By Obike Ukoh
Naming and renaming public institutions and events are global trends. Most of the time, the naming follow due process, and also endorsed by critical stakeholders.
If the naming is justifiable, the decision is not greeted with disapproval or questioning.
But if the naming or renaming is considered arbitrary or self-serving, is usually met with public resentment and disapproval.
When Owerri Central Stadium, Owerri Imo State, was renamed Dan Anyiam Stadium, the government was commended for immortalizing Anyiam, a former Captain of the Super Eagles.
He hailed from Imo State and his impact and imprint in Nigeria’s soccer is evident.
In the same Imo State, when Rochas Okorocha was governor of the state, he named a popular street after Jacob Zuma, a former South African President. He also erected statue of Zuma on the road.
But few days after Mr Emeka Ihedioha was inaugurated governor of Imo, before he was removed by the Supreme Court, he renamed the street after Chief Mbazuluike Amaechi and also pulled down Zuma’s statue.
Though silent on the desirability or otherwise of immortalizing Zuma in Imo State, he described “ Amaechi as an icon, one of the founding fathers of the nation, whose contributions to nationhood should not be overlooked”
According to him, Amaechi remains an inspiration, who stood and defended those principles, that remain valuable to nation building.
Amaechi, now late, was a native of Ukpor in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, and last survivor of Zikist Movement, founded by father of nationalism and Nigeria’s First President, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.
The Imo State scene, played out and is still playing out in Ebonyi State. Then Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi, now Works Minister under President Bola Tinubu, had named the Ebonyi Airport, which he constructed, after then President Muhammadu Buhari, while he was still in office.
Buhari did not out rightly reject the offer. He accepted the offer, but as Head of State and Commander-In-Chief, approved that the airport be named after Chuba Okadigbo, a former Senate President, now late.
Also remember that Okadigbo was Buhari’s running mate during his first shot at the presidency. This Buhari’s action was met with stiff opposition from Ebonyi founding fathers. The opposition is still raging and the dust yet to settle.
The first and second civilian governors of Ebonyi State, Martin Elechi and Sam Egwu, stressed that Okadigbo never contributed to solving the problems of Ebonyi people.
Elechi who spoke, however, called on the Federal Government to rename the airport after the late Senator Offia Nwali, the first black man to obtain a Ph.D in Computer and Analytical Studies from the United States of America.
“Ebonyi people are not happy to hear our new airport being called Chuba Okadigbo Airport. Chuba Okadigbo is a great Nigerian, but he is not known in Ebonyi State, and neither will Ebonyi people say this is what he did for them.
“When I was Secretary of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), in old Anambra State, Okadigbo was vying for the senate. We were friendly. All I remember is that he used to visit me at No. 5 Igboeze Street, Enugu, and we would sit over a bottle of brandy until the bottle was empty.
“We didn’t talk about Ebonyi people, their problems, or their solutions. Understandably, General Muhammadu Buhari knew our problems.
When he was the Brigade Major in Abakaliki, he gave us the pass that enabled us to go to Ogoja to plead our case. He assisted us to an extent with security personnel over what we were doing to create Ebonyi State.
“We love him, and it was proper to name the airport after him. But since he didn’t accept it, we think the airport should be named after someone else.
“That airport is less than 10 km to the primary school where Offia Nwali made his marks as a student; that airport is less than 10 km to the road and the house of Dr Offia Nwali.
“We think it will be more appropriate to name the airport after him, and that is the request I am making on behalf of the founding fathers and the people Ebonyi,” he said.
Mr Chinedu Ogah, the Member Representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, assured the ex-governors and founding fathers that he would sponsor a bill to rename the airport after late Offia Nwali.
Also, when Gov. Alex Otti of Abia State renamed the Abia Polytechnic Aba, after Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, there was no protest or resentment.
Otti who announced the renaming at the burial ceremony of Onu, a former governor of old Abia State, who hailed from Ebonyi State, stressed that the late politician, academic and statesman deserved the honour.
The debate is still raging, after Nyesom Wike, the FCT Minister, renamed the International Conference Centre (ICC) Abuja, built by Military President Ibrahim Babangida, after incumbent President Bola Tinubu.
The debate and controversy is because many consider Wike’s action as transactional, being a political ally of President Tinubu, and could not situate the yardstick of renaming such an old and landmark national edifice after an incumbent President.
A commentator jokingly said that, the way things are going, Nigeria may soon be renamed.
One Shamsudeen Ibrahim, after the renaming by Wike, accused the President of being Obsessed With Himself.
According to him, Tinubu’s self-naming spree is unprecedented in Nigerian history, in less than two years, President Bola Tinubu has renamed seven national projects after himself, while still in office.
Not even Buhari, with all his powers, ever attempted this. Obasanjo didn’t. IBB didn’t. Jonathan didn’t. The same thing with Abacha.
But Tinubu, from airports to barracks, libraries to highways, the self-glorification is in full swing, even as Nigerians struggle with inflation and insecurity.
He listed the project named after Tinubu as: Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja, formerly ICC, renovated with ₦39bn, IBB built it in 1991 for ₦240m.
Tinubu International Airport – Minna, renamed in 2023. Tinubu Polytechnic, Gwarinpa, a new institution.
Tinubu National Assembly Library, Abuja, renamed to honour him by lawmakers. Tinubu Immigration Tech Building, Abuja, a Federal digital hub.
Tinubu Barracks, Asokoro, a military facility named after a living civilian president.
Tinubu Way, Abuja (formerly Southern Parkway), a major road renamed in 2024.’’
Ibrahim said that it is “not about legacy, it’s about ego and it’s unprecedented in our democracy.’’
Former federal lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, in his reaction, urged President Tinubu to reject the renaming of the ICC after him.
Wike did not only rename the ICC after Tinubu, others also benefitted from the bazaar.
Other halls in the facility were renamed after Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House of Representatives Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, and Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kekere-Ekun.
All the beneficiaries are current political players, no room for men and women of yesterday.
Sani noted that the facility was built by former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida, who is still alive and should not be renamed after Tinubu.
He said inter alia: “The International Conference Centre Abuja was built by IBB. The President should reject renaming the place after him.”
These galore of renaming public institutions after incumbents and sitting political office holders has a moral burden.
If a governor or local government chairman renames, it is understandable. How can a minister rename a project after a President? Or putting it differently, how can a commissioner rename a project after a governor?
A minister or a commissioner is just an appointee of the president or governor.
These elected officers do not need to beg for favour from their appointees. It is the other way round.
What are the statutory function (functions) of cabinet members?
Certainly, the money used to renovate the ICC was approved by the Federal Executive Council.
Ideally, certain actions by appointees and elected officers require approval.
With issues and action like naming and renaming, the proper thing should be done from the beginning, otherwise renaming will become a ritual. Renaming will therefore beget renaming.
Like suggested, President Tinubu, should reject the renaming of the International Conference Centre after him.
The man that built the edifice is still alive.
When Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe was alive, and he saw how things were going, that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) may be named after him, after his death, he made it clear that UNN should not be named after him.
Unarguably, the sage knew that naming is not a legacy, the legacy is the University of Nigeria, Nigeria’s first indigenous university, which Zik has the credit of establishing.
Everybody knows the reason for the rat race by appointees of the president to name projects after him.
Buhari knew it was a Greek gift, that was why he rejected naming Ebonyi airport after him.
Obike Ukoh, ex-Deputy Editor-In-Chief, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
