THE renaming of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) as the Moshood Abiola University of Lagos (MAUL) by the federal government as announced by President Goodluck Jonathan in his 2012 Democracy Day address to the nation came to many as a rude shock.
The students and staff of the University were so outraged as to embark on protests both within and outside the school's premises.
Contrary to some analysts, this spontaneous reaction had nothing to do with the students being so young as not to know Abiola's contributions to nation-building and the restoration of our democracy in particular. After all, their teachers who are part of this demonstration of rejection of the rechristening were not only adults when Abiola held sway, but some of them also were part and parcel of the struggle for the revalidation of his presidential mandate given by the Nigerian people on Saturday June 12 1993.
Though to the president said he held wide consultation before arriving at the decision, there were few indications that critical stakeholders were taken along. For instance, the Senate and House of Representatives equally expressed surprise at the president's move, meaning they had no inkling of it, at least officially. After all, being the first university in Nigeria set up under federal legislation in 1962, it is expected that due process of the law should be followed if renaming it is adjudged in the interest of the nation.
For years, Nigerians canvassed that Chief MKO Abiola should be recognised, not for being an angel (as no one is such) but for his contributions to Nigeria's democracy. Without the struggle he put up after the election was annulled Nigeria would never have changed to what it is today, where a section of the country no longer holds the sole franchise for political leadership of the country. Both the north and the south have produced presidents, and in fact, it has become possible for the minorities to occupy the exalted position through the electoral mandate of Nigerians. This was simply unthinkable before.
For a start, the president could have nominated him for the national honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) or even the highest cadre, the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR). After all, he was elected president of Nigeria though he was denied his mandate. Some Nigerian leaders who did not even get elected president of Nigeria, such as Chief Obafemi Awolowo, were bestowed the highest national honour.
There are also other national institutions and monuments such as the National Stadium, Abuja or Lagos, which will befit him as the Pillar of Sports in Africa. The federal government also has nine new universities under construction. One of them could be given Abiola's name to help it leverage to prominence.
UNILAG is a coveted brand university in Nigeria. We do not support its renaming without carrying stakeholders along. We want Abiola adequately memorialised but not in this controversial manner. We advise the federal government to call a meeting of stakeholders and agree amicably on the best way forward, and then submit whatever is agreed to the National Assembly for necessary action. This is a democracy, and we must respect the feelings of our people.
Vanguard Nigeria