It appears that the students of University of lagos (now Moshood Abiola University) will just have to stick to the new name and move on, as the Federal government today announced that it will not revert its decision of renaming the University of Lagos after the late winner of the 1993 presidential elections and business mogul, MKO Abiola.
Speaking to state house correspondents after Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku said that what the president did was an answer to the outcry of concerned Nigerians who witnessed the events of June 12 and the subsequent demise of the man that was the acclaimed winner of the election.
“Yes sometimes government decisions get reactions from the populace we do not as an administration see this as a disapproval. We just see it as a normal way in every democracy that when you make major decisions definitely sometimes you have public reaction but we should not allow the protest to overshadow the national significance of what Mr. President has done.
I think he has shown that he is a true statesman and he truly appreciates the significance of M.K.O contribution in the political development of our country and as people who were adults in 2003 we think that this decision has been long over due and that today Abiola can turn in his grave and say this nation for whom I made a supreme sacrifice for political development has recognized my contributions.
“It is our hope that reason will prevail and that the decision to honor one of our nations’s icons and heroes will be appreciated by all Nigerians including our youths and students who are the future leaders of this country” he said.
According to the minister, ” if there is any figure that symbolizes sacrifice of self for this nation, that figure is Chief M.K.O Abiola who clearly won the June12, 1992 Presidential election and died in that captivity because he stood for principle, he stood to defend the principle of democracy, and or anyone that is familiar with the development of our politics in the last two decades, there is no event in the political history of our country that touches the hearts of quiet a significant number of citizens like the June 12 Presidential election.
“In the last two decades there have been widespread outcry that this democracy has not given Chief M.K.O Abiola and other heroes who passed on in controversial circumstances as a result of what they did to stand for the democratic development of this country. These outcries have continued to come from citizens spread across the nation. What Mr. President did was to listen to the outpouring of appeals of persuasions by Nigerians across this country that MKO deserved to be immortalised. What he therefore did in his capacity as a visitor to the University of Lagos was to name the University after Moshood Abiola of blessed memory.
He did so in the best interest of the country, he did so because any nation that does not honor those who clearly stand out and make a sacrifice as a role model or others to follow cannot appeal to the best in its own traditions for citizens to follow.
The decision has been made in very good faith by Mr. President and we have seen the reactions by a section of the students of University of Lagos , we have also seen the outpouring of encomiums by patriots and statesmen who really understand the reasons why the President honored Abiola.
the information minister said the decision by the Federal government to rename the University of Lagos should “unify Nigeria, those who believe in one country, those who believe in one democracy, those who believe in the reward for sacrifice for the nation and I think that is exactly what the President did.
“I remember that around 1987-88 when one of Nigeria’s foremost nationalist and leaders Chief Obafemi Awolowo passed on. The Federal Government renamed the University of Ife as Obafemi Awolowo University. In addition to that also in the course of our history we have had several national institutions named after our past heroes and even living heroes” he said. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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I think i need to work harder for d progress of this nation,so that one day my name will be use in feature.
ReplyDeleteMr. President should have changed the name of University of Abuja to Moshud Abiolas' nama instead of UNILAG. As a man loved by all Nigerians for the first time without tribal sentiment.It appears more regional than real immotalization as a true non regional politicient.
ReplyDeletei think the decision is a selfish and a politically motive one.there are other issues to be address by mr.president
ReplyDeleteFela University!!
ReplyDeleteBadluck University
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed a political miscalculation and illogical inconsistence. 2015 is in d mind of our president and he's really working to win south western leaders to his side. Olawale Peters
ReplyDelete....this your so called 'Niger delta' President is trying to play a cheap politics for the upcoming elections...Labaran Maku should tell him that Yorubas are enlightened poeple and if Mr President thinks that He can use Abiola's name to get votes for his ambitious 2015 Presidential Election (after sending soldiers to Lagos in January) He should be a joker!....he should rather concentrate on performance and fighting corruption that is already engulfing his tenure!!!!!
