THE NAMING CEREMONY

Let me start by apologizing to anyone who was misled by the title of this piece. It is not about the culture or tradition of naming children in the various cultures of Nigeria but rather the seeming chaos caused by the re-naming of the University of Lagos.

I have never been to a music recording studio before and so I decided on May 29 to go with a friend whose friend was recording a song that day to see the workings of the studio and find out how they come about those nice pieces we so love to sway to. On the way to Isolo where the studio is situated, I checked my Blackberry (which I am so fond of) and there it was- GEJ had decided that University of Lagos would be renamed Moshood Abiola University.

A lot of people who do not see what the hue and cry is all about are of the (mis)conception that the argument is that we are saying GEJ lacks the power to change the name of the University. Far from it.

University of Lagos was established by an Act of Parliament in 1962 (the first University to be so established). Any change to its name would therefore have to also be by an Act of Parliament. In effect, there would therefore have to be an amendment of the University of Lagos Act.

In my view, GEJ has not acted ultra vires as all he has done is to notify Nigerians of the Federal Government’s intentions of re-naming the University after MKO Abiola. No proclamation that the school is now or should be referred to as Moshood Abiola University, as such has been made yet.

So I would advise that those saying GEJ has acted illegally should desist from doing so. The bulk of the arguments are sentimental and I daresay, with good reason.

That aside, I am of the view that MKO Abiola deserves way more than having an institution named after him.

I would also like to draw your attention to the fact that there already exists a Moshood Abiola Polytechnic- so why the duality? It seems to me to be a clear attempt by GEJ’s administration to score cheap points.

Also, a lot of people have been going on about the name change from University of Ife to Obafemi Awolowo University. Again, the fact is not that GEJ or the National Assembly lacks the power to change a Univerity’s name; it is however the fact that the timing is off and the procedure not too “tactful”.

In any event, it should be remembered that University of Ife was a regional University started by the late Obafemi Awolowo; it must also be remembererd that it was the military that effected the name change without any recourse to the law.

Unilag however is a creation of law and its name can only be changed through the law and not by presidential fiat.

Having said that, I do not believe that the protests embarked upon all over Lagos State by the students of the University would serve much purpose (because I even doubt that majority of them have any genuine basis upon which they are protesting the name change). Rather, what the students should be doing is meeting with their various representatives in the National Assembly and lobbying them against voting in favour of the Bill when it eventually gets to the House.

On a concluding note, I would like to state that I am a proud “Akokite” being an alumnus of University of Lagos and I am also proud to have the “University of Lagos” seal on my LL.B certificate…no offence or disrespect whatsoever to the great man, Moshood Kashimawo Olanbiwonnu Abiola, a man who lay down his life for Nigeria’s democracy…he deserved more. RIP sir.