Andy Uba’s foray into Ojukwu University By Uchem Obi Esq.

Aden is the home of certain types or animal or human beings.  It is often a dangerous place to be and no one walks into a den voluntarily.  In the Bible, Daniel was thrown into a lion’s den.  He did not wish for it.

  He survived and came out unscathed because the mighty hands of Jehovah, the all knowing and all powerful God was upon him.  In 1988, then President Ibrahim Babangida unknowingly walked into the aluta den of the university of Ilorin.  His index finger was mauled and the signet ring on it vanished.  Each aluta soldier covered the back of the other and their “victory” was certain.  They wanted to prove to the soldier that their aluta den was their exclusive barracks and they called the shots.  I was a witness.

Aluta dens are tough zones.  It takes extra ordinary courage to walk into any because in every Nigerian University, the Students Union Government (SUG) is the first government known and accepted by the students. Uncle Segun Okeowo can attest to this if he can still be reached.  Emma Ezeazu will prove me right and what about my main man, Olusegun Maiyegun.  These comrades were at different times respected and trusted Presidents of different Aluta republics and would confirm, that voluntary visits to aluta dens are not for the chicken hearted or for those in whose cupboards would be found even half bones of a skeleton.  Even when one is as clean as fresh wool the temperament of Nigerian students is still a source of great worry.

My trepidation can therefore be understood when on 24th January, 2015, Sen. Dr. Andy Uba MFR voluntarily walked into the aluta den of the Anambra State University, Uli, now known as Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, On that day, the Senator honoured the invitation of the students to visit them in their den.  The students did not ask to visit the Senator.  They wanted the Senator to come to them and in their own den.  Quite gutsy!  It looked dangerous and unpredictable.  What did the students want?  What would they say to the Senator and how would they present whatever they would say? Is anyone or group about to instigate the students against the distinguished senator?

A lot of questions but no answers.  The hazards of the visit were well pointed out to the Senator, beginning from the known to the unknown.  The students could be tools in the hands of someone else.  They could turn out rancorous and there was no guarantee that they would accommodate the senator with decorum.  What if they mobbed the Senator and some interlopers exploited the situation to bring him to harm.

When the time came, we all believed we had done enough to convince the senator to dishonor the invitation and rather invite the students to come and visit him but we were all wrong for he looked all of us straight in our faces and said; “Now let’s go and see my friends”. With no further say in the matter, we went with the distinguished senator to see his distinguished friends.  Thus, with our eyes wide open we watched as His Excellency, Sen. Dr. Andy Uba voluntarily handed himself over to the students in their own den.

It was a little after 6pm on the day and the den chosen by the students was the resplendent Davido Eatery Complex around the school neighborhood. The Senator’s convoy pulled up a few metres to the gate of the complex and the Senator and his entourage walked the rest of the way into the compact but beautiful grounds of the complex. The lion and lionesses were really in the den, in intimidating numbers, in amazing colours and with exhilarating aluta chants. As the distinguished Senators made his way to the high table, the student rose in one accord, renting the air with a thunderous chant of I-G-W-E-B-U-I-K-E, literally meaning; power in unity.

There was real power in unity of the students on that day. It was also their day and they were absolutely in charge. The president of the Student Union Government, Comrade Ifenna Onyenweze said the opening prayers and presented the traditional Kolanuts. The university royalty was regally represented with the presence of the institution, His Royal Majesty, Chief Christian Chibuezo Okoye, Ezebuluego I of ANSU.

The convener of the august meeting, Prince Charles Odimba pointed out that the students of the institution have an uncommon bond with Senator Uba because in and out of election seasons, the Senator had never failed to care for their welfare.  He affirmed that the students see the forthcoming election as their opportunity to return the Senator’s favours of so many years, by voting emphatically and overwhelmingly for him.

The students were quite austere in their demand, pleading with the Senator to use his good offices to provide the institution with a modern ICT centre.  They deplored the poor electricity situation in the school, which had kept the students in darkness for four years.  The atmosphere became charged with emotion when all the students abruptly stood up, waving their voters card in the air.  The SUG President explained that the students were well prepared not only to vote for the senator but also to protect their votes and ensure that they counted.

Our fears were put to rest.  They were unfounded.  The Distinguished  Senator was right.  He was really in the midst of his friends.  Friendship he cultivated a long time before this election season.  They were people he trusted and they trusted him too.  As he stepped down from the high table and mingled with the students, his convictions about his friends were visibly authentic.  The words of William Scolavino reverberated in my head; “The height of your accomplishments is determined by the depth of your convictions.” This is true because the awesome accomplishments of that day were made possible only by Senator Uba’s deep convictions about the genuiness of his friendship with the students.

And he was humble about it.  First, he apologized profusely to the students for coming to see them late and praised their patience for waiting so long.  He promised to address their problems and thanked them for their support and encouragement.  He urged them to use their voters cards wisely and shun every act of violence because the power to make kings is God’s preserve.  Secondly, he addressed the students standing up and not from the high table but in their midst.  This moment of trust was not lost on the students.  They responded with ovation after ovation.

As we left the students den, nothing that we feared ever came to pass.  The distinguished senator was not mauled.  He was not mobbed.  Rather, he made new friends and cemented old friendships.  He left with the full knowledge that the students had become involved in his re-election campaign.

•Obi is a  senior media aide to Senator Andy Uba