OKEY OBIOZO
Memories are like Diamonds, they last forever. Even when we deliberately make a choice between what to retain and wipe, it shapes our existence.
For those who can still remember, let us cast our minds back like 30 years ago and bring back fond memories of the man who took the entertainment scene by storm and held many spellbound. Yes! That is how time fly. But for those who were not there, let’s take a journey into history to celebrate the life and times of a showbiz guru who was once larger than life.
What memory of the man, John Chukwu popularly called JC do you have? We will be ready to welcome your contribution as we celebrate his giant strides in both media and entertainment posthumously.
If truth must be told, it will be difficult to adequately chronicle Nigeria’s entertainment industry’s inception without a mention of the man that brought so much class, panache and glamour to comedy, compere and public speaking.
He pioneered and brought corporate outlook to the job of stand-up comedy and compere in Nigeria way back then. Seeing him on stage was a delight because he was a power dresser at a time when drab and dingy looks only typified the job of making people laugh. Today, it has been taken to heights as comedians appear sharper and dapper nowadays.
JC was a bundle of talents; a broadcaster with stint of finesse, a fine actor, an entertainer, a businessman and ultimately, a master of ceremonies per excellence. The present generation of stand up comedians and comperes could thrive in their trade just because men like JC ingeniously thread where Angels feared, setting the pace to what has today become one of the biggest industry in Nigeria.
Some may still remember him in epics like; Things Fall Apart, Bisi the Daughter of the River and many as he played prominent roles. His time at the radio house in Lagos will always be unforgettable as his voice mesmerized people with his multi-lingual prowess. JC lived ahead of his time because many of the things that present day entertainers are doing were what he did then.
However, history has it that Late John Chukwu was from Mmaku in Ogbu Local Government Area, Enugu State, Nigeria but was born in 1947 at Ozigoro in Ubiaja, Edo State to Pa Emmanuel Chukwu Ochei who later became the first paramount ruler of Mmaku.
His father worked as a Forest Guard at the Federal Ministry of Forestry in Ubiaja and It was when his father was posted to Agbor, Delta State, Nigeria that little JC left for Lagos to live with his teacher-uncle called Fred Orji.
As a result, he had his secondary education at Kings College Lagos. After secondary school, his first job was as a librarian in Lagos and that opportunity exposed him to books, an experience that helped him create a reading culture that later characterized his entire life.
According to Anthony Chukwu, JC’s youngest brother, “JC’s philosophy and driving force was hinged on; anyone who declines a responsibility does not want to accomplish it ab initio, it is not because the task cannot be accomplished, so whatever you set your mind to do, that you can achieve”
With this mind-set, JC set his mind to work himself to the top through perseverance. He taught himself so many things in life. It was no surprise that he turned out a linguist as he could speak Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Efik, Urhobo, Italia and of course English which he was a master, an art he acquired through local technology as he described it when asked.
These qualities embellished his public speaking prowess hugely and made him the highest paid Master of Ceremonies then, his exceptional talent made the rich, the mighty and even the people in the corridors power then became his allies.
Tony recollected that there was a time in 1985 when JC traveled out of Lagos to Mmaku on a trip to visit his parents. The then Nigerian head of states, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida needed him to anchor a national event, the independence day celebration, so he had to send special envoy to Mmaku to bring him back to Lagos.
He described JC further as a spontaneous comedian who saw life from funny perspectives, so he made jokes from everything about life and his spur of the moment joke was next to none. He made people everywhere to forget their sorrows by putting smiles on their faces.
Interestingly, Bar Beech Show, a weekend television programme of JC was a must watch then and his entertainment journal in the 70s, Mail Bag was so popular that it became a referral for authentic entertainment news in the country.
Steve Ojonta explained that JC was a bridge that cut across families and tribes. “Our families were close due to our parents and later by marriage. His busy schedule then as number one MC did not deter him from being there for everybody. At a time in his life, it was difficult for him to realise that he could be hated by anyone. He could not come home and meet frowning faces. It was incomprehensible to his person that people could be sad.”
“A detribalised man he was. He had a son from his first wife from Asaba while his second marriage to a Yoruba also produced a son”.
Ojonta also narrated that as a show businessman, JC owned a night club that was the rave of the town then at 98 Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja called Class Night Club. It was a last bus stop for fun loving Lagosians and people of class. Many thronged his night club just to see him, listen to him and catch a glimpse of his deft touches on the microphone.
He also registered a business called JackyJay Engineering works Limited with his partners. The business was between John Chukwu, Ben and Jackson Ekanem and was situated at No 7 Faramobi Ajike Street, Ikeja, Lagos State. It was a business empire that was started by like minds.
“When talking about mastering ceremonies in Nigeria then, JC ruled all the A-Class events in Nigeria. His expertise covers social, corporate and individual events.
“At the height of his career, it was reliably gathered that he was taken on an international tour of the USA by Sam Obadagboin and he shared stage with the likes of Bill Cosby and others. His life revolved around the top class personalities in the society then, even when Eddy Grant visited Nigeria, JC was right there for him.
“His gifts brought him into broadcasting without any formal training but he had to learn and grew on the job.”
Sadly, it was at the peak of all these that the sickness that killed him started suddenly. The first manifestation was when he fell while climbing stirs in his house, but he got over it and moved on thinking that it was just a mere malfunction in his system.
Gradually it continued with feverish symptoms till he couldn’t walk without being supported and in the process he got bed ridden.
While he was sick, several top shots like the former head of state, IBB and Late MKO Abiola made frantic efforts to save his life. Abiola made a deposit of 25,000 Pound Sterling to a hospital in London for JC’s treatment but unfortunately, before arrangement could be completed to take him abroad for comprehensive treatment he died.
So, the world was shocked to the news of John Chukwu’s sudden death at a prime age of 43 in 1990. It took everybody by surprise and the whole town went agog. The media, the entertainment world and Nigerians were shaken like never before because it could not be believed that JC a fun merchant could so easily succumb to death just like that. Hearts were broken!
His burial garnered so much publicity; the media was so awashed with news about him that many Nigerians went with him to his graveyard. The government of the day had to honour him by flying his corpse to Enugu from Lagos with presidential Hercules plane.
Against media rumours then, JC died at a hospital at Palm Grove that was owned by his friend just before he could be flown abroad.
JC was a man of many parts. Tony narrated that there was a time he and JC were going from Surulere to Ikeja and the journey as he called it took them four hours because of the number of offices that JC had to stop over while on that route.
“A hard working man he was while alive and his indefatigable nature made him great in life. His sickness was brief and it took him away.
“Like the falling of a big tree, JC’s death was a big blow to so many whom his fame brought out and who were still in their tenders to stand on their own then.” Tony ended.
Regrettably, JC was a man that believed in himself and his ability to acquire wealth as he moved on in life but death cut his tall dreams short.
