My Personal Experience with the Man, Dr. John Maikomo Moses
By: Tordue Simon Targema, Ph.D.
Good people exist. Not in the blues—they live among us. Sadly, in a society populated by wicked people, highly sentimental and parochial, we are often compelled by this dominant trend to notice only the wicked ones around us. This does not by any means erode the fact that there are good people among us—so good that you can’t help but wish they were elevated to higher positions of authority in the greater interest of society.
I’ve been fortunate enough to meet a few such good people in my life and can attest to their generosity. For instance, Professor Dauda Ishaya Suntai is a father to me and, indeed, my siblings by every other definition of the word “father”—except biological. He’s so good to us that my younger brother would always emphasise that any day Suntai ventures into elective politics at whatever level, he’ll be at the forefront of the campaign and mobilisation process!
My Ph.D. supervisor, Professor Peter Esuh, was incredibly kind to me. His role in my Ph.D. journey transcended that of an academic supervisor—it became that of a father. For instance, for most of my stay in Uyo during the programme, I lived in his house and was well-fed. But that wasn’t all: every day he returned home, he would emphatically ask, “Simon, have you eaten?” And even when I said yes, he’d still probe further: “What have they served you?” I must confess, they didn’t know how to serve food in that house—it must always be in excess! I’d always have to eat it twice or throw away the remainder, which used to make me feel very guilty.
Today, however, I write not about Suntai or Esuh or any other good person I’ve written about before, but about our very own Dr. John Maikomo Moses, the PDP Chairmanship flagbearer for Bali LGA in the forthcoming Local Government Councils election in Taraba State. I feel compelled to write this for two reasons. First, for others who do not have the privilege of knowing him personally like I do, to also know the kind of person that is flying the PDP flag for the Bali LGC polls. Secondly, this write-up intends to blow the trumpet for his positive deeds—just to remind ourselves that as much as bad people populate our society, there are also good ones in our midst.
For instance, just two days ago, we all watched in anger as a commissioner-nominee in Benue State (also a lecturer like Dr. John) had to account for his deeds, where his previous students rose in unison to level allegations of wickedness and high-handedness against him. This scenario begs the question: is it only the bad deeds that society notices? Against this background, I’ve taken it upon myself to blow the trumpet for Dr. John and let the world know the stuff he’s made of.
How did I meet Dr. John Maikomo Moses, and how has he impacted my life thus far?
I met Dr. John in 2012, during my second year as an undergraduate student. With his simple dressing—stockings with chinos, packet shirts or polos, and loafers—and a cheerful and pleasant personality, he immediately became our favourite! Specifically, he taught our class two courses, one in 200 and the other in 300 level. My performance attracted him to me, and although he was friendly and cheerful with all of us, he had a somewhat special interest in me.
We became closer during the accreditation exercise when we were grouped to handle different tasks in preparation. Dr. John coordinated the PR Unit in the exercise, while I and a few other students manned the unit. This exercise brought us very close, as it involved a series of rehearsals for a branding campaign we created for a fictional multinational cafeteria.
After the prolonged 2013 ASUU strike—during which I had retired to my village and was almost cut off from the rest of the world—I resumed campus to the shocker: Dr. John had left for doctoral studies in China! No—it was a shock too much to bear. For the first time, I quickly slid into his Facebook DM and expressed my profound shock and joy at the same time. He promptly responded, and we reconnected on Facebook, occasionally exchanging pleasantries.
By 2014, I had graduated and was working with NTA Jalingo as a volunteer when an assignment took me to the department, where I ran into Dr. John on vacation in Nigeria. The excitement was unprecedented. He told me how he had been so worried about me when he heard that herdsmen had displaced most of the Tiv settlements in Bali and Gassol but was relieved to learn that I was safe. That was the day I experienced his generosity for the first time. While we were still talking, he whispered to the departmental administrative officer to assist him with some cash, and he’d transfer the amount to her later. I think she was collecting students’ registration dues or something. The woman gave him ₦5,000, which he handed over to me as I was about to leave. I’m sure neither he nor the woman will remember this day, but I still vividly recall the entire scenario.
