Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Protest from students of the new re-named school-MAU

Oga,

Naming and renaming Universities in Nigeria has its own controversial history. I was merely reflecting the controversial debate that took place when the University of Nigeria Nsukka was thus named by Zik, and the protests, 40 years later, that would similarly occur when students at Nsukka preferred that name University of Nigeria to being renamed after the great Zik. Ogugua was right that Zik himself had to intervene and the resolution was that Anambra State University, Awka was instead renamed after him. My speculative inference is that if Zik had named the University, University of Nsukka, following conventional patterns such as University of Ibadan, University of Ife, University of Lagos, it may have been easier to rename the University after him. If I recall correctly, there was already an existing state University named after Awolowo before the University of Ife, a more prestigious University was renamed after him. I thought that Zik actually deserved that UNN and not the State University be named after him. The name University of Nigeria, which he had indeed given the University within the context of the time, came to bear a significance too powerful for the students to give up. As a matter of personal opinion, I do not think that Lagos, though a major cosmopolitan city, evokes that kind of overriding significance. It would be ironic if the only people we consider worthy of national honor are only those who fought against colonial rule. Those who fought military dictatorship in my time are as much deserving as military rule has proven to be lethal in some instances. I completely agree that the continued culture of impunity in the process of governance must be challenged, and perhaps my condensed historical contextualization of the controversies of re/renaming Universities appear separate from that point. But I was responding to direct questions regarding the status of Abiola's contributions in some of the postings. Part of our national debate will remain who our heroes are and how we honor them.

Thanks,

Bode.

On 5/29/12 9:33 PM, Folu Ogundimu wrote:

Bode, 

You do a disservice to the quality of this debate by ethnicizing it with your imputation of motive to Zik's naming of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and his state-manly rejection of the attempt to rename the same esteemed institution after himself. Not every issue needs to be seen through the prism of ethnic parochialism. 

Those who condemn the name change of the University of Lagos, including me, do so not out of disloyalty to Abiola, his Yoruba heritage, or opposition to Jonathan's implicit politics of courting a so-called 'Yoruba vote', a thing of epic mythology. It is troubling that so many, including many of our educated class see nothing wrong in the quality of decision making by a democratically elected president who disdains public input and public opinion in making important decisions that affect the heritage of important national public institutions. This is indeed tragic. 

So, my brother, do us a favor, sheath your primordial attachment to ethnicity in all things Nigeria. Thank you. 

Folu

Sent from my iPhone

On May 29, 2012, at 6:04 PM, Olabode Ibironke <ibironke@msu.edu> wrote:

No, the name "The University of Nigeria" was too bloated, too big, such that when it came time to honor Zik, not even his own name could carry the weight of the fable "All of us" name he had invented for the University during the era of ethnic rivalry of the 60s. I think the end of dreadful military dictatorship and the advent of the longest period of democratic rule can be directly attributed to the titanic struggle of MKO. For this alone, Abiola has in my estimation risen to the status of Zik, Awolowo etc. tell me why those individual politicians deserve a greater recognition in our democracy? He has also given more money to universities in Nigeria and Africa than most international organizations, and any other individual. We should not go down the road of what he has done to deserve the honor of the university of Lagos being renamed after him. When Ife was renamed after Awo, we debated the issue but it did not make any difference as far as I can tell in our education and in the life of the university; it did not change it from being greatest Ife! we in fact became more conscious of the energies and vision that created the university and that set it apart from other institutions in the country. It did not stop us from becoming the most anti-babangida campus in the country despite the opportunism of babangida's politics of renaming the institution.

Bode

On May 29, 2012, at 4:46 PM, "Anunoby, Ogugua" <AnunobyO@lincolnu.edu> wrote:

Why are some Forum participants unable to comment on Nigeria’s national affairs without prejudice? Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe’s (ZIK) refusal to allow the University of Nigeria that he founded to be renamed after him was and still is a mark of true statesmanship. Zik was selfless enough to recognize that the mission he chose and committed the university to, may be undermined by a needless change in the university’s name. That mission is summarized in the university’s motto namely “to restore the dignity of man”.  Zik was big enough to put the university and Nigeria before his personal glorification.

