The decision of President Goodluck Jonathan to rename the University of Lagos (UNILAG) after the late democracy martyr, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, has been applauded as a positive step but government was advised to take legislative steps to effectively actualise the change of name of the prestigious institution.
The Human Rights Writers’ Association Of Nigeria (HURIWA),? which made the observation, said that the late Chief Abiola, the presumed winner of Nigeria’s finest; freest and most peaceful presidential election of June 12th 1993 deserved all the national accolades that the country can accord him and condemned the protest by the students of the former UNILAG as “unnecessary”, “unwarranted” and “unmeritorious”.
In a release made available to LEADERSHIP and jointly endorsed by the National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Director Miss. Zainab Yusuf, HURIWA, however advised the President to seek legal opinion and even conduct popular referendum if in the nearest future the government plans to rename any academic institution to avoid a situation whereby its intention may be misconstrued as “hasty”, “politically-motivated” and? “unpatriotic”.
The group said it would have been legally sound and widely acceptable if the necessary legal impediments weare dismantled before the President disclosed government’s intention to rename the academic institution since every federal university was established in accordance with the law.