ReplyDelete....this your so called 'Niger delta' President is trying to play a cheap politics for the upcoming elections...Labaran Maku should tell him that Yorubas are enlightened poeple and if Mr President thinks that He can use Abiola's name to get votes for his ambitious 2015 Presidential Election (after sending soldiers to Lagos in January) He should be a joker!....he should rather concentrate on performance and fighting corruption that is already engulfing his tenure!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThere are laid down procedures for the change of a University" name, someone just doesnt wake up one day and decide to change the name of university. Mr. President, i go on to say you are a dictator who makes decisions without first going through the right process. you should have first taken the bill to change the name of the university to the House where it would be deliberated on before any decision can be passed. Why, who you pretend not to know the pains of the university, we just lost our VC and another Professor and here you are changing the name of the school barely two weeks after the demise of these men. WHY MR PRESIDENT?
ReplyDeleteAm yet to get my LLM Certificate from UNILAG, now whats going to happen? I didnt apply to MAU but UNILAG. This is the height of it...
Move over, am i the only one or was Late MKO not known for his political views and Sports, why then did you decide that it had to be in institution of higher learning.
I am seriously pained by the acts of our president. Really GEJ, you need to watch it, you have turned yourself to a tyrant and God is not happy with such people. i campaigned and voted for you, and all you can do is mess things up. Go back to being a leader and not a tyrant or a dictator. Please go back to God.
Mr President, your action in this case is without any thought. A democratic society use consultation to test public opinion because your leadership relies on the Nigerian voters.
ReplyDeleteThe people you consulted were not relevant and truthful. Your motive and the motive of your advisers in this name change is highly questionable and appears to weigh heavily towards corruption in disguise.
The step you took in this case is unnecessarily abrupt and unwise.
That is not the way to honour a true democratic person like MKO Abiola.
Sorry Annym 9
ReplyDeleteNext time think twice before you vote for somebody like GEJ .
Sorry once again.
But Frankly speaking , Name of institution has nothing to do with quality of the product .
ReplyDeleteWithin and ouside Nigeria , do you think any company or firm will employ you base on Name of your istitution .
I dont know when Nigerian Student will wake up from their slumbering.
Can't you check employment requiremnets in international world .
But , i m equally not in support of autocratic system of GEJ about this issue.
Also , can you justify this protest with stealing and looting .
Na wa o.
I think Goodluck University
ReplyDeleteLet the people pushing you Mr president keep on pushing you... I believe after being a president most of your decisions will be regretted like OBJ... God is watching all your indecisive decision and all those pushing you will all be no more and history will be told to your children even to your childrens' children...
ReplyDeleteLabaran is as incoherent as his boss. Rubbish. Are we in a military Junta where you make decisions for the people without their consent?
ReplyDeletethis uncle GEJ is suppose to be in a zoo cage fed with cold banana leaves.
ReplyDeleteBadluck Administration
ReplyDeleteMr.Precido,wake up to ur responsibilities pls.i want to say you are a dictator who makes decisions on thinks that matter less. I think u shld be more dogged on security issues rather
ReplyDeletedis is wot i call a misplacement of priority. Why on earth shud d president do such? He jst suceded in murderin an institution prematurely. Dia are beta tins 2do wit ur time nt changin of name. Bsides, hw i wish Fela were 2b alive, he wud hv told us why he sang d song ITT namin Obj and Abiola as a leadin example. Mtcheww
ReplyDeletedont mind mr. president, d man is a confused person. out of nine(9) universities he created last year what stopped him to name 3 or 4 of them in honour of MKO.
ReplyDeletei dont understand d work of his so call
Adviser, abeg what r they advising Him?
MKO Abiola is dead already and dats settles it,there is noting u can do to bring him back efen if u name Nigeria as a whole after him.but,it shouldnt be now dt d student is presently still morning there great icon sir shofoluwe.anyway we know dt no matter wot we do or say ll change ur decision bcos u are d presedent but,remember that God is abou us all
ReplyDeleteThe action of the president is illegal and clearly borne out of outright ignorance of the law. You don't amend the law by presidential fiat. University of Lagos is a creature of a statute and not one word there can be changed without a proper amendment of the Act.
ReplyDeleteMust they persist in their contumacious ignorance?