Former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana, says his political life was defined by service, faith, and an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of ordinary Nigerians, insisting that “what was important for me was not the position, was impact on the people.”
Speaking in an interview with ARISE News on Tuesday, Gana said he never lost empathy after entering public office because his motivation came from his spiritual convictions and a deep love for the people.
“The love wasn’t just natural; it was springing out of my spiritual life,”he said. “If you really want to be a good Christian, you have to be light and let your light so shine… So, what was important for me was not the position, was impact on the people. Making their lives better. Am I being a good example? Am I motivating them? Am I changing their situation? Am I being relevant?”
Reflecting on the factors that sustained him through eight decades, Gana said his life was anchored on his relationship with God, a supportive family, and carefully chosen partnerships.
“My faith in God has been very, very powerful in my life,” he said. “Nobody should underestimate having a life of faith in God because God has integrity. He can be trusted. He can’t deceive you.”
He added that marrying well was another pillar of his success:
“My wife has been a sheer delight… giving me a lot of peace at home. I look forward to coming back home to rest in peace.”
On friendships, he noted:“Nobody can go it alone, but you have to be wise in choosing… you have few trustworthy friends.”
Gana traced his journey from Busu, a small Nupe village in Niger State, to becoming a scholar and national figure.
“I am Nupe and I’m very, very proud of it,”he said, recalling long walks to school and the influence of exceptional teachers.
“My English teacher must be one of the best in the world… a tremendous man, Mr Bill.”
His commitment to rural development began early.
“I come from a rural area and I wanted to really see how we can transform the rural areas,”he said, explaining why he chose to study rural resources planning at King’s College, Aberdeen.
Gana said his entry into politics was fuelled by frustration over widespread poverty and lack of development.
“It worried me a lot… from Zaria all the way to my village—no changes. There’s poverty written everywhere,” he recalled.
During the 1979–83 democratic era, Gana became deeply engaged in national constitutional processes and minority representation, insisting that governance must be people-centred.
“This democracy… must be people-centred. People have already forgotten, and yet they are the heart of the matter.”
He lamented that many Nigerian politicians lose their way in office.
“They usually do not have a critical path to what they want to achieve… Many of them get crowded by material things they want to acquire. Once you want to acquire wealth, you forget the people,”he warned.
In contrast, he said his culture taught him that “people matter more than things.”
“Anyone who has the people is rich. If you don’t have the people, you are nothing.”
Gana revisited the founding of the PDP in 1998, saying it was built on strong ideas that Nigerians embraced.
“When we restored democracy in 1999, we won the presidency, the Senate, the House of Reps, 27 states… The PDP was really mandated by the people,” he said.
He praised former President Olusegun Obasanjo as a bold leader.
“I love him as a leader because he was a decision maker. He had the courage of taking decisions.”
He cited the introduction of GSM technology as an example:
“I brought him a memo… he didn’t know much about it, but he said, ‘GSM approved.’ From nowhere, now over 200 million lines.”
Gana also revealed his role in resolving the 2010 constitutional crisis that followed President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s illness.
“They didn’t want Jonathan… to take over. It was very serious,”he said.
He visited General Yakubu Gowon, who mandated him to convene a high-level meeting at the ECOWAS Parliament.
“It was at that meeting a retired Chief Justice of Nigeria gave us the Doctrine of Necessity… That’s what took us out of that situation,”he said.
Gana urged young people to enter politics for the right reasons.
“Enter politics based on ideals. Don’t ever just go because you want to grab or acquire. It’s to serve,” he said.
He warned against impatience and poor associations:
“Get people of credibility and integrity. Don’t go into wrong groups.”
And he emphasised capacity and courage:
“Leaders must have the capacity to get things done. What is frustrating me in this country is lack of capacity… And you must have tremendous courage, especially in Nigeria.”
As he marked his 80th birthday, Gana said he remains grateful for God’s grace, family support and the opportunity to serve the country.
“The joy of the Lord is your strength… Joy gives a lot of strength and energy,” he said.
Boluwatife Enome
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