“THE ONLY BENEFIT ON MY END IS THE SATISFACTION OF SERVING.”- Aluko Samuel, Aspirant for ABH Defense Minister

 

With the Alexander Brown Hall elections fast approaching, the ABH Press caught up with Aluko Samuel, an aspirant for the position of Defense Minister, who is poised to prove he’s more than ready to rise to the occasion. Here’s what he had to say about himself, his candidacy, and his plans for the residents of Alexander Brown Hall.

Could you kindly introduce yourself?

My name is Aluko Samuel, 400-level Medicine and Surgery student and an aspirant for the position of Defence Minister.

Why have you decided to run for the office of the Hall Defence Minister? Can you share with us?

I could have gone for any other office, but the part I feel I can contribute the most to is the office of the Defence Minister. I’m very passionate about the gym, I’m very passionate about people, and I’m also particular about safety and the well-being of everyone around me. So, I mean, it is similar to scaling up in the sense that I’m acquiring an official post for something I’ve done and would continue to do regardless. The only benefit on my end is the satisfaction of serving.

If we’re talking about perks, like having a room to yourself, I already have one. I stay in a BQ. That is just to make it clear that my reason for running is purely to serve. It’s my own way of contributing to the overall well-being of ABH before I leave. I want to leave a mark, and this is one of the ways I’m trying to do that.

Could you expound on the responsibilities of the Defence Minister? What do you know that the people require of you in that position, do you think you’re going to be a good fit for that position and why?

As the Defence Minister, my primary responsibility would be to cater to the security of the lives of Brownites resident in the hall. This would involve settling disputes, challenging individuals who have gained unauthorized access into the hall, and knowing the proper forum to escalate issues within the hall should the need arise.

Besides that, the Defence Minister is also in charge of the gym, and that includes maintenance, upkeep, subscriptions, and all things pertaining to the gym.

I believe that I have gathered experience, not just from working closely with the Defense Committee in ABH, but also from my previous hall of residence, Kuti Hall. The responsibilities that come with being Defence Minister are things I’ve always had at the back of my mind. It’s something I have put time, effort, and work into.

I’ve had several consultations with a couple of past Defence Ministers, not only from this hall but also from Ransome Kuti Hall, my former residence. I’ve also gained experience in gym management and fitness in general, as well through webinars I’ve attended.

We’d like to know, what strategies are you bringing on board to fulfil these duties?

First of all, one of the major issues from the past tenure was the number of theft cases that occurred. Although some of these were possible due to the carelessness of the individuals who lost their belongings, there were also break-in cases. There were instances where people had their things stolen from their rooms, and I have personally spoken to someone about this. For this particular case, permit me to speak on the lady who had her laptop stolen. The occupants of the other rooms said they heard the bang, but they thought it was the actual occupants of the room trying to break in, and assumed there was no cause for concern. A lot of situations like this occur, where people are not particularly aware or security-conscious of their surroundings, and that’s one of the things I’d like to emphasize during this tenure. I want to bring sensitization and awareness.

Concerning security, the condition of the locks, I plan to organize patrols and I myself plan to patrol. These are structured plans. I already have a schedule, I’ve drawn up budgets for what I’d need, and I’ve done my homework on securing funding.

I also plan to connect Brownites with the Defense Committee. I mean, if you ask a random Brownite right now to name three security officers in the hall, or to name three members of the Defense Committee, many people wouldn’t be able to do this. I believe it shouldn’t be so, because in the case that something happens in the moment, I might not decide to start calling people. But if, as a resident, I see one of them around, I can always call their attention to it for prompt and appropriate addressing. Of course, every member of the Defense Committee would be properly equipped with webinars and training on how to handle situations, minor disputes, and problems that might arise.

I have plans for the gym as well. There are a lot of people who don’t go to the gym because of maintenance issues. Even I, personally, have been forced to have gym sessions outside the school. Despite making my small contributions to the gym, I am still passionate about making it a place where people will look at it and proudly say, “This is ABH Gym.”

