By Monday Onyekachi Ubani

The recent decision by the outgoing Chairman of Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. Kolade Alabi David, to rename the popular Charly Boy Bus Stop to Baddo Bus Stop in honour of Nigerian artist Olamide and others may appear harmless on the surface. It may even seem laudable to those who admire the artist’s impact on Nigerian entertainment.

However, beneath the surface lies a disturbing trend that requires urgent national reflection and condemnation, the systematic and silent erasure of certain historical street names in Lagos, especially those reflecting the cultural identity and heritage of non-Yoruba residents.

This is not the first time such a policy has crept into the consciousness of Lagosians. Slowly but surely, what once was a cosmopolitan city that embraced all tribes, cultures, and peoples, is sliding into an ethnocentric experiment where names of streets and public places associated with non-Yoruba citizens are being wiped off the map without justification or consultation.

Let us be clear: this practice is archaic, divisive, and dangerously tribalistic. It has no place in a modern democracy and only serves to take Nigeria back to the Stone Age. In a multi-ethnic federation like ours, unity in diversity must be preserved at all costs, especially by those in leadership positions.

No cogent or official explanation has been given for this disturbing trend. Were the original names imposed illegally? Were they not approved by the same arms of government now reversing them with reckless abandon? Were these names not given at a time when Lagos stood tall as a beacon of national unity, hospitality, and inclusiveness?

The absence of clear policy guidelines or public engagement suggests something more sinister – an attempt to rewrite the cultural history of Lagos in a way that marginalizes certain ethnic groups, particularly the Igbo community, whose contributions to the growth of Lagos are not just historical but ongoing and appreciable.

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.

I have lived in Lagos since the 1980s. I built my law practice here. My friends, clients, professional colleagues, employees, and even church members come from different tribes, predominantly Yoruba. I was once a Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja Branch. The Lagos I knew, and still want to believe in, is the Lagos that gives all Nigerians a fair chance at life, peace, and prosperity, regardless of their state of origin.

This rising trend of street renaming based on ethnic calculations betrays the progressive and sophisticated image of the Yoruba people, a people known for education, enterprise, and political sagacity. This is why I am shocked that some Local Government Chairmen in Lagos are leading this wave of retrogressive ethnocentrism, not realising that it undermines the shared values that have held Lagos together as Nigeria’s melting pot.

If Lagos must continue to shine as the commercial capital of Nigeria, then it must be managed with maturity and inclusiveness. Those in government must understand that every policy has consequences – both seen and unseen. The international community, investors, and even ordinary Nigerians watching from afar will interpret these renaming exercises as signs of growing intolerance, state-backed discrimination, and a lack of cohesion within our federation.

If streets named after non-Yoruba figures are being deliberately removed without any history of criminality or impropriety attached to the persons being removed, then what message are we sending? That Lagos is now a state lived by one ethnic group only? Does history and memory have no place in the state’s public policy?

It is not enough to name a street after one musician while simultaneously removing a name (a musician too) that has stood for decades and carries sentimental or historical significance. These acts, however subtle, communicate hostility to coexistence and must be halted immediately.

I write this article not just to condemn but to seek answers. I call on the Lagos State Government and the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to explain what informed these recent renaming actions. Were these names removed with the consent of residents? Was there any public hearing or community input?

Policies that alienate, exclude, or erase certain communities are antithetical to the ideals of democracy, federalism, and nation-building. Lagos must not become a theatre of ethnic cleansing through street names. We must reverse this tide before it becomes the new normal.

This pattern of conduct by local government officials in Lagos, if not checked, will erode the minimal gains we have made in promoting national integration. It is uncivilised, unproductive, and ultimately destructive.

Let us be reminded that 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!

Dr M.O. Ubani SAN, a Legal and Policy Analyst, writes from Lagos

In a heartfelt condolence message, Sir Aare Adetola Emmanuelking KOF, the Group Chairman of Adron Group, has joined the rest of the nation in mourning the death of former President, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, describing his passing as the departure of a patriot, a soldier, and a statesman whose legacy will remain indelible in Nigeria’s history.

In the statement released to the press, Aare Adetola Emmanuelking expressed deep sorrow over the death of the former Head of State and President, calling it a moment of “national grief and solemn reflection.”

“His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, was more than a leader, he was a symbol of discipline, duty, and commitment to national integrity. His life, marked by sacrifice and stoic patriotism, leaves behind a legacy that will resonate far beyond his years,” Emmanuelking said.

The business leader and philanthropist praised the late Buhari’s journey from the military trenches to the highest civilian office in the land, noting the rare courage and conviction with which he navigated leadership in both roles.

“From the battlefields as a gallant general to the seat of power as a democratically elected President, he served with honour. He was austere, yet compassionate; firm, yet loyal to the unity of Nigeria,” the Adron boss remarked.

He extended his deepest sympathies to the family, saying “You have not only lost a patriarch, but the nation has lost a father figure, a sentinel of moral strength, and a resolute defender of the Nigerian dream”.

He urged Nigerians not to mourn as those without hope, but to reflect on and uphold the values of discipline, resilience, and unity, which were embodied by the former President.

“Though his voice may now be silent, the echoes of his convictions for a greater Nigeria will continue to inspire generations to come,” he concluded.

The former President, who served as Nigeria’s military Head of State from 1984 to 1985 and later as a two-term civilian President from 2015 to 2023, passed away leaving behind a storied legacy of service to the nation.

Sir Aare Adetola Emmanuelking’s tribute joins a chorus of voices across the nation and the world, honouring a man whose life was an attestation of loyalty, sacrifice, and enduring national purpose.

By Eric Elezuo

Chairman, Ovation Media Group and a former chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Dele Momodu, has resigned his membership of the party.

Momodu announced his membership via a letter dated July 17, 2025, and addressed to the Chairman, PDP Ward 4, Ihievbe, Owen East Local Government Area, Edo State.

The veteran journalist said he was resigning because the party has been ‘unarguably hijacked by antidemocratic forces from within and outside in broad daylight’.

He insisted that “it is therefore, honorable to abandon the carcass to them while the majority of us earnestly sign up with the new coalition party known as African Democratic Congress (ADC).”

He thanked the PDP for the opportunity and support he received ‘at all times’.

Momodu’s resignation from the PDP came barely 24hours after former Vice President Atiku Abubakar dumped the party.