It is profoundly disappointing to witness the alarming trend of naming public institutions, infrastructure, and military facilities after a sitting president. This act runs counter to established principles of honor, service, and public morality. The recent decisions to name critical institutions after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, including barracks, airports, and other facilities, reflect a troubling disregard for historical preservation, respect for our fallen heroes, and the collective legacy of the Nigerian people.
The name "Dodan" originates from Dodan Hill, a significant battle site in Burma (present-day Myanmar) during World War II. The 82nd West African Division, composed of Nigerian soldiers, fought valiantly there as part of the British Allied Forces against the Japanese. The name was later adopted for Dodan Barracks in Lagos to honor the bravery and sacrifices of these soldiers during the Burma Campaign. This tradition underscores the role of Nigerian troops in global conflicts and their contributions to maintaining international peace and security.
The decision to rename Minna Airport after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly in a state where two former military heads of state reside—leaders who contributed significantly to the preservation of Nigeria’s unity—is another glaring misstep. This renaming disregards their service and the tradition of honoring those who have completed their tenure and left a lasting legacy. Instead of celebrating the memory of our true heroes, this act aggrandizes a sitting president in a way that is both premature and undeserved.
In addition, the federal government has named the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex and a new polytechnic in Abuja after the sitting president. These decisions are appalling and reveal a disturbing pattern of self-adulation that is disconnected from the realities facing Nigerians. At a time when the nation grapples with insecurity, economic hardship, and infrastructural decay, the focus should be on uplifting the lives of citizens, not immortalizing individuals still in office.
Why This Trend Is Wrong:
Globally, public infrastructure is named after individuals who have completed their service and whose contributions have stood the test of time.
Nigeria’s military has endured immense losses in its fight against insurgency and insecurity. Naming barracks after fallen soldiers would be a far more fitting tribute to their sacrifices.
Nigeria’s history is rich with icons-both living and deceased who have contributed immensely to its growth and unity. These individuals, from literary giants to civil rights activists and military heroes, deserve to be immortalized.
Such actions erode public trust in governance, signaling a lack of accountability and a tendency toward self-glorification, which is deeply disheartening in a democracy.
We call on the federal government to immediately review these decisions. Naming public institutions after a sitting president is inappropriate, unjustified, and sets a dangerous precedent for our nation. Nigeria deserves better—leadership that respects its history, honors its heroes, and prioritizes the needs of its people over self-aggrandizement.
The true measure of leadership lies not in how much one’s name is inscribed on buildings or plaques, but in how much one’s actions positively transform the lives of the people.
*Contributed by the Convener, Free Nigeria Movement (FNM) Dr. Moses Paul. He can be reached
@Drmopaul on X.
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