By our reporters

“We don’t want MAU!” was the theme song of students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) as they adamantly rejected President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to rename the institution Moshood Abiola University (MAU).Their stance could not be mistaken. They took to the streets in their thousands to protest what they described as an “unconstitutional move” by the President on Tuesday.

The President’s announcement on May 29, a public holiday set aside to mark Democracy Day, triggered negative reactions from many Nigerians when he said in concluding his Democracy Day speech 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.”

Vanguard Learning gathered that this “careful consideration” did not involve the council of the University Management as the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof.  Rahman Bello said that “management had no pre-knowledge of the change of name.” Another management staff reiterated this by saying: “It is a crisis period for us as we were taken by surprise. We are trying to calm the students down to avoid tension. This school belongs to the Federal Government and we expect that before such a change is made, we should be consulted.”

In his reaction, Dr Karo Ogbunaka, UNILAG, ASUU Chairman said: The protest against the renaming of UNILAG to Moshood Abiola University is both for students and lecturers of the institution. At a time like this when we are sorrowful and aggrieved for our late V-C, President Jonathan is adding more sorrow to us by changing our name. University of Lagos is a big brand. It is the first university established by parliament in Nigeria.”

The angry demeanor of UNILAG students since Tuesday has been in sharp contrast to the calm, sad mood that permeated the citadel of learning since the death of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Tokunbo Sofoluwe barely three weeks ago.  Amidst colourful placards, angry crowds and solidarity songs, many of these students aired their grievances to Vanguard Learning.

Reacting to the change, one of the protesting students said:”The name is UNILAG, if the president wants to show his appreciation or respect to the late Abiola, then he should change democracy day to Moshood Abiola Day. I advise him not to major in the minors rather he should concentrate on more important issues bothering the society.”

In his reaction, the former Governor of old Kaduna State, Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar hailed the decision saying: “The decision by the Federal Government to rename University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University is long overdue. I salute the President for his magnanimity and courage. Thank God common sense has finally prevailed,” he said in a text message to Vanguard Learning.

...protesting students

For Prof. Tony Afejuku, poet and scholar in the University of Benin, it is a thoughtless action taken at a wrong time. Said he: “An action that clearly shows how thoughtless our rulers can be. Who did they consult before announcing the change of name? The rioting students? The late Vice-Chancellor? The Senate of the university? The Governing Council? The university’s unions and congregation?

“Even if adequate consultations were made and the government was given the nod, why the announcement of the change at this time when the university is mourning the sad and untimely death of its wonderful VC whose body is yet to be buried befittingly? How thoughtless the so-called decision-makers of our political affairs can be! And perhaps, in the final analysis, the late Moshood Abiola’s popularity in the South-West is a nightmarish exaggeration after all. Forget the fact that he ‘won’ a protest presidential election against a diabolical military rule.”

One of the students who didn’t want his name in print said: “It is such a shame that a President can just wake up and change the name of a university without even meeting with stakeholders. UNILAG was established by an act of parliament in 1962, so if the name is to be changed, it must follow due process.”

Another student who spoke to Vanguard Learning said: “Why has the US Government not named Harvard University after any of its founding fathers? That is the problem with Nigeria. We lack social amenities such as light and water, and he’s there struggling for change of name.”

Many staff and students have classified the sudden change of the name of the 50-year-old university as political propaganda. The UNILAG ASUU Chairman said: “If he knows he wants to honour MKO Abiola, he could as well choose any of the nine new established federal universities which has not started producing graduates. He is going after cheap popularity. UNILAG is too big for that.

We will resist it and fight it with our blood, until it is reversed. University of Lagos is only changed in the head of Jonathan, but remains UNILAG. I can see political undertone in this move, he wants to blackmail the Yorubas, but the Yorubas are too intelligent for that. It is only a foolish man who thinks he can use unintelligent way to blackmail intelligent people.”

Another  student said: “It is a plot against the South-West people, and we are going to refute it.”  Some have even made remarks that the change of name is somehow related to Sofoluwe’s sudden death. One student said: “We will not bury Sofoluwe in this situation. We will take his body to Aso Rock until the name MAU is reversed.”

However, in response to news from the grape vine that Sofoluwe will not be buried until the President’s declaration is overturned, the acting VC said: “The spirit of Sofoluwe, and the UNILAG in him will not allow such a thing (as the change of name) to happen. That is why we must bury him in peace.  We all hold him in high esteem and it would be a great disregard to our open show of love if his burial activities are stalled because of what has happened.”

President Goodluck Jonathan

The VC, however, advised the students to air their views peacefully so that the situation does not get out of hand. “Please listen to your leaders,” he said “let such activities be limited to the premises of the University of Lagos alone. We appreciate the mature way you have aired your grievances so far. However, do not do anything that will lead to the closure of the university. All our efforts to retain our name could prove futile if you do so.”

SNG rejects how UNILAG was named after MKO Abiola
While acknowledging the  eternal place of M.K.O Abiola in the political history of Nigeria and would want the highest possible honour done to him, the Save Nigeria Group (SNG) deplores the indecent manner in which President Jonathan has re-named the University of Lagos after him.

According to SNG’s spokesman, Yinka Odumakin, “Renaming a university established by law through presidential fiat is an abuse of power which would make even the symbol of democracy turn several times in his grave as he died in the process of fighting against arbitrariness and rule of the thumb which the annulment of June 12 represented.

“It is high time President Jonathan embraced a democratic mindset and stop behaving like maximum ruler. We restate our demand that M.K.O Abiola must be given a befitting honour for the sacrifices he made for democracy in Nigeria in a decent and worthy manner.”

Ex-education minister, Obaji, endorses renaming of UNILAG
A former Minister of Education, Mrs. Chinwe Obaji, on Tuesday, said the decision to rename the school after Abiola was a welcome development.

“I do not see anything wrong with the change because it has to do with what is their brief and so, there is nothing wrong with that. The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, for instance, has it in the constitution establishing it that the name must not be changed and so it would remain.

SSANU opposes name change

But the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), UNILAG Chapter, is opposed to it, describing the renaming as unnecessary. The association’s Secretary, Mr Ben Anosike, urged the government to revisit the issue.

“We are not against the Federal Government honouring whoever it deemed fit, but what we are saying is that UNILAG does not deserve such change. It is already a brand name that has come to be accepted and recognised the world over.
“It is the university of first choice and the nation’s pride and it should be sustained.’’

Jonathan’s action is right step – Abiola’s daughter
Meanwhile, MKO’s  daughter, Mrs Hafsat Abiola-Costello has described the renaming of the school after her late father as “a right step in the right direction.”

The university authority has in the meantime, closed down the school due to students’ unrest.