Lagos State finds itself at the center of a controversial debate that threatens to undermine its hard-earned reputation as Nigeria’s most cosmopolitan city. The recent call by Apapo Oodua Koya (AOKOYA) for the renaming of Ozumba Mbadiwe Road and Sir Ahmadu Bello Way in Victoria Island represents more than just a name change—it is an example of a dangerous drift toward ethnic chauvinism that could fundamentally alter the character of a city that has long prided itself on inclusivity and diversity.
The current agitation reads like a poorly scripted political drama, complete with oversimplified villains and heroes drawn along ethnic lines. AOKOYA’s demand that prominent streets, particularly, “Ahmadu Bello”, named after one of the most influential Northerner and Nigerian, Sir Ahmadu Bello and “Ozumba Mbadiwe” named after the verbose and colourful politician and Member of Parliament , K. O Mbadiwe be renamed with Yoruba appellations because both Bello and Mbadiwe were allegedly “enemies of the Yoruba people” reveals a troubling misunderstanding of both history and the principles that have made Lagos Nigeria’s economic powerhouse.
Such a facile categorization of historical figures as friends or foes based solely on ethnic considerations ignores the complex realities of Nigeria’s political evolution. Ozumba Mbadiwe, who served as a Minister in the First Republic, and Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Premier of the defunct Northern Region, were products of their time—politicians navigating the turbulent waters of a nascent nation grappling with the challenges of unity in diversity.
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Readers here should recall that not too long ago, the uninspiring local government chairman of Bariga Local Council Development Authority, LCDA, Kolade David seeking some kick into his lacklustre tenure announced the renaming of some streets. Laced with ethnic bile, he quickly became the posterboy of what we should always expect from an accident of history when he renamed the popular Charly Boy Stop, named after the Nigerian entertainment maverick, Charles Oputa popularly known as “Charly Boy Street” to “Olamide Badoo Street”, justifying such nonsense by alleging that the likes of Olamide who I consider a great talent deserved such street renaming owing to the fact that he (Olamide and Gongoaso crooner, 9ICE) had projected positively the Bariga Council on the global spotlight, one now wonders whether the Area Father had been projecting Gbagada negatively!
So, like Herod after the killing of James, the AOKOYA too have fallen into the frenzy of street name change. Now,
If we accept the logic driving these renaming demands, we open a Pandora’s box that could engulf the entire nation in a frenzy of ethnic score-settling. Following this reasoning to its logical conclusion, why should streets named after the Philosopher King in Chief Obafemi Awolowo remain untouched in the North, East, or even the Midwest? After all, using the same ethnic calculus, Awo could equally be labeled an “enemy” of these regions based on the political dynamics of his era, even when Zik had always called him his “ good friend”.
This dangerous precedent threatens to balkanize Nigeria’s public spaces along ethnic lines, creating a patchwork of exclusionary zones where historical figures are judged not by their contributions to national development but by their perceived loyalty to specific ethnic groups. Such an approach would rob the nation of its shared heritage and common symbols of unity.
Lagos has thrived precisely because it transcended narrow ethnic boundaries to become a melting pot where Nigerians from all corners of the country could call home. The city’s streets, bearing names that reflect Nigeria’s diversity, tell the story of a nation that chose unity over division. Victoria Island, with its mix of indigenous and pan-Nigerian nomenclature, stands as a testament to this inclusive vision.
Renaming these streets based on ethnic considerations would send a chilling message to non-Yoruba residents and investors that Lagos is retreating from its cosmopolitan ideals. It would suggest that contributions to Nigerian development are now being measured on an ethnic scale rather than on merit and national significance.
The characterization of Mbadiwe and Ahmadu Bello as “enemies of the Yoruba people” demonstrates a fundamental misreading of Nigeria’s complex political history. These were not ethnic warriors but political leaders operating within the constraints and possibilities of their time. Their legacies, like those of all historical figures, contain both achievements and shortcomings, but reducing them to ethnic caricatures does disservice to historical truth.
Moreover, this ethnic lens could be applied to virtually any Nigerian leader. The political alliances and rivalries of the First Republic were complex, often crossing ethnic lines and involving pragmatic considerations that defy simple ethnic explanations. If we begin judging historical figures solely through the prism of ethnic loyalty, no leader would be safe from retrospective condemnation.
The irony of this situation becomes apparent when we consider that even President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, despite his Yoruba heritage, might not be immune to such revisionist tendencies, after all, he has made a lot of enemies via his reforms and policies. Political fortunes change, and today’s hero can become tomorrow’s villain through the accidents of history and shifting political narratives. If ethnic considerations become the primary criterion for honoring public figures, then streets and edifices named after Tinubu could face similar challenges should future political dynamics paint him as an “enemy” of other regions.
This possibility underscores the folly of ethnic-based historical revisionism and the importance of maintaining objective criteria for honoring public figures based on their overall contributions to national development rather than their perceived ethnic loyalties.
Lagos State Government must resist this pressure to rename streets based on ethnic considerations. Instead, the state should reaffirm its commitment to being a home for all Nigerians, regardless of their ethnic background. The city’s strength lies in its diversity, and its street names should continue to reflect the contributions of Nigerians from all regions to its development.
Rather than engaging in ethnic point-scoring, Lagos should focus on adding new streets and infrastructure that can bear Yoruba names without erasing existing symbols of national unity. This approach would honor Yoruba heritage while maintaining the inclusive character that has made Lagos Nigeria’s most successful state.
The street renaming campaign represents more than a simple administrative exercise—it is a test of Lagos’ commitment to the cosmopolitan values that have made it Nigeria‘s economic capital. The state must choose between the narrow path of ethnic exclusivity and the broad highway of inclusive development that has served it well.
History will judge whether Lagos chooses to maintain its position as a beacon of Nigerian unity or succumbs to the divisive forces that seek to fragment the nation along ethnic lines. The decision on Ozumba Mbadiwe Road and Sir Ahmadu Bello Way will signal which direction the state intends to take.
