HON. DR. GOLU TIMOTHY SIMON: STORY OF AN ACHIEVER
(Modest Thoughts with Ayuba, Yilgak'ha, May 14, 2023; 08116181263)*
It was American business woman and founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics incorporated, Mary Kay Ash who once observed that, "There are three types of people in this world: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened." Hon. Dr. Timothy Golu falls in the category of those who make things happened. The evidence of this abounds in his towering profile and achievements.
Born on November 18, 1972, to the humble and God fearing family of retired Pastor, Simon Golu, he has continued to prove himself a worthy son of his parents, community and nation. Just last year November, he celebrated his 50th birthday and for the five decades of being on this planet earth, the honourable has carved a niche for himself in the field of journalism, politics and academics. The speed with which this man of many parts recorded his achievements is relatively legendary and unequal in a country where life is difficult, especially, for peasant families.
Hon. Golu attended the Model primary School Sokoto (where he was born) for his nursery school and the Local Education Authority (LEA) primary school Limpye in present Kanke LGA from 1979 - 1985 where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC). This was after the civil war and voluntary retirement of his father from the military on health grounds.
Upon the successful completion of his primary school, 'the man in the mirrow' got admission into Gonerit Memorial College (GMC), Tuwan - Kabwir, a missionary school, from 1986 -1991. He then proceeded to the prestigious University of Jos from February 1992 - 1996 where he graduated with Second Class Upper degree in political science.
Between 2005 - 2007, Hon. Dr. Golu pursued and earned a Master's degree (Msc) in International Relations and Strategic Studies which qualified him to embark on the rigourous PhD journey in the same course between 2014 - 2021. Having been convocated on May 13, 2023, we are living witnesses to the successful consummation of the mountain -climbing journey to the peak of his academic career!
Hon. Dr. Golu, a much younger university graduate, at the time, picked up appointment as a News Reporter with the Nigeria Standard Newspaper, then, the Daily Times, National Interest before joining the Leadership Newspapers where he resigned in December 2010 to join partisan politics. This was after his successful completion of the mandary, one year, National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) from June 1997 - June 1998 where he served at Government Secondary School Biu (located inside Army Barracks), Biu Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State, North East Nigeria. He was the pioneer Politics Editor and Group Political Editor of the popular Leadership newspaper and through due diligence and dedication to duty, he became its political correspondence at the presidential Villa, Abuja from 2004 - 2010. During his stay at the Presidential villa, Golu worked with three Presidents namely: Chief Olusegun Obasanjo 2004 - 2007, Alhaji Umaru Musa Ya’Adua 2007-2009 and Dr Goodluck Jonathan 2009- 2010. During this period Golu travelled to many countries of the world in the course of his work and attended both national and international workshops and seminars in development and investigative journalism.
Golu performed with great distinction until he left to contest for the state House of Assembly in 2012 in which he won landslide.
The spur brief I got from his achievements at the state assembly indicated that he electrified 7 kilometres road from Sharram to Dungung and power is very stable up to this moment; graded about 24 kilometres rural roads: Dawaki - Tabulung - Somji, Myet - Nemel, Myet - Lerpye roads; construction of about 40 boreholes. Apart from over 40 jobs he gave to his state constuents, he was, also, the first person to clear and open the new Dawaki new market site. And having meritoriously served as the House of Assembly member representing the good people of Kanke and the Chief Whip of the house between 2011 - 2015, he contested and, again, won as member representing the good people Pankshin, Kanke, Kanam (PKK) in the National Assembly where he creditably served between 2015 - 2019. While in the green chambers, he was the Chairman House Committee on Legislative Budget and Research under Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara's led 8th House of Representatives.
