"When General Abdulsalami Abubakar handed over the baton authority to president Olusegun Obasanjo, in 1999, it was a turning point for Nigeria. We did not arrive at that turning point by accident. Many Nigerians laid down their lives for transition to democracy to occur. Some were jailed. Media houses were attacked and shut down. But the people’s resolve was firm and unshakeable. This is what we remember. This is what we celebrate. On this day, I recall especially who presumed victory in the 1993 presidential election, and death while in custody proved to the catalyst for the people’s pro-democracy uprising. The greatest tribute that we can pay to him, and other departed heroes of Nigeria’s democracy is to ensure that we continue to sustain and consolidate our democratic institutions and processes and keep hope alive.
“it is also in this regard that the Federal Government has decided that late Chief M.K.O. Abiola be honoured, for making the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of justice and truth. Destiny and circumstances conspired to place upon his shoulders a historic burden, and he rose to the occasion with character and courage .He deserves recognition for his martyrdom, and public spiritedness and for being the man of history that he was. We need in our land, more men and women who will stand up to defend their beliefs, and whose example will further enrich our democracy. After very careful consideration, and in honour of Chief M.K.O. Abiola’s accomplishments and heroism, on this Democracy Day, the University of Lagos, is renamed by the Federal Government of Nigeria, Moshood Abiola University, Lagos” was president Goodluck Jonathan’s speech on 29 may, 2012. All air was let loose in Unilag stimulating a resentful mob of students protesting for the rename of their university .

It was an experience I will never forget because I was also fully part of the protest. On that fateful morning, I noticed a chaos in the hostel and later realised it was as a result of the renaming of our dear University. We went around the school protesting, the anger grew harder and we stormed Lagos – Ikorodu expressway causing a terrific vehicular traffic, distracting daily activities, to express our grievances and displeasure over the decision made by the president. This is a portrayal of how effective our cries could be if thrown to the public as against an indoor action, we believed our protest in the school would only end in the school as our voices would only be heard by ourselves.

The protest continued the next day, as angry and unsatisfied students could not hold their feelings. They mobilised themselves, walked from the campus in Akoka to barricade some of the major roads in Lagos, including third mainland bridge to voice our discontent about the federal government decision. Several deliberations by stakeholders of the school, persistence by students also the inclusion of academic staff union of universities and non academic staff union, Unilag Alumni and some prominent lecturers, the aftermath of which led to the reverse of the decision earlier made in renaming university of Lagos. This was a result of our protest and struggle, that led to the decision being reversed. If we had folded our arms the decision would not have been reversed and we would have been bearing a name we had never imagined.

In retrospect to 12 June, 1993 when Nigeria had the freest and fairest election in the history of the country. The election was won by the late southern businessman turned politician, M.K.O Abiola and was annulled by the then military leader General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida who promised a return to democracy in 1993 which he conducted. M.K.O was arrested, detained and died amazingly in the hand of some American diplomats. With series of protests from south-west, the then military leader, Abdulsalami Abubakar promised a return to democracy and ceded General Olusegun Obasanjo, a southerner to assuage the grievances and displeasure coming from the south. The south won as a result of strong disapproval to the annulment of 1993 election won by a southerner.

As many Nigerians can never forget the new year’s gift presented by our dear president Goodluck Jonathan,on the removal of fuel subsidy on the 1st January, 2012, Leading to a sharp increase in price of fuel to #141 per litre, consequently affecting transportation and food price, thus initiating many Nigerians to one of the biggest protest ever in history of the country. Shutting down the country’s economy due to an eight day strike which ensued afterwards. The Aftermath of the protest prompted the Federal Government reduction of fuel price to #97 per litre. This would not have been achieved without this people coming out to voice out their minds.

The able-bodied and the economically active group of any sovereign state are the youths. And when the youths are not functioning the country’s wealth is always in the hand of some criminal-minded individuals holding the public offices, which is what has been happening in Nigeria since our independence in 1960 till date. A student in university cannot challenge his lecturer for an undeserving grade after an exam. Students cannot stand up and protest for obnoxious changes made in their schools such as hike in prices of food, transportation, unnecessary and mandatory purchase of supplementary materials popularly called ‘hand out’ by lecturers, even some lecturers demand sex from female students before passing their course. This is why I give plaudits to the primary movers of the just concluded brief protest by some students in university of Lagos on unregulated food price. After the one day protest, the prices of food have been drastically reduced to the actual prices.

Part of democracy is the right to right for our rights, Nigeria total population is about 170 million people with the youths totaling 90 million. We have the right to vote and elect people into these public offices but what government is giving us in return is the right or the freedom to insecurity, the right to unemployment, the right to sub-standard educational system, the right to bad roads and the right to unequipped hospitals, but we have to seek the right to justice and equity.

We have to stand up and protect ourselves from our rulers called leaders who stand up each day making illegitimate laws for their own benefit without thinking of the consequences because they know they can never be affected. Protest, election and lawsuit are the ways of expressing oneself in democracy. Protest has nothing to do with violence. We need to be re-oriented!

In a country where Mohammed Buhari who became the military leader of Nigeria in 1983 at forty years of age still contested for the seat of presidency 2003,2007,2011 and would probably contest in 2015, as a result of dysfunctional youths. Where are the youths of 1983? We are the youths of this generation. We have to stand up and change our “siddon look, e no concern me” orientation so that someone like president Goodluck Jonathan will not be contesting with us for presidency years to come. We have to fight for our rights so that we can have a country of our dream!!!.
Ariyibi. A .Ayobami
Department of petroleum and Gas,
University of Lagos

Nice write up....

Having read all that, I was surprised to see that the University of Lagos has a Department of Petroleum and Gas