END OF TOURISM GEOGRAPHY: A EULOGY ON LATE DR. TK GONTUL
Phone lines and phone calls are some of the greatest innovations that have made the world go round. However, I have come to realise that some calls can be unsettling. The call that broke the news of the earthly exit of my late cousin, Dr. Timothy Kitwuna Gontul is one of such.
A day before the sad horrible news broke, my cousin too, Nenbun Bauson had phoned me that the deceased was at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) for medical attention. He however noted that he was relatively 'stable'. It was already evening and so there was no way I could go immediately.
My younger brother, Nendi, eventually came by and we collectively agreed to visit the hospital by 8 am. While I was about to step out of bed that day, the brother with whom I had arrange the visit called to inform me that it was the the last Saturday of the month and, therefore, we have to wait until after sanitation by 10am because there will be no movements. It was in the waiting time that I received the shocker from Manzo Bulus Timothy that our brother has finally answered the last call of nature. It was, indeed, a shattering piece of news!
I have learned how not to cry but not without tears. My heart bleeds with agonising tears. I'm not alone in this but other family members (both nuclear and extended), friends, colleagues and neighbours because of who this rare gem was while alive.
It was Elle Luna wrote a motivational classic with a title, "The Crossroad of Should and Must: Find and Follow Your Passion." It is about the pursuit of passion without which a person is not worth living. Late Dr. Timothy had passion for academics and caught his nitche in lecturing. He started his lecturing career (which sadly ended with his demise) at the Department of Geography and Planning, University of Jos in 1995. His Post Graduate Degrees, M.Sc and Ph.D were both in Tourism resources planning ang management.
By all standards, Late Dr. Timothy was a genus with towering profile in academic excellence. In this life, no one was ever perfect and no one ever shall be. The deceased had his personal downsides or achiles heel but, to say the least, he was a very frank and resourceful gentleman whose contributions to nation building, especially through knowledge, were not in doubt.
Having been the first to be employed university lecturer from my village, he became a trial blazing knowledge reservoir and role model for those of us who cherish and have great passion for academics. Indeed, he was a great source of personal inspiration and encouragement to me, both at home and in school!
I have had course to disagree with Late Dr. Timothy over a number of issues while he was alive but we eventually reconciled between ourselves with him promising to lead a family reconciliation. Our reconciliation and his desire to replicate same at the family level is a testament to the fact that the deceased was a silent bridge builder!
I have one obvious regret losing Dr. Tim': He did not live long enough to attain the zenith of his academic career. Achieving such climax would have been a practical possibility since he was already a Reader (an Associate Professor), a transitional rank towards becoming a full fledge Professor of Tourism Geography. With the deceased's exit, I dare to say Tourism Geography has ended!
Late Dr. TK Gontul was born on April 7, 1964 and died on November 26, 2022. How big are the dreams of a man and how uncertain is chance of fulfilling them? We can dream dreams and make projections but only God knows how far one can go in realising them. This loss is a profound lesson in that regard!
I was looking forward to an emerging Professor Timothy Gontul becoming a Vice Chancellor of a university someday or something even bigger to make us proud. He had all that it takes but that was not to be - Death betrayed us!
Oh Death, what have you done to us? I felt robbed and cheated by this bereavement. You have short-changed us of one of our 'finest and brightest'. You forcefully created a huge void in the organogram and hierarchy of the family, community and the academia that will be hard to fill.
Oh death, is this your cruel way of dealing with mortals? So, it's real, anything can happen? I have also learned another lesson here, that the higher men go in their personal profiles, achievements and time, the closer they get to their graves. Now, I see and bear witness again to the reality of us fading away towards the gates of eternity which is the grave!
In Robert Greene's classic, "The Law of Nature" were the following lines: "Reality can be quite harsh and is full of limits and problems. We all must die. Every day we get older and less strong." How true this can be!
In Timothy's exit have come a new me. I'm dead to dreams but not without hope in Jesus Christ who is 'the Author and Finisher of our faith'. Before I stray far away in my beclouded imagination, let me quickly say: I am sorry lord, incase, i have sin in my reflection on this bereavement.
I know and believe it to be true that all that God does is for the greater good of those whose trust is on him. I have no questions but to say thank you to God for His grand plan and perfect will over our lives and that of our love ones. Whatever God takes is no longer ours but His and cannot be of help to us back here on earth!
Our own Tim is sadly gone and singing a hymn to say good bye to this father, brother and teacher will do. But what better hymn captures the mood of the moment than than "God be with you Till we Meet Again" which was composed by Jeremiah E. Rankin, (1828–1904) and sang by William G. Tomer (1833 –1896) as follow:
1. God be with you till we meet again;
By his counsels guide, uphold you;
With his sheep securely fold you.
God be with you till we meet again.
*Chorus*
Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus’ feet,
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.
2. God be with you till we meet again;
When life’s perils thick confound you,
Put his arms unfailing round you.
God be with you till we meet again.
3. God be with you till we meet again;
Keep love’s banner floating o’er you;
Smite death’s threat’ning wave before you.
God be with you till we meet again.
Let us pray: Oh Lord, our wills are rolled into yours and it is in this that we draw comfort and the strength to recover from our worst shocks and to face tomorrow again. Oh Lord, I pray you will graciously raise another resourceful Timothy for the family and community. May you comfort Late Timothy's primary constituencies: The University of Jos, Gochom community and, more importantly, the immediate family!
Legacies do not die. Late Dr. TK Gontul's visible legacies, particularly, the students he trained across all levels of education and the family he raised will continue to stand in witness and in his name and honour. It is over with your infirmities, worries and cares of this fading world Tim. Rest on genius, rest tight, sir!
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