Nigerians have pushed back against the decision by President Bola Tinubu to rename the University of Maiduguri after the late President Muhammadu Buhari, arguing that too many public institutions already bear his name.
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The announcement, made during a special Federal Executive Council session chaired by Tinubu on Thursday, has drawn sharp criticism from various quarters, including loyalists of the former president.
LIST OF APPLICATIONS FOR REGULARISATION OF AREA COUNCIL LAND DOCUMENTS NULLIFIED/CANCELLED BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF FCT
Ibn Maigana, a well-known Buhari supporter, expressed his dissatisfaction on Facebook, writing, “Honestly, a lot of Borno people are unhappy with the Presidency’s decision… a lot of things have already been renamed after him.”
LIST OF APPLICATIONS FOR REGULARISATION OF AREA COUNCIL LAND DOCUMENTS NULLIFIED/CANCELLED BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF FCT
He listed facilities already bearing Buhari’s name in Borno, including the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport, a Senate building, a trauma centre, and a major school. Maigana, while acknowledging Buhari’s legacy and his Kanuri roots, called for the decision to be reconsidered.
Other voices echoed similar sentiments. Kashim Usman Sheriff noted, “Buhari has had a lot of honour in Maiduguri… I think Sani Abacha and Umaru Musa Yar’Adua also deserve to be honored.”
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Natasha Shingu Alexander questioned the effect of the name change on certificates and branding, while Akyala Ishaku warned that the renaming could confuse employers and foreign institutions reviewing academic credentials. “Why not just build a new university and name it after him?” he asked.
Former senator Shehu Sani also weighed in, cautioning that if the trend continues, Nigeria might run out of institutions to rename. “When exhausted, then two people will be sharing one,” he said.
A group identified as Concerned UNIMAID Alumni Association/Friends of UNIMAID issued a statement rejecting the decision. “UNIMAID is a legacy institution… renaming it for political gain is condemnable,” the group said, suggesting alternative ways to honour Buhari, such as a new university or national monument.
Online, one user captured the mood in a viral post: “With a heart heavy with grief, I mourn the cruel demise of the University of Maiduguri… its cherished name and legacy condemned to oblivion.”
President Buhari died on July 13 in London after a long illness and was buried in Daura, Katsina State. The move to rename UNIMAID in his honour has since become a lightning rod for public frustration and debate.
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