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

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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.