Lagos, Nigeria – A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and respected legal analyst, Dr. Monday Ubani, has strongly criticised the recent renaming of streets and bus stops in Lagos, describing the move as “tribal politics and hatred.”
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In a statement issued on Saturday, Ubani expressed deep concern over what he termed the “systematic and silent erasure” of historical street names, especially those that reflect the cultural identity of non-Yoruba communities. He warned that the trend, if left unchecked, could further strain Nigeria’s already fragile national unity.
“The systematic and silent erasure of certain historical street names in Lagos, especially those reflecting the cultural identity and heritage of non-Yoruba residents, is a disturbing trend that requires urgent national reflection and condemnation,” Ubani stated.
He questioned the rationale behind the renaming exercise, querying whether the original names were illegally imposed or lacked official approval. “Were the original names imposed illegally? Were they not approved by the same arms of government now reversing them with reckless abandon?” he asked.
Ubani also noted the absence of clear policy direction or public consultation in the renaming process, describing it as a “sinister attempt to rewrite the cultural history of Lagos in a way that marginalizes certain ethnic groups,” particularly the Igbo community. He emphasized the significant contributions of the Igbo to the development of Lagos, calling them both “historical and ongoing.”
“Nigeria is already hanging on a delicate thread of national unity, strained by insecurity, governance issues, and ethnic profiling. At such a time, any action by public officials, even at the local government level, that promotes ethnic division or marginalisation must be rejected in the strongest terms,” he warned.
The senior lawyer called on the Lagos State Government and the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to provide clarity on the motive behind the recent renaming decisions and to immediately halt what he described as a “tide of retrogressive ethnocentrism.”
Ubani concluded with a passionate plea for inclusivity and national unity:
“The greatness of Nigeria, and indeed Lagos, lies not in the dominance of one tribe over others, but in the peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, and appreciation of our rich diversity. Let aggravated and systemic hatred through public policy be stopped! It is a solemn plea!”
The controversy was triggered by the recent decision to rename the popular Charly Boy Bus Stop in Lagos to Baddo Bus Stop in honour of Nigerian music star Olamide, a move that has sparked heated debate over the perceived erasure of culturally significant names.
