Remembering Isaac Adaka Boro
By Charles Soeze
"No man is worth his salt who is not ready at all times to risk his well-being, to risk his body, to risk his life, in a great cause"- Theodore Roosevelt, 26th American President, 1901-09 (Republican) .
FORTY years after the death of Major Isaac Adaka Boro, his name continues to ring like a bell in Nigeria and beyond. Adaka Boro who believed very much in equity, justice and fair play was born on September 10, 1938 in the oil town of Oloibiri along the humid creeks of the Niger Delta region. He commenced his secondary education at Hussey College Warri where he passed out with flying colours and received award for academic excellence in his school certificate examination in 1957.
Adaka Boro worked briefly at the University of Lagos as a Laboratory Technician before he commenced his struggle for the liberation of the Niger Delta Region - the goose that lays the golden egg and contributes over 90 per cent of the federation account but faces neglect and degradation. Since he believed so much in imparting knowledge in order to build young ones, he became a teacher after his secondary school education. Later he joined the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in order to contribute his own quota to peace, security and justice in his fatherland.
For additional qualitative education, Major Isaac Adaka Jasper Boro proceeded to the first autonomous University in Nigeria, that is, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) where he came out again with flying colours and obtained a B.Sc degree in Chemistry. Adaka Boro was at the Institute of the Man' O War (Citizen and Leadership Organisation in Cameroun). He studied criminology through correspondence course while in the police and made his mark again as one of the best students.
Adaka was also known among students because he was the first president of a local students' union in University of Nigeria, Nsukka to challenge without fear the authorities of the university over what he described as obnoxious policies. Later, Isaac Boro was elected President of the Students' Union Government (SUG) of the UNN in October 1964 and contributed immensely to the development of students' unionism in Nigeria. Adaka Boro was the son of Mr. Jasper Pepple Boro, a retired schoolmaster who was from Kaiama town in the present Bayelsa State. Kaiama is now a popular place because of the "Kaiama Declaration" by the Ijaw youths on December 1, 1998 based on the issue of resource control.
Adaka Boro later joined the Nigerian Army during the Civil War. He fought gallantly and died at Okrika after he led his colleagues to capture Port Harcourt from the rebel force. As a result of his brilliant performance, he also liberated the Calabar sector before his death. It is on record that Adaka Boro held power for two weeks as he made proclamation for the Niger Delta Republic by a combined team of the Nigerian Army and the Police. As a result, he was arrested and charged for treasonable felony with his colleagues. Eventually, they were found guilty and sentenced to death. However, they were later pardoned by Major General Jack Yakubu Gowon then a young Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Isaac Boro's forthrightness and uncompromising disposition in the pursuit of worthy objectives for the people of the Niger Delta Region and Nigeria in general won him admiration and aroused the envy of many others. This is because he fought against the crass neglect of the Niger Delta Region. He was a progressive scholar who fought for justice and was consumed by a desire to see justice done.
Adaka's critics say he could be intransigent and stubborn. However, his admirers earnestly reminded critics of his forthrightness and transparency in matters of public service. Isaac Boro had that indomitable spirit against oppression and injustice. His integrity, financial transparency and honesty of purpose could hardly be assailed. Major Isaac Adaka Boro (scientist, academic, administrator and soldier to the core) was too clean to lie; too principled to compromise unnecessarily; too intelligent to be manipulated; too proud to fail as a determined person; too certain not to bow to pressures; too sure of his goal in any assignment; too excellent as a national schemer.
In James Chapter 4, verse 14, the Holy Bible says, "Whereas you know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour that appears for a little time and then vanishes away". The truth, however, is that we live to die and die to live again. God, in His love, has not externally condemned man. It is appointed to man once to die and after that, judgement. There is a life after this one and we can only get there by dying. We die to live again.
In other words, Major Isaac Adaka Boro, a Lion will live again. Weep not for him 40 years after; rather weep for yourself, for that journey he has been since 40 years ago, you may even make tomorrow. He had no choice either. We live to die and die to live again. The void, the chasm, he left behind have rendered us all orphans. Forty years after his death as a great man, we are grateful to God Almighty for his (Adaka's) exemplary life, a steady, steadfast and inspiring life, nice with lessons for us the generation after him to emulate and lie by. We shall not allow the great dreams he dreamt for the Niger Delta Region to die. We thank God and you (Adaka) for your inspirational life. It is abundantly clear that Major Adaka Boro was a tactical crusader and achiever of great missions in view of his perseverance, courage, and sound mind.
