Goodluck Jonathan’s Gift Horse By Wole Soyinka

With due respect sir, I may not have passed through the four corners of any higher institution but I plead with y̶̲̥̅̊ợ̣̣̝̇̇̇υ̲̣̥ to observe this with psychological insight.my president at all time should be the pillar and not the caterpillar of due process in a sovereign state like Nigeria and should be constantly educated (even if he is ignorant of it ) that there are fundamental procedures by which some things are done and the same procedures should be strict adhere to to undo them in other not cause such unnecessary hullabaloo.

Thanks Kay for your insight nice to know, but I want you to think along these lines. First and foremost Havard cannot be renamed by US govt cos its a private University. I am sure those who did the renaming should be the school's administrate board (or whoever). Notice all state government(not sure if federal government have colleges) institutions in the US are named after location/state that is what we call "BRANDING" the dorms and libraries etc in those institutions is what is named after benefactors. We have many institutions especially new and upcoming ones in Abuja and around the nation that can be renamed. What they did without thinking is removing a "BRAND" that is well known worldwide. Lagos is one of the fastest growing cities worldwide and that name UNILAG connotes something to do with the fast growing metropolitan city. I support immortalizing Abiola immensely don't think I can die for my stupid country, but it should be done accordingly, using innovative ideas

You have to think before uttering random thoughts. If GEJ wants to honor MKO, there are a million better ways to do it than causing controversy by changing the name of an already existing university. If anything, he should have ordered the building of a new one in his name. It is just absolute bullshit.

I don't mean to belittle my president's position, but I don't think he is getting it right.

All sanity aspects granted man considered, I think this is part of a wider and diabolical conspiracy. There is an ugly trend taking shape in Nigeria; and it is not funny. I know that it didn't start now. But I can not but wonder where it will lead us.

It is unfortunate that a figure considered to be a product of an ivory tower is making all these mistakes in Nigeria; what better excuse has the bigots to drive home their treacherous knife into reasonable argument that education makes a better man.

Well, to those who care to listen, ignorance is more common than common sense.

i bet to disagree with you on this sir, remember a school in far Egypt was named after the great Abiola , and let me also remind you that the name of the late MKO Abola opens more door any where in the world than the so called UNLAG , many of us had traveled to order countries around the world have seen the respect accorded to his name , so this is not politic the president did what was right and we should all stand by the truth... also remember that his wife kudirat Abiola died in the same struggle for Democracy that u all enjoy today...am so appointed in the words that is coming out of the mouth of respected people like Pro wole shoyinka and you sir, one will have expected leaders like you to Educate the student to work hard on their craft so that one day a university can be named after then ! but remember one day u will die and we will protest any attempt to name an institution after u ! by then your family will understand the frustration the Abiola family has been trough !

Some intelligent talk Kay but Harvard was changed in 1639, this is the 21st century. Why hasn't there been a change since 1639, at least many generations have passed after 1639 and the thought hasn't come to change the University to sth else again? Do u think the brand Harvard as it is now can ever be the same if its name is changed abruptly? And considering it was named after its benefactor John Harvard, was Abiola Unilag's benefactor? If he was, let's see the records, then we cn stop our clamour.

Here was a Federal university created by an Act of Parliament as well, which named it as Federal University of Technology, Yola (like University of Lagos under the University of Lagos Act) and there was no squeak from the National Assembly! The school simply did what is legally required, which is to announce the change of name and give public notice: “By this therefore, the general public is enjoined to note the new name of the University and be informed that all former documents and correspondences bearing Federal University of Technology, Yola remain valid. Student are thereby encouraged to quickly adapt to this changes in interest of the university community”. If this was good enough for FUTY, why is it not good enough for UNILAG? It’s not good enough because they want to turn everything political! It’s a shame that it’s the memory of Abiola that is suffering, betrayed by people who claim to have fought for him!

(Cont)

To be honest, the opposition is mostly hypocritical, because we all know that the same President Goodluck Jonathan has done this as late as 7 months ago when he changed the name of Federal University of Technology, Yola (FUTY) to Modibbo Adamawa University of Technology (MAUTECH) in exactly the same circumstances as those of University of Lagos now! Yes, it happened in this same country and there was not one voice of protest nationwide!