By 2018, we became colleagues in the department. John had completed his Ph.D. and returned from China. But something happened. The office allocated to him was not befitting or conducive. Although he accepted it, he didn’t use it—he operated from home to the classroom. After class, he’d hang around his car to attend to student matters, take a few rounds around campus, and zoom off. But with time, responsibilities increased. I recall he was made the departmental Postgraduate Coordinator that year.
Meanwhile, I had two extra tables in my office. When administrative responsibilities became too much to handle from his car, he started using my office. I must also mention that I was his personal secretary for most PG issues and would do most of the running around. In our daily conversations, he kept insisting that he was looking for how he could support me in a “big way.” I wasn’t sure I understood what that meant, but he kept saying it.
One day, a friend visited, and they got talking. I think the man wanted to see the Vice Chancellor but couldn’t. I overheard John link him to the VC’s protocol officer, saying, “When you get there and there’s any issue, just give me a call.” I asked myself—so this man has access to the VC’s office?
Meanwhile, my younger brother had graduated with a First Class in Physics. His department and faculty had recommended him for employment. The Dean followed up and met the VC in person. We also involved other influential people within and outside the University, including our Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Istifanus Rokoba, who gave the application to a prominent church member in the VC’s circle. Still, the letter remained in the VC’s KIV.
After the friend left, I mentioned to John that my younger brother also graduated with a First Class, and we were pushing hard for his employment, to no avail. He was shocked. “You don’t mean it, Tordue!” he exclaimed. I smiled, opened my drawer, and handed him a copy of the application letter and credentials. It was a Tuesday, and he told me the guy must be employed before the end of the week. That sounded like a joke.
By Wednesday, he was at the VC’s office. After long conversations, he presented the letter and explained that the candidate was his protégé, and he wanted to leave with the appointment letter. The VC, recognizing the name, said he was aware of the case and had only been waiting for the right time, and asked John to return on Monday for proper discussion on the matter.
John briefed me on Thursday, disappointed it couldn’t happen that week, but promised to “wake up” at the VC’s office on Monday. But on Saturday, the miracle happened: the VC himself called my brother to come pick up his appointment letter at his office by Monday! My brother was shocked. On Monday, we had a departmental board meeting. I sat next to John, who told me he’d head straight to the VC’s office after the meeting. Before the meeting ended, my brother messaged me—he had collected the letter!
A Pillar of Support
Dr. John has been a strong pillar of support to me over the years. I must summarise now, as the write-up is already lengthy. In 2021, when I told him I was starting my building project, he insisted on being present when I was about to kickstart the project. And, true to his words, he was there on the first day. Justine Tyopuusu would remember—we waited for his friend, Arc. Mayor for about two hours before he arrived to commence the setting up that day. When John was about to leave, he transferred ₦100,000 to me as his support. Justine was there and can testify. That was the first (and perhaps only) time I received such a generous cash donation.
Again, when I told him I was starting my Ph.D. in Uyo, he was thrilled. He jokingly promised to pay my first semester’s fees. When I eventually started the programme and he found out, he immediately asked for the amount. I told him everything for the first semester was within the neighbourhoods of ₦75,000—and he transferred it instantly. Apart from John, only Fr. Istifanus Rokoba has ever given me a sum above ₦70,000.
Agsin, in 2022, during the reign of King Darius when salary was but a mirage, I was in Abuja for visa processing and ran out of funds. I teased John that I was “stuck but not stranded.” He instantly sent ₦20,000 for my return to Uyo. People close to me are aware of all these—beyond the moral and practical support he constantly offers.
The Adventure into Politics
Three weeks ago, I was at his office, and he intimated me of his intention venture into politics to enable him impact humanity at a larger scale. While I consented to it, I least imagined it will be this soon. Earlier this week, I first saw a WhatsApp message on our departmental platform, congratulating him for emerging the consensus chairmanship candidate for Bali LGA. Then followed the social media frenzy that is currently ongoing.
To the people of Bali, this is your opportunity to turn around the fortunes of your LGA. Yet, this is not just about Bali. Dr. John’s political journey is just starting, and by the grace of God, the sky is his take-off destination, with humanity as the ultimate beneficiary.
Cheers to a resounding victory at the polls, Sir!
Tordue Simon Targema, Ph.D. writes from the Department of Mass Communication, Taraba State University, Jalingo.
He can be reached via: torduesimon@tsuniversity.edu.ng
