UNILAG Shut For Two Weeks, No Going Back On Renaming School, Says FG

UNILAG gate

WorldStage Newsonline—The Federal Government said on Wednesday that there is no going back on the renaming of University of Lagos after Chief Moshood Abiola, saying it was done in the interest of the country.

This is coming as the school authorities shut the institution down on Wednesday to quell the growing protest that erupted over the name change.

The Senate of the university, in a release on Wednesday directed that all academic activities be suspended forthwith for two weeks.

The statement mandated all students to vacate the Halls of residence, latest by 11.00 a.m. Wednesday, May 30, 2012.

Students for a second day protested against the government decision to rename the school,  using buses to block both sides of the Third Mainland Bridge.

Meanwhile, Information Minister, Mr. Labaran Maku who was responding to questions from newsmen on the protest that greeted President Goodluck Joanthan gesture noted that Nigerians should not allow the protest to overshadow the national significance of what President Goodluck Jonathan has done.

He further stated that the president only showed that he truly appreciates the significance of M.K.O contribution in the political development of the country.

President Goodluck Jonathan had in his nationwide broadcast Tuesday on the occasion marking the Democracy Day renamed the university in honour of the business mogul turned politician who died in prison while attempting to claim his mandate.

Abiola was the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election which was aborted by the then military Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babaginda.

Jonathan had stated that Abiola, presumed victory in the 1993 Presidential election, and death, while in custody, proved to be the catalyst for the people’s pro-democracy uprising; adding that “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. The Federal Government will also establish an Institute of Democratic Studies and Governance in the University.”

But the decision did not go down well with the student of the university who went on the street to protest.

The minister in defence of the president gesture said, “For those of us who have been part of this country for long and who have been adults that lived through the history of Nigeria, particularly in the last two decades 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 1992 Presidential election and died in captivity because he stood for principle, he stood to defend the principle of democracy, and 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 quiet a significant number of citizens like the June 12 Presidential election.

“In the last two decades there have been widespread outcry that this democracy has not given Chief M.K.O Abiola and other heroes who passed on in controversial circumstances 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 honor those who clearly stand out and make a sacrifice as a role model or 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 if University of Lagos , we have also seen the outpouring of encomiums by patriots and statesmen who really understand the reasons why the President honored Abiola.

“It is our hope that reasons will prevail and that the decision to honor one of our nations's and heroes will be appreciated by all Nigerians including our youths and students who are the future leaders of this country.

“Yes sometimes government decisions get reactions from the populace we do not as an administration see this as disapproval. We just see it as a normal way in every democracy that when you make 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 contribution in the political development of our country and as people who were adults in 2003 we think that this decision has been long over-due 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.

“I think the most important thing is that this decision 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.”

He also recollected the renaming of University of Ife after Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

“I remember that around 1987-88 when one of Nigeria's foremost nationalist and leaders Chief Obafemi Awolowo passed on. The FG 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.