THE DEATH OF BORO AND THE BIRTH OF OKAH: A FREEDOM FIGHTER LABELLED "TERRORIST".

Henry Okah, hails from Amassoma community, in the Popular Ogboin clan known to be as one of the Izon sacred homes, harbouring two popular War Divinities (likened to be Arch Angels), called "ADEGBE" and "BENIKURUKURU", divinities of war, justice and truth, believed to be Spiritual protectors of the people.

He was born 1965, Lagos State, Nigeria, just three (3) years before the Ijaw revolutionary leader and frontier of the "Resource Control struggle" was mysteriously killed in 1968.

Considering Okah's love for the Emancipation of Niger Delta people,
Some persons hold to the belief that this young uprising revolutionary leader was a gift from the Ijaw God (EGBESU), who had already foresaw the death of Late Adaka Boro, and so, his birth was a replacement to fill the vacuum that is to be left behind, So they held.

They say his birth at that time was no mistake, this same belief they hold for another, popularly known as High Chief Ekpemupolo Oweizidei alias "Tompolo", who became one of the close aides to Okah at a time, and became known for his zeal in the fight against injustice and subjugation of Ijaw lands.

Okah is popularly assumed to be the guerrilla leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND); a group founded in 2006  whose goal is to destabilize the foreign oil interest in the Niger Delta, who they claim have been exploiting the local populace and to demand for the right to control it's resources, same purpose Late Adaka Boro fought for.

Though Okah has always denied the title of being the assumed MEND leader and warned never to be regarded or call so.

Okah therefore claimed to be championing a cause for the disenfranchised residents of the Niger Delta region, who see little benefit from the oil being pumped out from under them, his vision was to see the region massively developed with infrastructures and better life for the people, people say, he has always dreamt of the Niger Delta being better than places like Dubai, Paris, London and other beautiful cities.

Okah they say constantly lived in pains, pains as a result of the suffering his people went through in the midst of abundant resources.

He was determined to change the Niger Delta story, it was rumoured that he led several movements in an attempt to change the Niger Delta poor narrative of which most were successful and the Ijaw man was given his rightful place.

Okah's great deeds contributed to the consideration of an Ijaw man for the Post of the Nation's number 2 position, a dream many late Ijaw heroes always wanted, Okah achieved it in his time.

Okah's rumoured activities with MEND became the centre of world attraction, the Ijaws became the centre of discussions in the world, sooner than expected, the Ijaw struggle was gaining international limelight, the US and other world countries became interested in the Niger Delta and it's environs, all was believed to have been the handwork of Okah.

Just when all hopes were high that the resource control battle was about to be won, Okah was arrested in Johannesburg on Saturday, October 2 following the 2010 Nigeria's Independence Day attacks that killed 12 people, an allegation He "claims that he knows nothing of any of these bombings, Okah stated that it was all gang work to further marginalise the Niger Delta region and for Selfish Ijaw leaders to have their way and continue in squandering of the commonwealth of the people.

Okah cried out his heart, rather than for the Niger Delta people to heed to his words, the Ijaws labelled him as a "terrorist", several media campaigns was sponsored against him, the people were made to believe the opposite, the truth was swept under the carpet, rather than recognise a freedom fighter, they now saw a terrorist considered as a threat.

While Okah was in Jail, several atrocities were carried out in Ijaw lands, funds meant for the development of the Niger Delta region disappeared, thieves became celebrated as heroes, the Ijaw youths council ( IYC) which had Comr. Jeremiah Owoupele as the then National Spokesman, uttered no statement concerning the plights of Ijaw people till the end of its administration, the IYC was voiceless while Ijaw sons were believed to be unjustly treated under an Ijaw man's administration.

As we all know, so many things went wrong, the Niger Delta was least considered, this made a popular freedom fighter and warlord, Master Africanus Ukparasia to publicly announce that the Ijaws were being suffered by their own, he was labelled as a traitor too for speaking out, guess everyone was feeling comfortable then, probably because they had stolen funds to throw around, forgetting that the overall interest of the people as pointed out by Okah was what mattered most.

It is still belived that Okah lives in pain till date, knowing the visions of late Ijaw freedom fighters was gradually becoming a mirage, at some points he would speak, but with what the public believed, Okah was nothing than a terrorist and a threat to Ijaw People.

But Okah has always expressed enthusiasm that his incarceration will one day end and the liberation of Niger Delta will be achieved.

Recently, there was a Prophecy that Okah will be freed soon, this news has sent warmth message to the heart of many who knew exactly what Okah stood for and also to those who saw his birth as the resurrection of the "ADAKA BORO DREAM"

Written by: Bodmas P. Kemepadei

.....to be cont'd.