(Cont)

There’s similar practice Commonwealth-wide where there are visitatorial provisions and clearly, Nigeria cannot be different. It’s commonsensical because parliament will not spend valuable time on a mere change of name when this can be done by means of delegated legislation. Thus, where we have had no such disputation before in our legal history and no precedent to guide us, I believe the British and Commonwealth precedents are good enough.

(Cont)

Of course, I do not buy the argument that the President has to go to the National Assembly to change the name, because by law and practice of visitatorial authority under the received English common law, the Visitor to the University has such powers. For instance, in the UK, the Queen’s visitatorial powers are exercised by the Privy Council which has the power to change the name of public universities established under Acts of Parliament or by Royal Charter without the universities having to go back to parliament to effect this. An example of such exercise is the Privy Council recently approving the change of name from Thames Valley University to University of West London.

(Cont)

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Olugbemi & co

I thank you and others who have commented along the same lines here. Please, note that I am not saying section 15 is a cast-iron empowerment of the Visitor to rename the University. What I was trying to show there was the fact that the Visitor has analogous powers that can be construed, in the absence of express provisions, to mean he can rename the University. In essence, where there are no express provisions indicating that the Governing Council and Senate have the power to change the name, such power would be deemed to be reserved for the Visitor by virtue of his position and the nature of authority he exercises by the very Act establishing his authority. Section 15 is just an example of such authority from which we can extrapolate authority for another.

(Cont)

I adore the Late Chief..but like someone commented, If this is the practice around the world, there would probably be ambiguity or parallelism in histories..Think of Havard, Oxford, University of Edinburgh and so one. Why can't we allow our institutions to live and find their way into history?

Let the Nation have its Book of Chronicles like the Guinness Book and engrave the names of her heroes in there not name every state, and street after somebody..
Renaming the institution is like erasing her history...
As the number of their days, so shall their strength be..

You absolutely right. Why's that Nigeria leaders are well known and rich politicians around the world but our nation is very poor. God help us!

Its not the name that is the issue here, rather its the way and manner GEJ went about all this. And why unilag? GEJ is just surrounded by ill advisers. And what are we trying to teach the next generation.

MKO Abiola in a day made an endowment to all Universities in Nigeria, he campaigned for education not only in Nigeria but for all Africa and Africans, importantly he emphasised the importance and significance of ICT; computer to learning and for students. He particularly made an endowment of =N=500,000.00 in 1988 for MKO Abiola Professorial chairs of computer sciences University of Lagos.(1988). Summarily MKO is a GREAT Man of many parts.

SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!

For those of you who see no wrong in GEJ's actions, it all goes to show that you all still don't understand what the democracy that MKO was fighting for truely is. I'm 21 years old and not a westerner, but when we were told stories of Abiola's bravery and how he met his end without reaping the fruits of his labor, I cried. When Abach died, the only thought on my mind was "Now MKO can come back to claim his right", but that never happened and it saddens me everytime I remember it. Honoring Abiola is belated, but things have to be done in the right way, you can't claim to honor a democrat like MKO if you don't appreciate the key elements of the democracy he fought for -Due process. If GEJ's action doesn't leave you wondering if we are a democratic nation or one under the rule of a monarch there is a problem. There are abt 9 universities federal ones still in the works, why were they not used in this campaign to immortalize a great man?

Mr. Know All. People like you may claim to understand a family's name more than the members of that family. Overwhelming majority of UNILAG stakeholders insist NO but people like you are saying yeah, yeah. WHAT INSTITUTIONS WERE NAMED AFTER PRINCESS DIANA IN ENGLAND, BRITAIN OR EUROPE WERE THEY OXFORD, CAMBRIDGE OR KENT? What well established institutions will be renamed without consulting main stakeholders whatever the right of Mr. Dictator President? Go to bed joor. Olodo.

This is the smartest thing I have heard since the renaming of UNLAG....Its actually "much ado about nothing"!

Pls can ȋ̝̊̅̄ ask ϔ☺ü a question? 1.Which role did MKO play I̶̲̥̅̊n̶̲̥̅̊ Nigeria educational system 2.Did GEJ follow the normal protocol....pls answer

Whether it's the National Stadium or the Abuja Stadium, National Assembly, Aso Rock or Unilag that is renamed after Abiola, he deserves all of them.