However, challenging a system is a risky business. History is replete with examples: Martin Luther was ex-communicated by the Pope; Jesus was crucified; Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years; Major Isaac Adaka Jasper Boro was killed for his struggle for the betterment of the Niger Delta Region; Dele Giwa was assassinated with a letter bomb; Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogonis were killed for their agitation against the continued degradation of Niger Delta environment without commensurate remuneration and realistic projects on ground. Obviously, Adaka believed that "Justice must be done to the people of the Niger Delta Region who were oppressed and if the current system does not serve this purpose, the public conscience must be roused to demand another...".
Isaac Adaka Jasper Boro who was a Justice of Peace (JP) has received several posthumous awards, which included among others, Chris Okotie award in 2006 tagged "Karis Award". Bayelsa State Government also immortalised him for being brave through the "Isaac Adaka Boro Foundation". Our champion, our role model, may your brave and generous soul continue to rest permanently in undisturbed peace, Amen.
Soeze, is with the Petroleum Training Institute, (PTI) in Effurun, Delta State.
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Isaac Jasper Boro, a young under-graduate with an extraordinary vocation for revolution, came in to national prominence and a figure in history that dominates minorities lives more that any other person to shape the course and destiny of this nation. Yet, he remains a controversial figure, enigmatic and elusive: to some a hero, to others an arch villain, a radical to many, a rebel to others; in fact, he was a dragon in his depths. A radical young nationalist who led a revolt against the oppressors to change the environment of the Niger Delta so that man can be man. On 23rd of February 1966, he landed at Tontonbau in the Riverrine areas of the former Eastern region with one hundred and fifty nine comrades to lauch a guerrilla war against the Federal Military Government of Major-General J.T.U. Aguiyi Ironsi. Earlier in January, 1966, Boro had proclaimed the Niger Delta Peoples Republic of Nigeria with himself as the Head of State. His mind had vaulted to the battle fields.
He engaged the Nigeria Police Force in a bloody battle and defeated them. The Armed Forces of Nigeria went into the war and Boro and his men held up the Federal troops for a quite a while. He was, however, defeated by the Federal troops and eventually he was captured, tried and sentenced to death.
At the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War, in June 1967, Boro was pardoned by the Head of State-Lt-Col. Yakubu Gowon. He later joined forces with the Federal troops. He was however betrayed and killed by a fake Commando from the West. Boro, fought for the cause he had once so bitterly opposed, that is the preservation of the Nigerian nation.
Boro's skill in guerrilla warfare and soldiering were enormous, his courage unquestioned, his endurance of the sailor who knows the winds and could brave the storm and recognize the tide. He was a brave soldier of 30 who could plot an eclipse, survey a field, plan an edifice, break a horse, play the violin, and dance the minuet. He was intelligent, quick-witted, disciplined and brave.
Isaac was born in 1938 of a humble and extremely cultured family which was highly respected in their own community. He died on May 16, 1968. But even in death and defeat, he was victorious. His death was mourned throughout the nation. He was pure in action, earnest in ambition and fond of study but heaven did not grant him a longer life. He did not achieve many of the ambitions he had when alive.
Nevertheless, he had awakened his people for action against the exploiters. His revolt against the Federal Government led to the creation of the 12 State in 1967. The tree of political and economic freedom of the oil producing people has been planted by Boro and it needs from time to time the blood of the oppressors and the oppressed to make it grow. It is its natural manure. He had devoted his whole life and strength to the most beautiful thing in the world, the struggle for the liberation of mankind.
He was a patriot too precious to lose or be forgotten. If others forget him so soon, Posterity will not. The Izons remember him not only today, but always. His noble achievements have been recounted in every village and hamlet and has thus become house hold knowledge through-out the length and breadth of the Niger Delta. If tears could build stairway and heartache a lane, we would walk a path to heaven and bring him home again. Today he is a martyr, acknowledge in death than when he was alive.
The anger and the sorrow remain. The joy too, even vivid joy to illuminate the loss, that such a man existed, worked to such great effect, changed to realities the problems of the Niger Delta.
Farewell, dear Major Boro. Your cause will be continued with the deeds of our people. May your soul continue to rest in perfect peace.
Amen.
BY TARE-OTU , ACTOR LUGARD
