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Celebrating A Father, Uncle, Preacher @ 85

Published

3 years ago

December 22, 2022

Editor

Pa (Envg.) Emmanuel Odushu

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

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

Bandits Abduct Kebbi Deputy Speaker

Published

10 hours ago

November 1, 2025

Editor

The Deputy Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Samaila Bambu, has reportedly been abducted by bandits suspected to be Lakurawa terrorists.

According to a resident familiar with the incident, Bambu was abducted on Friday evening in his hometown, Bagudo, in Bagudu Local Government Area of the state.

Confirming the incident, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ahmed Idris, said he had just received the information when contacted by The PUNCH.

News

JAMB Flags 2,658 Admissions As Illegal

Published

11 hours ago

November 1, 2025

Editor

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has flagged a total of 2,658 admissions conducted during the 2024/2025 academic session as illegal.

The illegal admissions were flagged from a total of 17 universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, according to a breakdown of institutional analysis conducted by the board, which was obtained by our correspondent on Friday in Abuja.

This is as public universities ended the admission processes for the 2025/2026 academic session on Friday.

According to the data, the affected institutions with illegal admissions are: Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (1,847); Osun State University (492); Abubakar Tafari Ali Polytechnic (148); Federal College of Animal and Health Production (66); University of Calabar (28); College of Education, Oro (12); Michael and Cecilia Ibru University (12); Redeemer’s University (five); Pan-Atlantic University (five); Nigerian Army College of Education (two); Kwara State Polytechnic (one); and Best Solution Polytechnic (one), among others.

JAMB categorises admissions conducted outside its Central Admissions Processing System, popularly known as CAPS, as illegal.

Over the years, the board has issued directives to institutions and candidates on the dangers of issuing and accepting admissions outside CAPS.

During the 2025 policy meeting organised by the board, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, warned that severe sanctions, including withdrawal of assets and punishment of officials, would be meted out to institutions involved in illegal admission racketeering.

CAPS, introduced in 2017, is being implemented to ensure transparency, fairness, and merit-based admissions, according to JAMB.

Candidates can track admission offers, accept or reject admissions, and verify their statuses.

Students who accept admissions outside CAPS risk ineligibility for the mandatory National Youth Service Scheme.

News

Gombe Wins Northeast Quiz Competition On Legislature, Democracy

Published

1 day ago

October 31, 2025

Editor

Gombe State has emerged as the winner at the 2025 North East Zonal Quiz Competition on legislature and democracy organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) for senior secondary schools across Northeast on Friday.

Speaking before the commencement of the 2025 edition of the zonal debate which focuses on the legislature, democracy and governance, the Director-General of NILDS, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, said the exercise was to deepen the knowledge of legislative and democratic governance among secondary school students and youth.

According to him, it was also to broaden their knowledge on the history, practice and procedure of the legislature and encourage deeper understanding of civic and democratic governance.

The competition, he added, would stimulate the interest of the young students in politics and make them more proactive in matters relating to the legislature and democracy.

He explained that enhancing the knowledge of young Nigerians in the legislature would not only foster an inclusive and participatory legislature in Nigeria but would also serve as an avenue for citizen engagement in the legislative process.

Represented by Mr Jeremiah Agada, NILDS Northeast Zonal Quiz Coordinator, Sulaiman added that the quiz competition would take place in all the six geo-political zones and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“It is also to inspire young Nigerians to cultivate the interest to participate in legislative governance.

“This 10th edition of the competition is therefore the fourth time the competition has been held at the national level.

“As the 2025 NILDS Zonal quiz competition is declared open, I therefore urge all competing students and their teachers to abide by the rules of the game so that the desired objectives of the competition are achieved,” he said.

Also speaking, the Bauchi State’s Commissioner for Education, Dr Muhammed Lawal, said the exercise was a welcome development in the circle of education, adding that it was a ground where students in the zone could be tested among other students in the country.

“This will enable us to improve the quality of our delivery in our various schools to our teeming students across the zone.

“I want them to take it upon themselves that in an engagement like this, there is no loser. You put in your best, and if at the end of the day, you don’t make it up to the top, your efforts will be crowned.

“I hope this will be well covered because it will stimulate other schools to be part of and perform better so that they can come up to this level as well,” he said.

Mohammed appreciated the commitment of teachers and moderators who coached the students to fully participate in the competition and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to revamping the education sector under Gov. Bala Mohammad’s leadership.

Announcing the winner of the competition, the Quiz Master Mr. Lucky Tongs, announced Gombe State as the overall winner of the debate with 75 points

He also announced Taraba State as the first runner up with 55 points and Yobe State as the third position with 50 points, adding that the winner is expected to represent the Northeast sub-region at the National competition in Abuja.

Other states that participated in the competition included Adamawa and Bauchi.