-- The Unyielding Voice and Heartbeat of the Ijaw Nation --
Comrade Joseph Angodeme Evah is, without doubt, a rare gem and an unwavering beacon in the turbulent tides of the Niger Delta struggle. Born on the 24th of December 1965 in Ekogbene Town, Delta State, into the illustrious family of Chief John Brebahay and Madam Tuku Evah, he has, over the decades, become a towering figure whose voice rings with truth, courage and unflinching devotion to the cause of his people. Like a lighthouse guiding ships to safety in the storm, his life’s work has been to illuminate the path towards justice, self-determination, and dignity for the Ijaw nation and the Niger Delta region.
From his youthful steps in the humble classrooms of Ekogbene, Ajegunle Apapa, and Satellite Secondary School Lagos, to his academic sojourn in the University of Lagos where he studied Mass Communication, Joseph Evah’s journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. Although the Nigerian Army and the Catholic Seminary may have turned him away, destiny clearly had grander plans, for he emerged not as a soldier of arms nor a priest of pulpit, but as a soldier of truth and a priest of justice, ministering hope to a people long shackled by economic, political, and cultural oppression.
His rise to activism was carved in the crucible of the June 12, 1993 annulment crisis. As the injustice of silencing a democratic mandate struck him deeply, he quickly realised that if such oppression could be meted out to a powerful majority like the Yoruba, then the so-called minorities of Nigeria, including his Ijaw kin, were in perilous bondage. From that moment, he wove his destiny with the fabric of the Niger Delta struggle, using the media as his arsenal, mobilising communities as his infantry, and truthfulness as his shield. His voice became a clarion call echoing across campuses, marketplaces, and villages, urging his people to rise from the dust of neglect and reclaim their God-given rights and resources.
Evah’s strategies have been as bold as they are impactful. He pioneered programmes like the Niger Delta Hour on radio and television, bringing the plight and aspirations of his people to the ears of Nigerians and the wider world. His pen and tongue have battled against injustice week after week through press releases, interviews, and statements that prick the conscience of power. He has ventured where many feared, challenging oil companies and government agencies for environmental violations, as in his resolute stand against Shell, NISSCO, and even the mighty dredging ambitions of the Abacha regime. He did not simply raise objections; he won court battles, halted destructive projects, and turned global eyes towards the heartache of the Delta people.
Beyond the fever pitch of protest, Joseph Evah’s heart beats for the long-term nourishment of his people’s future. Through the Tuku Educational Foundation, named after his beloved mother, he has provided scholarships, educational materials, and cultural revival initiatives. He has nurtured youth groups, planting seeds of leadership and pride in the soil of the Niger Delta, ensuring that the heritage of the Ijaw nation remains vibrant and unyielding. His establishment of the Niger Delta Hall of Fame stands as a monument celebrating the heroes of the region,-- a reminder that the South-South has given much to Nigeria’s story and that these contributions must be honoured.
As a founding father of Bayelsa State, as a defender of the Niger Delta environment, as a fearless human rights champion, and as the living encyclopedia of Niger Delta affairs, Joseph Evah has etched his name in the annals of history with golden ink. He is contemptuous of oppression and yet compassionate to the core; unyielding in battle but tender in service to humanity. The honours of “Icon of Democracy” and “Lifetime Achievement Award” are but modest acknowledgements of a man whose spirit burns like a timeless torch for justice.
On this day, as the sun rises to herald his birthday, the people of the Niger Delta, the Ijaw nation, and all lovers of freedom raise their voices in celebration of a hero who has borne the weight of his people’s dreams on his shoulders without faltering. May his years ahead be filled with strength as enduring as the mangrove roots that hold firm in Delta waters, with joy as boundless as the ocean waves that kiss the shores of his homeland, and with blessings as plentiful as the oil wells he fights to make beneficial to his own people.
Happy birthday, Comrade Joseph Angodeme Evah -- champion of the oppressed, pride of the Ijaw nation, and living legend of the Niger Delta. May your light never dim, and may your voice continue to thunder against injustice for generations to come.
CONGRATULATIONS Comrade Joseph Evah
EBIKABOWEI KEDIKUMO - writes from Ayakoromo, Town Delta State
08134853570
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