₦airaland Forum

kegikwanu: monorail and economic growth? how can? can monorail carry goods? monrail without steady power supply LOL

No going back —FG Meanwhile, the Federal Government declared, yesterday, that there was no going back on the decision to rename the University of Lagos as Moshood Abiola University as the late acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief M.K.O. Abiola deserved the honour. Addressing State House correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive council meeting, the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku said President Goodluck Jonathan’s proclamation was only a response to the over a decade clamour by a broad spectrum of Nigerians for Chief Abiola to be immortalized. Maku said government does not see the protest as a mark of disapproval and expressed hope that reasons would prevail at the end of the day. “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 take 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’s contribution in the political development of our country and as people who were adults in 1993. We think that this decision has been long overdue 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.” 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, 1993 Presidential election and died in that captivity because he stood for principle, he stood to defend the principle of democracy, and for 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 quite a significant number of citizens like the June 12 Presidential election. “In the last two decades, there has been widespread outcry that this democracy has not given Chief M.K.O Abiola and other heroes who passed on in controversial circumstances their due honour 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 honour those who clearly stand out and make a sacrifice as role models for 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 honoured 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 nationalists 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.

chisom19: How about building a new university and naming it after the man?!

CyberG: Jonadumb ass finally launched a miserable bulb made in wesley00 pants! Not a bad achievement since they take turns sucking each others nuts!

Orikinla: [size=28pt]Only id-io-ts don't know that President Goodluck Jonathan and his cabal don't give a damn about MKO Abiola, but to use him to sway the Yorubas to favour his PDP script for 2015.

Of course only id-iots also voted for him.[/size]

[size=28pt]MKO Abiola never even attended a Nigerian university and contributed nothing to the development of the University of Lagos.
He was the undisputed Pillar of Sports and the National Stadium in Lagos would have been more befitting to be named after him as the same GEJ renamed Liberty Stadium to Obafemi Awolowo Stadium on November 12, 2010 during his maiden working tour of Ogun State.

Imagine renaming Harvard, Yale or Columbia after any of the past human rights leaders or presidents of America? [/size]

blacksta: What a jobless president.

peckhamboi: (

DK, I totally disagree with you.

Generally, I do not like naming things after people, but it is part of our life and I understand why it is done.

On this, I just dey look una, but I am yet to read one single cogent reason why GEJ should not have done this. Ooops, Except for some who raised the issue on if GEJ had the authority to change the name without the National Assembly. Oh yes and as if he did not have enough wahala to deal with already...

So far practically all reactions are based on emotional fellings towards GEJ and not even Abiola. From my vantage point I see the following:

1. Is there a laid down set of regulations in Nigeria that determine how such things are done?

2. If there is, has GEJ followed those rules or infringed on them?

3. Is it not a fact that MKO Abiola regardless of his "backdoor dealings" has to date never been convicted in a court of law for any misdeed in Nigeria? of course save for Abacha's kangaroo court.

4. Is it not a fact that MKO Abiola was a self made multi millionaire who was not born with a silver spoon, no huge inheritance, no connections, but at the time of his demise had built one of the biggest business empires that Nigeria has even seen. Probably now only superseded by Dangote?

5. Do many people remember that MKO Abiola made a first class in Accountancy and earned a distinction as a Chartered Accountant?

6. Is it not a fact that the bulk if his business interest were based in the South West and benefited his Yoruba compatriots? Concrod Newspapers? Abiola Farms? Radio Communications Nigeria on Herbert Macurley way, Yaba, Concord Airlines, African Ocean Lines and of course Abiola babes football club...?

7. Is it not a fact that he was nicknamed Chief launcher of Nigeria due to is philanthropy across the religious divide and extensively in education? Both by direct scholarships AND by donating to capital projects?

8. Do you recall his campaign across Africa and the world for reparations to Africans for the advent of slavery?

9. I am sure you are aware the man was bestowed with the title Are Ona Kankafo of Yorubaland... Who complained he did not deserve it at the time? of course some did but most embraced him.

10. I am sure you are aware that when Abacha imprisoned him on kangaroo charges of treason, eminent figures like Pope John Paul and Desmond Tutu personally lobbied for his release.

11. Now lastly I mention, The annulled election that MKO Abiola was perceived to have won was the singular reason for forcing IBB to "Step aside" as the WHOLE nation rose in anger.

12. Sorry, I am a Naija man, last upon last, MKO Abiola and his wife Kudirat lost their lives fighting for a more democratic Nigeria, So eventually he and his wife paid the ultimate price for Nigerian democracy... Both Awo and Zik died in their sleep in their well earned ripe old age...

