No Going Back On Renaming Of UNILAG...Says Labaran Maku

There is no going back on the renaming of University of Lagos after Chief Moshood Abiola, the Federal Government said on Wednesday.

Government said the decision was taken in the interest of the country.

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 the president has done.

Maku stated that the president only showed that he truly appreciates late Abiola’s contribution to the political development of the country.

President Jonathan had in his nationwide broadcast on Tuesday renamed the university in honour of the billionaire politician who died in prison over a decade ago.

Abiola was the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election which was controversially annulled by former military president Ibrahim Babangida.

Jonathan said Abiola’s presumed victory in the presidential election, and death, while in custody, proved to be the catalyst for the people’s pro-democracy uprising; saying, “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,” he added.

But that did not go down well with the students of the university who went on the street to protest the federal government’s decision.

The minister 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 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 quiet a significant number of citizens like the June 12, 1993 presidential election, “he added.