraries, giving researchers the benefit of using them to the maximum; therefore, it will be a welcome development to establish one.

He had written about 98 books on various areas, apart from being the Ministry’s Chairman of the Editorial Board of Global Impact Magazine. One of the books Da Gwom wrote was on Global Flame President, Apostle Danjuma Musa Gaksu; his pastor and husband to one of his delectable daughters, Pastor Faith Musa. It is titled ‘An Evangelical Narration of Apostle Gaksu’s Gift and Calling to Nations’ is to be released on or before December 25, 2023 when the Ministry would have been 25 years old chronicles the life of his son in law, who has been called to raise a people of power that will manifest the Kingdom.

Between the two, the relationship has been mutual and infectious; but above all, an item for study. His daughter, Pastor Faith Musa captured the essence of that relationship in her tribute to him: ‘Even though you were my natural father, you submitted to the spiritual order and was humble and respectful to spiritual authority. Your last years were beautiful. I watched how you grew in the spirit day by day, loving and serving God faithfully.’ 

If the above does not convince you, a rendition of the relationship between him and his son in-law speaks volumes: ‘Dara was a man that stands out amongst million-he respected the grace of God upon my life even though he was my father in-law. He was very humble and respectful to spiritual authority at all times. His submission to discipleship and spiritual growth in old age made him an example of the profiting of godliness in all things.’

At close to 90 before his demise, he was not a companion to a reading glass. That was sheer blessing from above. At such an age, you must have expected for him to have a research assistant; as tedious as the work could be, he was everywhere digging for pictures and materials. If he called to be assisted with a picture today, the following day, he followed it with a called, serving as a reminder as if to say: ‘I am being delayed by the absence of what I requested’. I have severally offered to bring some of the things he requested; but rather than having that honour to take them to him, he would thank me and come for them himself.

Early in life, he chose a path for the struggle and the actualization of the dreams of his people, a decision that enabled him get the nod to lead the Berom Educational and Cultural Organization (BECO) from 1997- 2009 as its ninth president; an organization he, together with Dr Sambo Daju pioneered. If trade unionism was for self, wait until you hear what Hon Damishi Tonson Sango, Nigeria’s former Sports Minister had to say of him when he came visiting the family house on September 14, 2020 in company Da Bulus Dareng, a former bank executive recalled several instances of probity associated with his official stance on sleaze.

But he was not done with the eulogies. He said he was married to one of the most stable women any good man would need, Ngo Monica Gwom, a foremost educationist which together have sired responsible children who would give any parent joy as to retire when their strength are failing without regret. He noted that he was one of the few men who have not locked their wives in the house warning for them to keep their hands off as it was a ‘man’s business’. Ngo Monica Hudung Gwom was the only woman who contested for the position of the Plateau State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during its last state congress.

To have gotten to this level, it is resilience embodied in the struggle that enabled him become what he was: From selling canary birds to engaging in menial jobs to raise money for his education despite being advanced in age. He didn’t disappoint his parents as they had looked up to him as he was exceptional. Even at the point of a choice of his career, he had chosen teaching above others, insisting it was the way to bring others up. 

It has been stated and it needs repetition: His last ten years were not spent regretting as those who had not made a choice. It was glaring at Global Flame where I had the privilege to have sat closely with him every service; he knew the home he wanted to go. He had peculiar dance steps during songs ministration telling anyone that cares to know; it was one of the things that kept him at peace.  

Certainly, knowing the road he has traveled in his 84 years sojourn on earth, one fact is known: The struggle for a just society was his life.