I am by no means an MKO Abiola fan, I believe that the June 1993 elections that MKO Abiola won was a masterpiece of electoral rigging, it was the perfect storm the handbook of rigging from which all should learn) But after he was robbed of the victory, he completed his converstion to a statesman.

So when I read even what I wrote above, it is beginning to seem to me that naming ordinary University of Lagos after him is not even enough recognition of the man sef...

It appears like it or not, MKO Abiola is part and parcel of the fight for Nigeria to become a better and more democratic country.

Olaolufred: It's now you can call him commander in chief.
When it is terrorism's case, your cohorts will be spiting nonsense he is not d cause. But must a c-in-c be impotent when his people is being killed?
Must it be then others should be blamed when he has a title unused due to his imbecility?
Jonah should prove his c-in-c in all areas of our national interests,not when he is looking for cheap political popularity.
His goat-like decisions has shown his incapability.

dayokanu: This is as mor0nic as anything. Democracy supercedes any human . If it were to be Shonekan, or anyone the reaction would have been the same

Wasnt there protest on the streets when it was retardeens time?

Well for those of you who listened to June 12 from beer parlours, its not difficult to know. Abiola or not, Ppl would have gone out to protest any form of injustice

thehomer: The thing is that such honour is usually bestowed upon the founders of the countries or someone similarly placed not just some Johnny-come-lately.

edicolove: Idio.ts with IQ of -21 and GPA of 1.2 running around NL calling others daft. The joke is on you. How old were you in 1993? Ode! We fought for democracy not Abiola abi? Adamu! Where have you seen a struggle without a man triggering it? You think we would have come out if it was Shonekan? We were on campus back then and we came out because we believed in Abiola first then democracy next. You come here to post shyte when you were still running around in a creche then wearing superman pants and sucking feeding bottle. Ode!

lastpage: All said and done, any intelligent person can see, the "strata" of people posting here ...
I have decided to "categorize" all the posts and everyone will surely "locate themselves" somewhere in-between, if they are honest to themselves!

1.) Those who hate Abiola as a person: These are people like Kobojunkie, who have a grouse against Abiola and see this as an opportunity to rubbish his legacy. They 'openly' advocate for the name change but indirectly in their hearts, they are trying to point out that "Abiola does not deserve it", using reverse thinking! They prod others to say what they themselves have in their heart! . These sort of people are actually very dangerous as you can never know what evil they will support next!

2.) Those who hate the Yorubas: This group of people know in their heart that the "re-branding" is totally stewpid but they would not say so. Instead, they are prodding "Yorubas" to say so or say something in the line of "Abiola's name is not fit and proper". Meanwhile, they "TWIST the argument" against the name change, to imply that Yorubas have no respect for Abiola's legacy ...and thus are "bad people"!
They are mostly Igbos (not all Igbos, mind you) that are still consumed by their hatred for Yorubas (for whatever reason) and you can see it from their post! There is nothing you can do about them....a lost cause!

3.)Those who wished. ....

4.)[b]Those who are products of the University:
5.)Poli-trick-cians looking for a Kill: These group of people fall into PDP (for) and other oppositions groups like ACN, CCNP, e.t.c
6.) Finally, the Abiola's family
All the arguments you have read or will read will fall into one of these "strata".
Anything else is just PRETENSE and playing the Ostrich!
We know ourselves now?

Lastpage!

BTW: before you post anything, PLEASE be honest enough to tell us "where you belong" in the stratification!

jaybee: poor you, wesley80, you don't create a hero by comparing two villains, ok!

Eziachi: I don't get it.
What is Nigerian obsession in renaming a well established institutional names?
I wonder if your name is to be changed by your father after 50 years of your existence, whether he told you or not?
A day old baby has a day long old history and you can't take it away from the child.
If half century of history is not long enough for you to appreciate, I can't imagine what is.

Eziachi: In the 80s during one of the graduation ceremonies at UNN, Dr Azikiwe in his speech practically begged Nigeria rulers at the time and the future rulers to come never to rename UNN for any reason, even to his own name.
Doesn't that tell you something?

Beaf: When they come back, it will still be MAU. Foolish students.

CyberG: This man is a dangerous man and needs to be killed as soon as possible because his life is not more precious than the thousands that has been killed by BH due to his inactions, actions and sheer incompetence!!

jmaine: Do we have enough info to speak conclusively on this . .to the point of affirming it's authenticity . . . .

