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Celebrating A Father, Uncle, Preacher @ 85
Published
3 years agoon
By
Editor
By Joseph Ebi Kanjo
He is a teacher, a preacher, a politician per excellence, a husband, a father, a grandfather and uncle.
I grew up as a boy to hear his name in the late 80s as a preacher and later in the early 90s as a politician, a period his name became more prominent and announced in Ebijaw Ward 6, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State. His name was not only prominent in the ward alone at this period but in the local government council and Ondo State at large. Reason for his popularity as a politician was not far fetched. He contested, perhaps in the history of Ebijaw Ward, one of the most keenly contested and toughest councilorship elections on the platform of the National Republican Convention (NRC) in the ward and won.
There is this belief in Nigeria that any genuine Christian who goes into politics in Nigeria will be corrupted, but Pa (Evangelist) Emmanuel Odushu’s case was not so; he proved this cliche wrong. Like I said earlier, I first heard of his name as a preacher of the Gospel before I later heard of it in the Nigeria politics. Pa Odushu was already a preacher of the Gospel at Church of Christ before he contested the election and won. And to the best of my knowledge, he did not spoil his Christianity identity throughout his stay in the mulky and dirty water of Nigeria politics, neither have I, till date, hear any misdeed by Pa Odushu during his tenure in Odigbo council. Permit me to use this Yoruba cliche – Pa Odushu o ba omo je (Pa Odushu did not stain his family name). After his tenure as councilor, he went back to his calling (preaching) in full.

Pa Emmanuel Odushu
READ ALSO: ‘Furupagh Need Not Supremacy Tussle But Unity’ – Ibeokosuwei
As a boy then, I never knew this man was a father to me; all what I knew was there’s a man call Emmanuel Odushu who comes to the village to preach.
Pa Odushu exemplifies the true grass to grace story. I am not here to write his biography so I will not go deep into his journey in life, but despite losing his parents in his tender age in the early 60s, Pa Odushu was, through the help of his sister, able to acquire formal education. His queen English is enviable. His brilliancy and sharp brain despite the old age is second to none. Whenever I call him on phone with a strange number, I do not need to introduce myself before he identifies me through my voice – Jona, he would exclaimed.
In my interview with him three years ago, he narrated how his desire and love for education made him to struggle through life and eventually bagged a certificate in Business English from the Manchester University, London. Today, Pa Odushu is a successful and blessed man; a teacher and preacher. His seeds too are doing great in life.
During the course of my interview with him, he expressed his displeasure at happenings in his clan and the Ijaw nation at large and passionately told me his heart desire for the Ijaw nation and Furupagha, where he hails from. To Pa Odushu, the unity of the Ijaw nation and Furupagha is paramount
” I want my people to come and reason together because we are so few yet we are divided and scattered,” he passionately said.
When I called him last week to wish him happy birthday in advance, he thanked me and said “you my children should pray for me so that I live more years.” It is already a done deal because he has not fully accomplish his mission statement when I asked what he would want to do more if he had another 50 years to live during my interview with him. Unity among his people is paramount in the heart of Evangelist Odushu.