I don’t want to talk too much, actually, but I have these strategies in mind, and these are just a few of the plans I have. Sensitization, patrols, as these would create a sense of safety and security among Brownites themselves. These patrols would also include security checks, and for this, I’ve scheduled a quarterly safety and security check of all rooms. I’m thinking quarterly or monthly. I’m not sure yet.

Inclusiveness is something I’ll bring on board as well. I’ll encourage female participation, and I already have a few people in mind who are willing to join the committee after it has been established. For sensitive areas of the hall, like the female blocks, I mean, a lot of ladies walk around their block in sensitive wear at odd hours. So, you don’t want, as a male committee member, to infringe on their privacy, in the course of carrying out your duty. I’m referring to the patrols. So, female representatives are one of my strategic plans to make everyone feel safe, included, and represented. It will also bring back the community bond among Brownites.

As a follow-up, how exactly do you plan to sensitize the populace and how do they get to know people in the defense team?

Very good question! Posters. I have an e-directory template, that includes slots for “names”, “pictures”, “phone numbers” and the blocks they’re assigned to.

This would be made publicly available and also asked that it be pinned on the Brownite page if possible. I’ll also make available a physical poster on each floor of the same contents.

What do you think are the successes and failures this present administration has had in the area of defence.

Being an active member of the current administration, we were able to solve some of the issues with the gym. We got a beginner-friendly gym set (I think this cost about 200 thousand naira at the time), fixed the pull-up bar, repainted the gym, and organized a proper fumigation and clean-up session. We were also able to achieve a fitness meet at the gym, which included games and snacks.

How do you intend to improve these- getting the new gym equipments, repainting and other rehabilitation? I believe that’s funds, right and how do you intend to raise this money?

Apart from my personal purse, which I’ve set aside for the tenure, I’m also in contact with a potential sponsor and have closed a deal with him. I’d also reach out to fitness brands, supplement companies, and past alumni, as well as past Defence Ministers. I mean, you cannot exhaust the pool of possible sponsors.

If elected, how will you get members into your committee? You mentioned inclusiveness earlier, are you already soliciting members, and how do you intend on improving participation at the ABH Gym?

Of course, the same way I’m campaigning to win the elections is the same way I’m going to campaign to win members. I already have prospects, and I have people who I’m sure will join my committee once it’s set up, as there will be two committees: the gym and security committees.

For gym participation, there are quite a few structured plans. There’s a competition during Hall Week, the Mr. Macho competition, in a way that prompts people to want to train more and participate. So, there will be other events like that, which are more or less beginner-friendly. These events will not only sensitize people on the importance of fitness and the role it plays in our everyday life, but also serve as a way to build interest in the gym community as a whole.

Recently there have been complaints about the buckets of hostel occupants going missing. How do you intend on curbing that?

Of course, the primary responsibility of the Defence Minister is the security and safety of Brownites and their properties, as well as proper sensitization on how to keep their belongings safe. Regarding the buckets that are going missing, I’d like to ask two questions: Is it happening at the tap, or are the buckets being placed at the front of the rooms? I have personally encouraged Brownites to keep their valuables inside and not outside, and I plan to set up reminders. There will be weekly broadcasts and posters on the walls to remind every single occupant, and each Brownite on the floor, to keep their things properly. Additionally, there will be posters around the tank areas to remind Brownites not to leave any of their belongings unattended. During patrols, when defense committee members come across any belongings placed outside the rooms, they would call the attention of the room occupants and discourage this habit.

We’re aware that you have an opponent for this position. So, what quality/qualities do you think make you a better candidate?

While I cannot speak for my opponent, nor can I say exactly what my opponent is capable of, I can speak for myself. I believe that ABH’s current needs are things I have the capacity and competence to address. I am also confident in taking the office of the Defence Minister and the administration as a whole to the next level.

I mean, my work will speak for me—that’s all I can say.

Any final words for Brownites?

I’d like to let every single Brownite know that with me they can sleep rest assured that somebody is working tirelessly to ensure that they are safe that they are cared for and that they are prioritised as far as security and safety of their lives and properties are concerned.

Thank you Mr. Aluko, thank you for your time.