The
University of Lagos has introduced a new badge to discredit the
renaming of the institution after the acclaimed winner of the June 12,
1993 presidential election, the late Chief Moshood Abiola by the Federal
Government.
The badge, which carries the inscription, “UNILAG forever,” was
distributed to members of staff and students at a news conference by the
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Monday.
According to the chairman of the University of Lagos branch of the
union, Dr Oghenekaro Ogbinaka, who was accompanied by his counterparts
from the University of Ibadan and the Federal University of Agriculture,
Abeokuta, Drs Segun Ajiboye and Biodun Badmus and the National
Treasurer of ASUU, Dr Demola Aremu, the badge is one of the steps being
taken by the union to work against the renaming of institution.
He said, “we have mapped out plans to persistently reject the
renaming of the University of Lagos. The renaming of the University of
Lagos after 50 years of existence, is one of such actions that have been
taken to an absurd level.”
He further said that government’s action would be challenged legally,
while describing the pronouncement of President Goodluck Jonathan as a
wrong and immoral decision intended to gain cheap popularity.
Following the submission of the amended bill that set up the
University of Lagos to the National Assembly by the president recently,
the academics vowed to storm the public hearing to thwart the decision
of the government.
According to Ogbinaka, the union has gathered the support of eminent
lawyers, including Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) and Wole Olanipekun (SAN) to
argue its case both at the law court and during the public hearing.
In another development, the Nigerian Association of Law Teachers has
condemned the renaming of UNILAG, calling on the government to rescind
its decision.
Written by Kunle Awosiyan
Source Tribune