Pa (Evangelist) Emmanuel Odushu
“I will make sure I work out the unity of my people and the Ijaw nation at large. I will want to see that we speak in unison. One thing is, if I am able to put my side aright, the Ijaw nation will welcome us. Let’s not talk about 50 years, if I am given opportunity to stay for the next 10 years, I will do more. I will make sure my people are united. It is when we as a clan and as Ijaw nation unite that the deserved recognition will be given to us. My priority for the Ijaw nation is that we should be known as being in the forefront of the decision making of this nation,” he declared.
Papa, I am too young to pray for you but as the grace of Christ exist and He lives, may you live to accomplish all what you desired in the last paragraph. I wish you sound health and more strength, wisdom to go about some of these your heart desires.
Happy 85th birthday day sir.
Joseph Ebi Kanjo is a Benin-based journalist and son to the celebrant.
News
FG Predicts Heavy Rainfall, Flood In Seven States
Published
1 hour agoon
August 23, 2025By
Editor
The Federal Ministry of Environment on Saturday predicted possible flooding in seven states and 25 locations across Nigeria.
The ministry, in its flood alert warned that heavy rainfall expected between August 23 and 24 could lead to flooding in the listed areas.
The alert was signed by the Director of the Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management Department, Usman Bokani.
He further directed residents of communities along the flood plain from Jebba to Lokoja to evacuate immediately as the River Niger’s water level continues to rise.
READ ALSO:NiMet Predicts 3-day Thunderstorms, Rains
“Due to the rise in the water level of River Niger, communities on the flood plain from Jebba to Lokoja are advised to evacuate,” he said.
The states and communities expected to be affected include Benue State (Abinsi, Agyo, Gbajimba, Gogo, Makurdi, Mbapa, Otobi, Otukpo, Udoma, Ukpiam); Borno State (Briyel, Dikwa, MaiduKamba; Gombe State (Bajoga, Dogon Ruwa, Gombe, Nafada); Kebbi State (Gwandu, Jega, Kamba); Nasarawa State (Agima, Keana, Keffi, Odogbo, Rukubi); Niger State (Lapai); and Yobe State (Gashua, Gasma, Potiskum).
On Friday, the National Emergency Management Agency urged residents in high-risk flood plains to evacuate to safer and higher grounds.
READ ALSO:Again, NiMet Predicts Three-day Thunderstorms, Rain From Saturday
The states at high risk according to the agency are Kebbi, Niger, Kwara states that share borders with Benin Republic.
This was disclosed in a press statement signed by the agency’s Head of Press Unit, Manzo Ezekiel.
The Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, also directed all NEMA offices covering communities along the River Niger to intensify advocacy and mobilization for flood preparedness following alerts of rising water levels in the upstream of the river in the Republic of Benin.
READ ALSO:NiMet Predicts 3-day Rains, Thunderstorms Across Nigeria From Sunday
“In an urgent directive conveyed to the operations offices, Mrs. Zubaida Umar instructed them to sensitize communities to remain vigilant and advise residents in high-risk flood plains to evacuate to safer, higher grounds, especially those in Kebbi, Niger and Kwara states that share borders with Benin Republic.
“She further urged the State Governments of the identified high-risk areas to support their Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) and Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs) in activating contingency plans and preparedness measures to mitigate the potential impact of this year’s flooding.
“The Director General reaffirmed NEMA’s commitment to ensuring coordinated actions to safeguard lives and livelihoods along the River Niger,” the statement noted.
News
‘Court Of Corruption’ — Obasanjo Knocks INEC Chairman, Judiciary In New Book
Published
2 hours agoon
August 23, 2025By
Editor
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has criticised the Nigerian judiciary, saying it has been “deeply compromised” and that corruption among judges has turned courts into “a court of corruption rather than a court of justice.”
In his new book, Nigeria: Past and Future, Obasanjo laments the steady decline of the Nigerian judiciary’s integrity, warning that justice has become commodified in Nigeria.
“The reputation of the Nigerian judiciary has steadily gone down from the four eras up till today. The rapidity of the precipitous fall, particularly in the Fourth Republic, is lamentable,” Obasanjo wrote.
He expressed concern that the judiciary’s decline poses a significant threat to the nation’s stability.
READ ALSO:EFCC Raids Obasanjo’s Hotel, Arrests Suspected Internet Fraudsters At Pool Party
Obasanjo recounted an incident where a governor showed him six duplex buildings belonging to a judge who allegedly acquired them from money made as chairman of election tribunals. This anecdote, he said, illustrates the depth of corruption in the judiciary.
The former president also accused Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman, of undermining the electoral process since 2015.
“No wonder politicians do not put much confidence in an election which the INEC of Professor Mahmood Yakubu polluted and grossly undermined to make a charade,” he said.
Obasanjo further alleged that politicians believe the outcome of election disputes depends on the will of tribunal judges, court of appeal judges, and supreme court judges.
READ ALSO:Obasanjo Blames Loss Of Values For Democracy’s Failure In Africa
“No matter what the will of the people may be, the Chairman of INEC since after the 2015 election had made his will greater and more important than the will of the people,” he added.
Moreover, Obasanjo directly accused the late former President Muhammadu Buhari of colluding with the judiciary during his election cases.
“Buhari threw caution to the wind, no matter what had transpired between him and the judges who did his bidding. In his election cases, financially, he topped it up with appointments for them no matter their age and their ranks,” Obasanjo alleged.
The former president concluded that the current state of the judiciary and electoral system in Nigeria is alarming, saying, “After a false declaration of results, making losers winners and winners losers, the victim of the cheating is advised to go to court, which is a court of corruption rather than a court of justice.“

Lagos State Governor, Sanwo-Olu, on Saturday inaugurated a state-of-the-art leather processing and manufacturing hub in Mushin, projected to create 10,000 direct jobs and generate over $250 million in annual export turnover when fully operational.
In a press release sent to PUNCH Online, the governor said the facility was formally inaugurated on Saturday by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, during her three-day official visit to Lagos.
He added that the hub was named in her honour to recognise her grassroots initiatives in social investment and economic empowerment, with 70 per cent of its employment slots reserved for women and youths.
The hub is equipped with modern machinery to support Nano, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (NMSMEs), enabling mass production of shoes, bags, belts, packaging materials, and other leather products.
READ ALSO:I Will Snub Gov Sanwo-Olu Again – Mr Macaroni
It is designed to ease production bottlenecks, scale operations, and position Lagos as the leather logistics capital of West Africa.
Speaking at the inauguration, Tinubu described the hub as a “trailblazing project” aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to diversify Nigeria’s economy through industrialisation, manufacturing, and innovation.
The Lagos State Leather Hub in Mushin, formally commissioned by the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Saturday, 23 August 2025.
“Leatherwork is a traditional craft that has stood the test of time. This facility will empower artisans, scale up leather goods production, and enable them to compete confidently in both local and international markets,” she said, urging entrepreneurs to dedicate themselves to excellence and continuous learning.
Sanwo-Olu said the project would provide training and start-up support to over 150,000 artisans, boost the local economy, attract investments, and strengthen trade links with fashion districts, e-commerce platforms, and future rail services.
READ ALSO:Sanwo-Olu Unveils Bus Terminal, Slashes Red Line Fares By 30%
“Hides and skins that once left our shores unprocessed will now be transformed here in Lagos into world-class footwear, garments, and accessories proudly stamped ‘Made in Lagos, Made in Nigeria’,” the governor said.
He pledged to expand the facility through transparent regulation and continuous infrastructure upgrades, adding: “True dividends of democracy are best felt when they reach the cobbler in Mushin, the tanner in Oko-Oba, and the young fashion designer in Yaba.”
Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Akinyemi Ajigbotafe, said the hub would lower production costs and raise quality standards, positioning Lagos-made leather products for dominance in both local and export markets.
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