Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah (rtd.) was used to his prim naval uniforms, his rank visible upon the epaulettes. He was used to setting sail and dropping anchor. He was used to reading the compass and telling the mood of the weather. He thought he could apply the same naval aptitude to politics when he was invited to become Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State. Three years after he took the offer, the result was remarkable.
Like a reluctant snail drawn from its shell, he emerged to an awareness of his full potentials in politics. By virtue of his exalted office, his popularity has grown beyond what the navy could ever give him. He has since become a household name in Nigeria, his exploits recounted on radio and television for all his neighbours to hear, and to behold. On far more than one occasion, he stood in for Henry Seriake Dickson, Governor of Bayelsa State, and spoke off the cuff to the applause of a discerning audience and the admiration of a cheerful assembly. Over time, the office came to seat well on him.
In the controversial 10-day period when Dickson overstayed his special leave of seven days, John-Jonah discharged the full functions as Governor in an acting capacity. It was a period that put him to the test, practically in the belly of the proverbial whale. He came out triumphant and better equipped for his role.
To a large extent, the progress of work on the Nembe Road could be rightfully attributed to the pressure brought on Dickson by the navigator to complete work on the oldest road in Nigeria. Dickson saw political capital in the idea and decided to release the sum of three billion naira to the contractor handling the project as a quick intervention fund, until such a time when Nigeria Delta Development Commission would be disposed to refund the the state government.
Work resumed promptly on the project. Setraco, the contracting firm, revved its engines to site and pushed the sand further down the road to such a point that a four-wheel drive truck could trundle into Nembe. The Rear Admiral took the challenge. He invited his fellow naval officer and former Military Administrator of Ebonyi and Delta States, Navy Captain Walter Aye Feghabo (rtd.), now holding forth as Chief Amain, to join him on the adventure.
On 31 December 2013, both respected sons of Nembe made the journey in record time, navigating through a brand new path to the joyful reception of an ancient community that could only be reached by water since antiquity. They have since gone down as heroes in the popular lore of Nembe.
John-Jonah is also admired for one thing. He raised the standard of sports in Nembe by masterminding the construction of a stadium that may well have been transplanted from Wimbledon into Nembe. An old boy of Nembe National Grammar School, he thought it a worthwhile replacement for the school field he used to know as a school boy, a parcel of land that has now been overtaken by a range of houses. John-Jonah is also proud of the block of classrooms and the new assembly hall he built for his alma mater.
Born on 6 March 1954 in Nembe, he attended St Luke’s Primary School, Nembe, from 1959 to1965 before proceeding to Nembe National Grammar School, Nembe, in 1969. Five years later, in 1973, he passed out with distinction. In June 1974, he joined Course 16 of the Nigeria Defence Academy, and passed out of the Academy in December 1975, rated as the best Naval Cadet, and earning special accolade with a silver medal.
The following year, he proceeded to the Britannia Royal College, Dartmouth, England, where he enrolled for the Internal Midshipman Course. He passed out with a first class in academics, and was duly commissioned in July, 1977. He went on to the National Engineering College, India, to undertake a course of study in Naval Engineering from 1977 to 1980. Between 1981 and 1982, he returned to the same establishment to specialize in Marine Engineering.
The highpoints of John-Jonah’s naval career also extend to both junior and senior staff courses he undertook at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji between 1986 and 1992, an institution which recognised his outstanding performance with the Book Prize and College Tie endowments. In 2002, he attended the National Security and Strategic Studies Course at the National Defence College (NDC), New Delhi, India. Again, he was marked out for distinction with the coveted NDC symbol of the college.
Over time, he served as the Engineering Officer of four Nigerian Naval Ships, namely NNS Aradu, NNS Ekun, NNS Enyimiri and NNS Ohue. He was also an integral part of the Nigerian Navy engineering team that took part in the construction of the Mines Counter Measures Vessel Squadron in Italy. The marine expert was a one-time Director of Projects at the Naval Headquarters before commanding the Fleet Support Group West in Lagos. On completion of his Strategic Level Training and promotion to the rank of Commodore, John-Jonah became the General Manager in charge of Production at the Naval Dockyard, Lagos.
When he returned to the dockyard later as the Admiral Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer, he encouraged the Nigerian Navy to challenge core engineering officers with the task of constructing a warship locally. He was practically endorsed for the assignment when he was elevated to a new placement as Chief of Naval Engineering at Naval Headquarters.
That was the platform he needed to recommend for approval the final design of the first war ship to be constructed within Nigerian borders. The Admiral was at the head of the project he conceived. The historic warship constructed by the Nigerian Navy has since been commissioned into the service as NNS Andoni.
In other words, John’Jonah still holds the distinction of being the first Nigerian Navy engineering officer to have successfully visualized and managed the construction of a war ship, the first of its kind, in Nigeria. A teacher of many years standing, he was a one-time gas turbine engine trainer at the Navy Technical Training Centre, instructing staff at both the Nigerian and Ghanaian Armed Forces Command and Staff Colleges.
At the NDC, the Admiral first served as a directing staff and later as the Director, Research and Analytical Support. Before retiring from a distinguished and meritorious service to the nation in June 2010, the Admiral’s last appointment was Commandant, National Defence College, Abuja.
While serving in that capacity, he was remembered for three specific achievements. He was known to have repackaged the course curriculum, introduced a uniform civilian dressing code for all participants in line with global practices, and established the Centre of Excellence for Strategic Level Peace Support Operation Training for West Africa.
He earned the Distinguished Service Star award in 2001, and is a member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers. He holds the enviable Nigerian national honour, Officer of the Order of the Niger. Between 2008 and 2009, he also served as President of the International Association of Peace Training Centres. As may be expected, the retired admiral’s hobbies include sailing and reading. He is married to Seleipre, with whom he has five children: Opuene, Aboye, Tonye, Daukoru and Lelegite.
John-Jonah, navigator and politician, served his land and people as Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, an office he held with the ascendancy of Henry Seriake Dickson as Governor, and the emergence of the famous Restoration Government on February 14, 2012. The Dickson-Jonah government was the first to break the one-tenure jinx. It survived eight years of turbulent governance, and finally handed the reins of authority to a successive government on 14 February 2020.
In recognition of the qualities of the retired Admiral as a man of honour, a leader of distinction, a prime negotiator, a man of persuasive intelligence, a peace maker per excellence, and a team player of substantial repute, the government of Senator Douye Diri set up the Bayelsa Elder’s Forum, and appointed the former Deputy Governor to be chairman of the respectable body.
Since then, this noble son of Nembe has been discharging his duties with habitual dedication and seriousness, giving his candid advice from time to time, to keep the ship of state on an even keel.