Suffice to state that while at the National Assembly, Hon. Golu attracted 4 huge federal road projects to his constituency namely: Pankshin - Ballang (12 billion), Chigwon - Wuseli - Tapshin (N14 billion), Sharram - Babban Lamba (N19.2 billion) and the extension of Bogoro - Gobiya - Talbushi Road. He drilled over 200 motorised and hand pumped boreholes; two (2) well furnished skill acquisition centres; graded over 10 rural roads; built Dams and other irrigation facilities; two (2) modern Primary Health care centres at Mwel in Kanke and Talbushi in Kanam LGCs); Fifteen (15) primary schools; donated 1000 bundles of zincs towards community building projects and relief materials. He also gave over 200 various jobs to his constituents amongst others.
During the just concluded 2023 general election, Hon. Dr. Timothy Golu, a very experienced former state and federal legislator was one of the frontline governorship aspirants under the platform of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State. Even though he stepped down from the race, I want to believe that his being in the race significantly expanded and deepened Golu's practical experience of the dynamics of Nigeria and Plateau politics.
Aside politics, Hon. Golu is a successful academic giant (PhD holder). A PhD degree is a 'terminal degree' because it is the highest degree in the academic ladder. How Dr. Timothy managed to combined the rigours of politics and journalism with that of academic pursuit at this level is what has kept many in deep surprise. The great feat is a pointer that with determination and strategy, there is no mountain that one cannot clime in this life.
It is important to note that educational certificates, a PhD degree for that matter, can only be awarded to people who are worthy both in 'learning and character'. By this standard, therefore, Dr Golu has been satisfactorily found worthy in character and learning to be awarded this degree by a prestigious and second generation university like the University of Jos. What is left is for this awardee to bear the ambassadorial torch of the university anywhere he goes and to make the institution proud as an alumni.
The Nigeria's political system is in dire need of moderation or even reconstruction to meet contemporary realities. A juandiced political system cannot guarantee rapid and holistic development in a country. Therefore, hatching political scientists of Dr. Golu's kind in an abnormal and distorted political system like ours is very apt. At this time of Nigeria's history where there are so much contradictions in our political culture, the input of seasoned and practical political scientists like him is necessity to shape our political orientation as a nation.
Combining politics, journalism with academics can be a harculean task but through dexterity and strategy, Hon. Dr. Golu successfully combined the three. He has continued to use his Sunday Leadership newspaper column, "Melting Point",
formerly known as "Point Blank", to shape political discourse in Nigeria. In fact, to maintain a weekly column in a leading Pan Nigeria Newspaper like Leadership is no mean feat. You have to try publishing an article in such newspaper to know how difficult it is to have access.
Hon. Dr. Golu's developing story is a testament to the power of good habits. His qualitative and winning habit has validated William Makepeace Thackeray thesis that, "successful people aren't born that way, they become successful by establishing the habit of doing things unsuccessful people don't like to do". This emerging political giant is very determined, resilient and has always demonstrated capacity in travelling roads less travelled and most often he ended up in huge success.
Hon. Dr. Golu is a daring risk taker,a frontal goal getter, dynamic opinion moulder and a practical mentor who became a great achiever through self development. He is a rallying point and grassroot political mobiliser. The man is a keen political observer, analyst and an active political participant who will not want to be left behind in the scheme of things. Hon. Golu is a respected and committed family man. To say the least, he represents many things to many people.
The story of Dr. Timothy Simon Golu is the story of a distinguished achiever who rose from grass to grace. He is an index of winning ways in a challenging world. He is not in anyway perfect but a lesson in the power of self-development.There is no better route to success than through the power of learning by doing and doing by learning. It is sweet when a man emerged from obscurity to be a man of honour.
The future looks bright for a nation that is committed to the development of human capital. Let me sincerely congratulate Hon. Dr. Timothy Simon Golu and others who were convocated during the 33rd and 34th combined convocation of the University of Jos which took place on May 13, 2023, for attaining this great academic feat. I salute your wonderful accomplishments and look forward to a future where the motivations arising from these sterling attainments will bear noble fruits for the advancement of our country and humanity. Press on, Honourable!
