The Spirit of Aluta, and the need for comradeship.

On Tuesday, 17th February, 2015, a lecture was held in a mini Conference Hall in Eboh Hotels, Oleh. The title of the lecture was “Politics and Election. Who decides? The students, the moneybags or the Godfathers?”, and it was convened by our own Comr. Egonu Martha Chinenye (a Youth/Student leader and former Treasurer/Financial Secretary of LAWSAN) with the unreserved assistance of Comr. Ebenezer (NANS Welfare/Logistics Director) and Comr. Kanebi Iweze (chairman NANS committee on Welfare/Logistics); both of whom are prestigious alumni of this great institution, Delta state University, Oleh campus.

The lecture, which aimed at educating students on Students Unionism, boosting the sense of comradeship, maintaining post-election peace and revival of the spirit of aluta, had in attendance a reputable list of dignified personalities. Some of whom are Rt. Hon Olisa Imegwu (former Speaker of Delta state House of Assembly and members of House of Representative, Ukwuani/Ndokwa Constituency), Comr. Okelezo Raphael (President General of Irri Community), Comr. Fred Obaro Thomas (current Isoko National President and a prestigious alumni of this school), Comr. Bernard Begbare (Special Adviser to Isoko South Chairman on Students’ matters and the manager of Eboh Hotels, Oleh), Mr. Ovie Akpoyibo Destiny (Youth Ambassador to Diamond bank), Comr. Napoleon Otumewo (a senior stakeholder), our own Sen. Harriet Gbiaye (Senator representing the female Hall of Residence) and Comr. David Odareduo (former SUG Secretary, Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro).

The whole lecture was an heightened event filled with inspiration as students and politicians of our school raised voices in solidarity and sang the aluta anthem with one spirit.

                “Aluta continua

                 Aluta continua

                 Aluta!

                 Aluta!!

                 Aluta continua”

“Victoria ascerta

  Victoria ascerta

  Victoria!

  Victoria!!

 Victoria ascerta”

The students and politicians were taught that the aluta spirit is not ignorance in display or any form of violence but a struggle for the intellectuals, like Nelson Mandela, Steve Biko, Mahatma Gandhi, Martins Luther King Jnr, Malcolm X, who knew their rights and are willing to stake their comfortability for the betterment of the oppressed, and so that justice can have its full swing.

It was also stressed that the sense of comradeship should be in full display among the politicians; that they shouldn’t at any time see themselves as rivals but as brothers and friends in the struggle for progress and development. They were urged to shun the use of oppression against themselves, and that at the end of the election, come what may, they should help the incumbent as against the idea of post-election hatred and bitterness, and the notion of “I will stop at nothing but see the government fail.”

Students were fully briefed on the dark cloud hovering over the political atmosphere of the University, which happens to be Godfatherism. The idea of a political elder trying to get his candidate into power by hooks or crooks. This political idea should be immediately flushed out of the system as it threatens to take power of leadership choice out of the fragile hands of the students into the darkened and callous hands of political elders or university staff, as the case may be. Students are advised not to just sit and look but to collectively resist and campaign against such candidate(s); a candidate who all details point to be a candidate of a Godfather.

As I have said earlier, the lecture was very inspirational and an eye-opener to some students. Indeed, our own Comr. Martha had pull a fantastic stunt that is truly worthy of a genuine student of this great University, and such act calls for emulation. That’s true.