The Names I Have Been Called, The Names I Now Bear — Spartacus Reflects On Life, Politics
Comrade Okhilua Osadebamen, popularly known as Spartacus, has reflected on the various names and labels he has acquired throughout his life, describing them as products of people's differing perceptions of his personality, convictions and approach to issues.
In a personal reflection dated October 22, 2026, Osadebamen, who serves as Assistant Publicity Secretary of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, recounted how the names he has been called have ranged from expressions of admiration and recognition to labels of condemnation, ridicule and misunderstanding.
Born on May 2, 1980, he said his biological and officially recognised names are Osadebamen Ehichioya Okhilua. However, his encounters with family members, friends, political associates, critics and opponents have earned him several other names that, in some instances, have become more familiar than his birth names.
Drawing from a Benin proverb, an English saying and biblical references, he observed that names can shape public perception, while the circumstances surrounding their origins often reveal more about the relationships between people than the individuals being described.
One of the earliest names he acquired was Politician, Politico or Polipompo, a sobriquet given to him by his secondary schoolmates at Eguare Secondary School, Ekpoma, Edo State, because of his keen interest in politics. He said the name has endured among former schoolmates and people who knew him during his years in the university town.
His best-known pseudonym, Spartacus, was adopted as a pen name in tribute to the historical figure who led a major slave rebellion against the Roman Republic, known as the Third Servile War or Spartacus War.
Osadebamen explained that he embraced the name because Spartacus has come to symbolise resistance to oppression, injustice and inequality. The name, he said, has since become his identity in literary and political circles.
However, his political activism has also attracted less flattering descriptions.
He said political opponents have called him a Confusionist and an Anarchist, accusing him of creating divisions within the NDC. He maintains that his disagreements with party leaders stem from his insistence on accountability, constitutional compliance and reforms within the party.
He also recounted being labelled a Mole by people whose political positions differ from his, arguing that the description is intended to distract party members from the substantive questions he raises about adherence to the NDC Constitution.
According to him, the label was directed at him in veiled remarks by Pa. Samuel Ogunsuyi, the apex leader of the NDC in Oredo LGA, on October 3, 2026.
Osadebamen attributed the hostility he said he had encountered to disagreements over the conduct of party affairs and his demand for greater transparency.
Another label he recalled was Mad Man, which he said his political opponents use because of his non-conformist approach to politics.
He also recounted an encounter with the current NDC Oredo LGA Chairman, Mr Tam Odiase, during an online executive meeting in September 2026.
According to Osadebamen, he had challenged the chairman over what he described as alleged corruption, abuse of power, lack of transparency, disregard for the party's constitution, tribalism, nepotism, favouritism and other leadership shortcomings.
He said that when executive members demanded a response to his allegations, Odiase addressed him as follows: "Spartacus, you are cursed."
Osadebamen described the incident as another example of the personal labels he believes are often used against those who demand accountability. The allegations against party officials reflect his own account of the disagreements.
Beyond politics, his reflection also explores the complexities of marriage and family life.
He recalled being called a Joy Killer by his wife during a disagreement on September 10, 2026, over whether she should leave home early to assist with preparations for a birthday celebration organised by her employer's family.
Osadebamen said he had wanted them to spend time together as a family before attending the event, which he understood was not scheduled as one of her regular working days.
Reflecting on the incident, he described marriage as a relationship in which partners become intimately familiar with each other's strengths and weaknesses.
He observed that the same person who may criticise a spouse during a disagreement can also stand firmly in that person's defence when others attack them.
For him, the experience reinforces the importance of concentrating on the bonds that unite couples rather than allowing their differences to define their relationships.
Another name he considers significant is Necessary Evil, given to him by Comrade Moreign Nwajagu, the current Secretary of the NDC in Oredo LGA.
Osadebamen described Nwajagu as someone who had once been a political adversary but later became an ally after taking time to understand his motivations.
According to him, Nwajagu acknowledged that although his approach to issues could create negative impressions, he believed Osadebamen's intentions were genuine and that his interventions were driven by a desire to see things done correctly rather than by personal gain.
Osadebamen said the experience demonstrated that people could change their opinions when they looked beyond initial impressions and examined the motivations behind another person's actions.
He also recalled being described as The Man with the Low IQ by a reconciled political opponent, identified as Mario J., because of his position on voting patterns ahead of the 2027 general election.
Osadebamen said he had advocated that voters should support Peter Obi for president while independently assessing other candidates, rather than automatically voting for every NDC candidate simply because they belong to the same party.
He argued that voters should not give political candidates unquestioning support based on their association with a popular figure, particularly when some politicians who have benefited from such associations have subsequently defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He maintained that his position was an expression of his political convictions and his right to advocate a voting pattern he considers more beneficial to the electorate.
His reflection also touched on his religious journey. He said Sister Vivian, a fellow congregant at the Church of Christ, called him The Prodigal Husband on October 11, 2026, following his restoration as a member of the church after nine years of disfellowship over absenteeism and what he described as his former way of life.
In another instance, Comrade Iyafokhai Unique, personal assistant to former Edo State Labour Party Chairman Kelly Ogbaloi, described him as The Political Prophet.
Osadebamen attributed the name to a political prediction he made ahead of the last Edo State governorship election, in which he forecast that internal contradictions within the Labour Party would contribute to its defeat and political decline.
He said the outcome strengthened Unique's regard for his political analysis.
Yet, among the labels he considers most persistent are The Noisemaker and The Trouble Maker.
Osadebamen said his critics use the descriptions because of his persistent calls for reforms, accountability and a change in political attitudes within the NDC as the 2027 general election approaches.
He alleged that some party officials view their positions as opportunities for financial gain rather than platforms for service, and accused certain individuals of imposing loyalists on campaign structures.
He also alleged that Nathaniel Igharo threatened to harm him amid disagreements over the composition of the NDC Oredo LGA Campaign Committee. Osadebamen said the statement was subsequently deleted, but that he had already taken a screenshot and shared it.
He challenged Igharo to make public an account of funds received and spent by the campaign committee, including grants and donations, arguing that transparency and accountability should be central to the management of party resources.
His account further examined why some people describe him as The Dreamer or The Idealist.
He said the labels followed his proposals for reforming Nigerian society and his work on The People's Manifesto, a policy document he said he was commissioned to prepare by his principal, Dr Sunny Aguebor, popularly known as Bibi.
According to Osadebamen, some critics dismissed the manifesto as impracticable without offering alternative policy proposals.
He argued that his refusal to embrace dishonesty, electoral manipulation or other practices he considers unethical has contributed to the perception that he lacks political experience.
He also questioned the sincerity of political actors who publicly support Peter Obi while, in his view, remain unwilling to abandon the practices that have hindered good governance.
Despite the numerous labels, Osadebamen said he considers himself a simple man who is conscious of his imperfections but remains committed to contributing to a more just society.
He acknowledged that his approach to political disagreements may not always win him admirers, but maintained that his interventions are driven by his desire to see fairness, accountability and respect for established rules.
Concluding his reflection, he expressed hope that history would eventually judge him fairly and that people would remember him for his true character rather than the labels attached to his name.
He also recalled a reassuring message from Richard Jimmy, who urged him not to be discouraged by the criticism, insisting that he was loved despite the labels and describing him as a truthful man.
For Osadebamen, that message captures the central lesson of his experience: the names people give an individual may reveal their perceptions, prejudices and expectations, but they do not necessarily tell the whole story of the person who bears them.
