15 Reasons Why The Renaming of UNILAG Is WRONG

1. Its a decision in bad faith - The president did not really intend to Honour the presumed winner of the June 12 election its a cheap shot. In fact I casts serious doubts on his belief as M.K.O being the presumed winner of that election.

2. Perhaps the biggest insult to the memory of M.K.O is to consider this irony: Here lies a man who paid the supreme sacrifice to usher in era of democracy in our country. A man who for the first time ever in the history of the Federal Republic won north south east and west. Here sits a man who was only able to get into the office of the president first by accident, then by only winning only south because of arrogance of the north, chooses to name a University in the south west in the name of M.K.O and the slap is: he does so in a manner that would have been used by the people who murdered M.K.O. If this is not slap then I wonder what is!


3. It cheapens the memory of M.K.O, besides the regional undertones. Why not spend the money you might have spent on this rebranding of Unilag towards say renaming Aso Villa to the M.K.O house?

4. There were no consultations on the process with any of the stakeholders its a decision by fiat. The exact antithesis of what Nigerian students (especially Unilag students) fought and died its an insult to their memory.

5. Unilag was busy burying the amiable and hardworking erstwhile V.C. Prof. Sofoluwe R.I.P. Even if Mr. Jonathan lacks respect ( I think he just didn’t think it through), there is clearly a break in protocol.

6. This is an insult to the other arms of government. See point below.

7. It’s an illegal decision contrary to what some popular opinion the federal government does own Unilag. But recall, the federal government has three arms the The Judiciary, The legislature and The executive (of which Mr. Jonathan is leading). In all, they are temporary custodians of the people. So he must consult the other arms of Government before changing a law. Sometimes I fear the present is so clueless he might abrogate himself. Note what I have done calling the president Mr. Jonathan - he is a disgrace to the institution of a PhD - so I take the liberty of stripping him off it, its no different from what he has done to Unilag

8. Though in some quarters its been argued that Harvard, Columbia and such have done the same (I am looking at you, Nduka Obaigbena). Well you cannot compare this it’s not a sensible comparison because that was in the 19th and early 2oth centuries. In the 21st century, names have been made and branding is important. This was an age when one person could cover all the sciences in a single B.Sc. In this age this is not possible. So Nduka you are wrong!

9. While Harvard was changing its name the world was small in fact very small, you probable have to just switch 4 pages to complete the name change. Now, the world is so interconnected it makes no sense.

10. Columbia changed its name when it was really that relevant. Why don’t you say the same for Cambridge eh? They only named Churchill college after him. Again Nduka, your views might seem clever but its evident they are half baked  - and I am being kind here.

11. Following from the above point, though I agree on the global scale Unilag does not amount to much but it’s working hard. Unilag graduates are everywhere in some of best Universities in the world. This Mr. Jonathan is throwing spanners in our works.

12. Unilag students do want this name, Unilag Staff do not want it, Unilag Alumni do not want it, Unilag well wishers do not want it. So Mr. Jonathan, you are aware these people have made Unilag what it is. So how can you force upon them a name they completely and absolutely reject?

13. Recent polls clearly show that majority of Nigerians do approve of this name change. So Mr. Jonathan are you a democrat? Or are you being inanely stubborn?

14. Its an expense that is does not make sense. So Mr. Jonathan did you calculate how much it costs to effect this name change. I mean all the costs? This is cost which, following from point 12 nobody wants to incur, why bill them for it? Are you prepared to pay for it from your bloated salary?

15. The University of Lagos is now closed. Thank you Mr. Jonathan know this, you are never ever welcome to set foot on the grounds of the University of LAGOS...EVER!

Notes:
This issue is not “Unilag Shakara”, its not about M.K.O’s family views, its not about Unilag not respecting M.K.O (many Unilag students got maimed for him, some died), Its about Unilag babes (I had to put this in somewhere), its not about unruly, arrogant, over educated or mentally aggressive Akokites (and yes we are all that and more).

This is an issue about a clueless president, dazed by an office he is unprepared, scared out of his wits by opposition looking for a cheap shot to ingratiate himself with bonafide patriots. These are diversionary tactics.
Mr. Jonathan, how is that war on corruption going again? The power project nko? NNPC nko? Boko Haram is probably working towards Aso Rock as we speak.  As our people say: “a man whose house is on fire does have time to run after rats”! Focus! Mr. President!