It is about time Nigeria’s politicians put a stop to crass needless politicization of import state institutions. What is to be gained in renaming the great University of Lagos, so many years after its founding, after Chief Moshod Abiola? While his place in Nigeria’s recent political development history is not in much doubt, it is not clear that he made such significant contribution to education in Nigeria or indeed the University of Lagos that the name change is appropriate, helpful, or necessary. What is the hard evidence that justifies the naming of a first generation Federal university after Chief Abiola? If a university must be named after him, why not the University of Ibadan or the Federal University of Agriculture in his home state? A new university would be more appropriate. Are emotions and ethnic considerations allowed to run riot again and subsume the national interest? Is this a dangerous precedent? 

It would be more appropriate to name facilities like an airport, public buildings, roads, and so on after Chief Abiola. He was a newspaper entrepreneur. Why not name the Federal Ministry of Information building in Abuja after him for example? Renaming an existing, old Federal university after a politician who in their life time, was not intimately associated with the development of education in Nigeria or indeed development of the university is in my considered opinion, a disservice to constructive political and social propriety. It is clearly over the top.

Students of the university are victims of the name change. It is the integrity of their alma mater and the  degrees that they are working hard for that may be compromised. They are right to protest the name change. They should be heard and supported. The decision to rename the university should be rescinded.  

 

oa

 

From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [mailto:usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Olabode Ibironke
Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2012 1:46 PM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Protest from students of the new re-named school-MAU

 

The State of Lagos as the most progressive State in the federation was as we all know, the battlefield for the restoration of that mandate; it is important to consider democratic protocols and the politics involved, I think, nonetheless, it is deserving, just as i believe renaming the University of Ife to acknowledge Awolowo's vision of enlightenment. Zik on his part got what he deserved, the politics he played with the name "The University of Nigeria" came back to become his nemesis!

 

Bode

On May 29, 2012, at 2:32 PM, Kunle Lawal <kunlelawal02@yahoo.com> wrote:

I completely disagree with my own brother, Wole Atere, on this issue.  I am wondering if the ideal honour to the memory of Chief M.K.O. Abiola should not have been the renaming of the troublesome University of Abuja to Moshood Kashimawo Abiola University.  Perhaps if this had been the case, the case may have been made, properly, for acknowledging the Pan-Nigerian mandate which the late Chief Abiola clearly won and for which he paid the supreme price.  After all, the University of Abuja would have made it clear and beyond reasonable doubts, too, that President Jonathan is desirous of a lasting solution to the challenge of the most appropriate national monument to the man whose single-minded sacrifice brought about the present democratic dispensation.  Certainly, it will be the day when President Jonathan brings Goodluck to his administration when he openly reverses himself on this clearly unpopular step.  I want to appeal to him to do something unexpected for a change!

 

The last word : I waant to appeal to President Jonathan not to allow the joke that the Great University of Ibadan will be renamed Lamidi adedibu University.

 

Professor Olakunle A. Lawal

Department of History

University of Ibadan

IBADAn - NIGERIA

 

---

From: "woleatere01@yahoo.com" <woleatere01@yahoo.com>
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, 29 May 2012, 17:36
Subject: Re: RE: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Protest from students of the new re-named school-MAU

 

I have watched with interest, the views expressed on this matter. Dare I say at the risk of voicing a minority view that it is a needless protest. Like someone wrote, this is NOT the first nor will it be the last time a University would be renamed. Several people had expressed misgivings about the non-recognition of the hero that the Late Abiola was in the development of democracy in Nigeria. Now that it has come, it is being greeted with protest. Perhaps we require a reminder that the affected University is funded by the Federal Government symbolised by President Goodluck Jonathan. In any case, the other University that would have been focused is the Federal University, Abeokuta. My suspicion is that it is being reserved for former President Obasanjo, when he eventually passes on. As for the Senate of the University, no Senate that understands the workings of government owned University will make such an issue a matter for Senate debate. I admonish 'the stakeholders' in the University to prevent an avoidable crisis by accepting the change as inevitable, after all change is the only permanent phenomenon in life. Meanwhile, kudos to Mr President. Adewole Atere, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Department of Sociology and Criminology. Osun State University

Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

---

From: chukwuma adilieje <chumadil@yahoo.com>

Sender: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com

Date: Tue, 29 May 2012 08:59:08 -0700 (PDT)

To: <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>

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Cc: chuma<chumadil@yahoo.com>

Subject: Fw: RE: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Protest from students of the new re-named school-MAU

 

Femi My brother, you are quite right there. It appears to me that politics was the overriding consideration in the decision to rename the University after the Late M.K.O. Abiola of blessed memory, should not have been so. My humble opinion is that this University of Lagos should be drawn into the murky waters of Nigerian politics. Besides if proper consultations of with all the stake holders were undertaken before the change was announced I doubt that we would witness the kind of demonstration and outpouring of anger among the various stake holder who have already voiced their regret over the change and urged its reversal. I believe that, were chief M.K.O. Abiola  to be alive today, he would like late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe who in 1986, rejected such an honour after University of Nigeria was renamed after him, do the same thing. This is really a disservice to the  memory of Chief Abiola, because the last thing anybody should do is to drag his name to the mud after he had lived his life and earned his image as a great philanthropist and businessman; democracy Icon and a pillar of sports in Africa. everyone is I spoken to is agreeable to having an appropriate honour done to the memory of M.K.O. Abiola. There is no reason why anybody should choose to paint Abiola as a controversial figure after his death. As I write this the Alumni, ASUU, and the non- Academic staff members of the University have all rejected  this sudden change of name. From available information the Senate of the may follow suit as many senior professors in the university have also voiced their opposition to this change. The university does not belong to members of the Federal Executive Council but to all its stake holders who ought to have been properly consulted. The name University of Lagos, symbolizes all its past achievement and and its present standing in international education sector. It is what it is today, partly because of what itself good name brings to it. I am also talking in terms of what image the numerous people across the world have about the university and its graduates over the years. The name change make a mess of the efforts of the past years to build a brand that is capable of  attracting national and international goodwill the every university so very much deserves. The name change takes the university back to the level of new universities in Nigeria that are still struggling to find their feet both in terms of track record of academic standards, quality of learning and level of human resources development, as it will now be faced with the unenviable task of convincing the public that the name change should not affect its image and integrity. The track record of any university includes its name and is part of what attracts quality academics and students to it. But the question should therefore be asked : "What was wrong with the name University of Lagos that warranted a desperate desire to change it or reposition the university?'.   If it is just a change of name, do you change a good name which any institution has built without hurting that institution or truncating its past glory standing a risk of reversing its progress?  --- On Tue, 5/29/12, Femi Kolapo <fj_kolapo@hotmail.com> wrote: From: Femi Kolapo <fj_kolapo@hotmail.com> Subject: RE: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Protest from students of the new re-named school-MAU To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com Date: Tuesday, May 29, 2012, 7:07 AM I doubt that most students will question whether  late Abiola deserves national honor. The question rather is whether  students (and alumni) and the community were taken into partnership in the decision to change the name of their school. Did government  envisage that students and other interested parties may have views and opinions that required discussions and negotiations before such decision was made? Another way to look at it is to ask whether another king could tomorrow ascend to our authoritarian throne and arbitrarily decide that the name of the university should be changed again to Wok & Chop University? Democracy and respect of the citizen by the government goes beyond the ballot box transaction. Relationship between Nigeria,together with its governments and its young (beginning from elementary school level) should model respect and democracy.  f.j. kolapo > Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Protest from students of the new re-named school-MAU > To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com > From: orelikesdat@yahoo.com > Date: Tue, 29 May 2012 12:02:32 +0000 > > It is disheartening to find the students of the University of Lagos now Moshood Abiola University protesting due to the fact that the President of the federation honoured the late Abiola. Why are they protesting? That's my question. They have portrayed irresponsible character of themselves and showed that they have not been fully educated,which have amounted to their gross ignorance of what they should do instead. > Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the "USA-Africa Dialogue Series" moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin. > For current archives, visit http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue > For previous archives, visit http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html > To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue- > unsubscribe@googlegroups.com -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the "USA-Africa Dialogue Series" moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin. 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