The Federal Government yesterday said the decision to rename the University of Lagos after the late Moshood Abiola will stand despite protests by students that led to the closure of the institution. On the second day of demonstrations yesterday, students flocked into the streets of Lagos, blocking traffic and crippling businesses in the city. They also defied an order by the school authorities asking them to vacate the campuses by 11am.
Information Minister Labaran Maku told journalists after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the State House in Abuja yesterday that government would not reverse its decision to rename UNILAG to Moshood Abiola University, Lagos.
President Goodluck Jonathan, in a national broadcast on Tuesday, said the name change was meant to honour Abiola, who died in detention in July 1998, five years after the annulled June 12 election he was presumed to have won.
The announcement ignited protests by students who wanted the decision rescinded. Senior lecturers also rejected the renaming, while the acting vice chancellor said Jonathan's announcement came as a surprise.
Maku said Jonathan's renaming of the university was done in the best interest of the country.
"What he therefore did as a visitor to the University of Lagos was to name the school after Chief Moshood Abiola of blessed memory; he did so in the best interest of the country," the minister said.
"He did so because any nation that does not honour those who clearly stand out and make a sacrifice as a role model to follow, cannot appeal to the best in its own traditions for its citizens to follow and decision has been made in very good faith by Mr President and we have seen reactions by a section of the students of university of Lagos.
"We have also seen the outpouring of encomiums by patriots, by statements and people who really understand the reasons why the president honoured Chief Abiola.
"It is our hope that reason will prevail and that the decision to honour one of our country's icons and heroes will be appreciated by all Nigerians, including our youths and students who are the future leaders of this country."
Maku said renaming the university after Abiola is one of the best decisions that the President has taken in recognition of the evolution of democracy and the drive for national unity and development.
Students defy closure order
As a result of protests that trailed Jonathan's announcement, the university's senate yesterday announced a two-week suspension of academic activities and ordered students to vacate the campus to forestall unrest.
A memo published in the university's bulletin said, "In view of the recent developments on our campuses, the senate of the university has directed that all academic activities be suspended forthwith for two weeks.
"Accordingly all students are to vacate the halls of residence, latest by 11 am today, May 30, 2012.
"The university security has been mandated to ensure compliance. Meanwhile burial arrangements for the late Vice chancellor will go on as planned."
But the students rejected the closure order, as they gathered at the basement of the senate building calling for a reversal.
"We are not going anywhere," Abayomi Ajisafe, one of the protesting students, said. "The management should reverse the closure order because we won't vacate the hostels."
Deputy Vice Chancellor on Academic and Research, Prof. Babatunde Alo, addressed the students, urging them to remain calm and return to their halls of residence.
That pronouncement was misunderstood to be a reversal of the school closure.
"We have asked them to go home and that order stands," public relations officer for the university said later.
Traffic gridlock in Lagos
Earlier in the day, students took to the streets of Lagos and blocked the ever-busy Third Mainland Bridge, causing traffic gridlock.
The protest began at about 7am, with the students blocking both sides of the roadway with luxury buses donated to their school by Lagos State Government. They prevented vehicular movement between the Lagos island and mainland. This led to traffic snarl on the Oworonshoki, Bariga, Ojota-Ketu ends of Ikorodu highway, as well as on Alapere, 7up bus stop, Mobolaji Johnson Way and Alausa secretariat.
A leader of the protesters, Akeem Ajibade, who addressed his colleagues, said they will remain on the road till President Jonathan reverses the renaming of the university.
"We decided to move here so that the whole world will know that we took exception to the renaming of UNILAG. We urge other Nigerians to support our cause and make the President change his decision," he said.
Hours later, riot policemen tried to disperse the demonstrators, and state commissioner of police, Umar Abubakar Manko, appealed to them to be peaceful.
"We can't allow a breakdown of law and order in the state, so I urge you to go back to your campus and remain peaceful," the police commissioner said.
The protesters later headed back to the main campus at Akoka.
Daily Trust