The people suggesting that the Abuja National Stadium should be renamed after Abiola, instead of Unilag, that is all well and good. But why not RESPECT another person's choice? They should wait until they become President to name the Stadium after him. Abiola was a pillar of Sports as well as a philanthropist, and contributed towards Education, like Gani Fawehinmi, another Nigerian that deserves being immortalised.

What 'due process' is required before naming or renaming INSTITUTIONS, or even giving names to INDIVIDUALS? Monuments were renamed after the late Lady Diana by fiat in the UK. What 'due process' was followed? Much ado about nothing! There are more serious problems to worry about, like uninterrupted electricity supply, good roads, hospitals and good health care system, portable drinking water and housing!

Good point Kay.my concern was d protest by the students.I assume they were infants when Abiola fought for ds democracy.I guess they were sent to read n nt to fight.

Thank you, sir.
I believe you have captured the 'informed' mood perfectly.

One is also grateful that the Abiola family have largely and properly stayed out of this very obvious greek gift matter.

Of course this cynical gesture will not stand but one wonders at the depth of depravity of mind the produces this.

God help us all.

As u rightly said, Rev John Harvard was its first benefactor. How do u compare that with Abiola and Unilag? You also failed to educate us when this name change was carried out to compare to realities in the 21st century. I believe Obama should change one of the universities to Martin Luther king university.

The next thing that will happen is that our politicians will start scheming to change the names of other universities to their names or that of their political godfathers. Check the list:
Obafemi Awolowo Universities
Ladoke Akintola Universities
Nnamdi Azikiwe Universities
Ahamadu Bello Universities
etc,etc,
Our heroes indeed. Every political leader is a hero here. We deceive ourselves. What a shame? Most of the comments here are apologetic or pathetic. If our heroes deserve all the accolades and these "naming ceremonies" why then are we such a poor nation?
In the future, our young ones will have the courage and the good sense to right the wrong. On that I have a hope.

You can rename the state of Oyo Awolowo State, the state of Ekiti Adedibu State, and the sate of Ogun Obasanjo State. When Obasanjo was destroying Nigeria, you did not care nor demand for justice for Abiola. You even promised to fish out the killers of Bola Ige, your best friend. Your crocodile tears and duplicitous ways are nauseating!

Those that fault the renaming of former Unilag in honour of MKO include some alumni of the institution.They argue that Harvard, one of the world’s greatest institutions, could never have its name changed by the US govt; that in the same thinking former Unilag, a great institution, can’t have its name changed. Really? One wonders the type of education these people received.The facts:
1.The original name of Harvard University was New College.
2.It was renamed Harvard University in honour of an English Pastor, Rev John Harvard, its first benefactor.He donated all the 400 books in his personal library, plus his estate, to the institution.
3.Harvard is a PRIVATE University & not an American govt university.

The senseless argument that cannot stand up to accuracy scrutiny must stop.To the alumni, a continuous display of such ignorance could easily be seen as a reflection on the education you received from the institution.Do some research, get the facts & stop being ignorant.

Nigerians please go back to work! We are not this jobless. UNILAG is not the only University in the world which has had a name change. Far batter schools have undergone this change before. Fifty years is also a short time in history. The trouble is that Lagosians are slowly turning themselves into a mob. I do not personally support the name change but I think some of us are taking the fight beyond the boundaries of reason and sensible judgement. We are becoming chronic protesters who look for the slightest reasons to go up in arms. We give interviews and write volumes on a matter we have not properly investigated. What are we trying to teach the generations after us? That they must scream first and later find out why they are screaming? We are far more intelligent than this.

Jtoni you have just concluded this talk. The fact of the mata na wettin you yarn so!.

Who is this Afiazusia? The forum is meant for people with sound school certificate to the highest level of qualification, not for primary school pupils or to put it as this, anyone above 18 years old cos from wht u wrote, it seems u are either less than 18, with Firsl School Leaving Certificate as ur highest qualification, or u are outrightly stupid. I cld not understand wht ur comment was nor were u able to say one complete and correct sentence, Nigerian educational system is totally in shamble.