Eziachi: This is not about Abiola, but the fact that the brand name UNILAG is bigger and well known worldwide than Abiola himself as a person and Abiola being and intelligent man am sure will agree if he is alive today.

HNosegbe: Maybe you should STFU! Do I have the power to go to court? Am I a legal practitioner? Even Femi Falana that went to court to challenge the power of the National Assembly to appropriate allowances to themselves was told he doesn't have the jurisdiction, so what do you want me to do?

I don't blame you with your fellow GEJ a-lickers. You expect us to accept everything he does, simply because he's president?

HNosegbe: Does the so-called C-in-C have the right to unilaterally amend an Act of Parliament? That is my question.

jason123: Mister, you don't need to repeat your weak argument. I read it once and its insulting so I chose to ignore it.

Please read this thread. https://www.nairaland.com/824835/don-t-name-unn-after/5

Majority of the argument was not because of Zik's wish!

philip0906: sisi kobo hope u r not mistaking me 4 bluetooth or some of those tribalistic south west bigots on nland.i have never been an Abiola fan and i belong 2 d "skool of thought" dat believe abiola didn't do anything 2 deserve d hype.

HNosegbe: So because I asked a simple question as to the legality of his action, I am now spewing BS? That's the problem with Nigerians, accepting everything they hear hook, line and sinker.

jason123: This is another weak argument!
The reluctance to rename the University of Nigeria to Nnamdi, in modern times, had NOTHING to do with Nnamdi but had to do with the resistance by the Ndigbo. If he had to do with Nnamdi, why in the world did they suggest it in the first place.

I mean, if Nnamdi died almost 20 yrs ago saying they shouldn't, why bring it up now?! Exactly, it had nothing to do with NNamdi's wish but the people's wish.

Secondly, are far as you and I are concerned, the university of Pretoria or Capetown has not be renamed after Mandela so you have no point there. Absolutely no point.

MKO is a hero. This has nothing to do with his heroic status or whether Yorubas love him or not. Instead, it has to do with the ethics and sensibility behind it. Why UNILAG out of all the UNIVERSITIES IN Nigeria? In fact, why an educational institution if not for mischief?! Why not follow due process?
BTW, the people protesting, what in the world makes you think they are Yorubas? No be UNILAG again? . I thought it was once said that Yorubas are the minority in Lagos?!

Well, I'll finish this argument with this statement. What goes around comes around! Have a blessed day!

Now it begs the question; Is MKO
a Yoruba Hero? If he is then yall shoud
SHUT THE FORK UP and honour him as
such but if you agree he's not, then I
can understand your rage but don't
come here with that impish argument
abt him being a hero but UNILAG being
a brand that's untouchable! That's just
lame.

The governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf
Aregbesola, on Tuesday advised President
Jonathan to go a step further by recognising
the victory of the late Chief MKO Abiola in the
June 12 presidential election.
The governor, while applauding the honour
done the late Abiola by the renaming of
UNILAG, however, said that what could
permanently heal the wounds of the
incarceration of Abiola and the brutalisation of
his supporters was to officially recognise the
fact that he won the presidential election of
June 12, 1993, and accord him posthumously
all the rights and privileges associated with the
office.
The director, Bureau of Communications and
Strategy in the Office of the Governor, Mr.
Semiu Okanlawon, quoted Aregbesola as saying
that Abiola won the election decisively.
"While acknowledging the fact that Abiola
deserves the honour, we must not forget the
need to recognise his victory. The fact that the
federal government has eventually honoured
him with this renaming of the University of
Lagos is an admission of the fact that Abiola
was unjustly denied his victory. If that is the
case, then, I urge the federal government to go
the whole hog to recognise his victory, and
accord him all the rights due to the office of the
president of Nigeria posthumously.
"This is the only way to heal the wounds
inflicted on Abiola and the brutalisation of the
psyche of the Nigerian people," the governor
stated.
A former military governor of old Kaduna State,
Col. Dangiwa Umar (rtd), commended
President Jonathan for his decision to rename
UNILAG as Moshood Abiola University, Lagos.
According to Dangiwa, "The decision by the
federal government of Nigeria to rename
University of Lagos Moshood Abiola University is
long overdue. I salute the president for his
magnanimity and courage. Thank God common
sense has finally prevailed."
A chieftain of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural
group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has also
described the decision as commendable.
Adebanjo, while lampooning those against the
decision said the government though would
have undertaken wider consultation before
taking the action.