MAUN: Much Ado About Nothing

The response to President Jonathan’s speech conjures certain one-word responses that will undoubtedly leave many respondents sour. “Pedestrian”, “Childish”, “Immature” are some of the terminiology that comes to mind. Social media networks are abuzz with criticisms for President Jonathan’s decision to arbitrarily rename the 50 year old University of Lagos and call it Moshood Abiola University.

The president’s track record of making seemingly clueless decisions undeniably earned another trophy today, however, we the people have begun to overreact in a similarly clueless fashion in a manner symptomatic of the GEJ syndrome.
Sure Akokites are not pleased with the President’s decision to rename their ivory tower, but does it warrant a protest of such silly magnitude. A protest where the student protesters are misspelling words on their placards and looking more confused than organized.

There are way more important issues in this country. The fact that the government is increasing the electricity tariff in two days has as of yet not attracted any protests and I dare say no protests may even occur. Or the N 155 billion oil block scam involving the President and his inner caucus of looters i.e. Bello Adoke, this has not attracted any protests as of yet.

These students have not protested the fact that due to the widespread corruption in the country, many of their female undergraduates resort to prostitution and some of them sleep with government functionaries and sometimes collect more money in one night than both their parents can make in a year. These students have not protested that due to the government selling our national resources to men like Dan Etete (a convicted money launderer and former oil minister), there is not enough money left to pay NYSC allowances, or give lecturers or doctors a decent salary.

They have not protested the fact that many of them get their good grades in university by being forced to sleep with their professors.

Yet they protest over a minor name change. This is not to say that the President was not very wrong in his decision as even the Oba of Lagos has already come out to condemn the decision. However we as a people have to focus on the more important things. We cannot get excited over the little things, remember we are dealing with insensitive billionaires who have enriched themselves stupendously beyond our comprehension.

Goodluck is probably having a bottle of champagne right now with some roasted peppered mackerel from the creeks and some cassava rolls, maybe  in the company of one or two Moshood Abiola Uni babes, laughing at the uproar Reno his Twitter aide has reported to him.

All this fuss over the little things is ludicrous, can we focus up please? Electricity bills are scheduled to be hiked in less than 48 hours, lets talk about that.

Niyi Ayiri wrote in from Lagos.

2 Comments

1. 

   realest1s

   May 30, 2012 at 8:27 am

   The University has built a name for itself over the past 50 years, why change it ?? It is just one more of the very many unappreciated mistakes of Jonathan.

   PS: have you ever heard of Albeit Einstein University ?  Queen Elizabeth University ? They are very important people in history also. 
   In a Nigeria where we love big names & tittles, very soon it will all be watered down and we will have Alao Akala University
2. 

   realest1s

   May 30, 2012 at 8:27 am

   The University has built a name for itself over the past 50 years, why change it ?? It is just one more of the very many unappreciated mistakes of Jonathan.

   PS: have you ever heard of Albeit Einstein University ?  Queen Elizabeth University ? They are very important people in history also. 
   In a Nigeria where we love big names & tittles, very soon it will all be watered down and we will have Alao Akala University