Reputable public affairs expert and proponent of good governance, Dr. Bolaji O. Akinyemi, recently discussed his opinions on the plan to rename Aso Rock Villa in Chief Moshood Abiola's honor.
In a recent speech, Dr. Akinyemi—who also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Project Victory Call Initiative (PVC Naija) and the Convener of the Apostolic Round Table—discussed a number of national challenges.
The Independent reported that Dr. Akinyemi expressed her disapproval of the proposed renaming, arguing that symbolic measures like this ignore Abiola's enormous efforts and accomplishments.
He emphasized that the ideals that Abiola's administration undermined, such as free and fair elections, the rule of law, and the preservation of human rights, are the foundation of Abiola's legacy.
Renaming a building, in Dr. Akinyemi's opinion, cannot make up for the loss of fundamental democratic rights and principles.
He also made a connection to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's present circumstances, raising concerns about the reasoning for celebrating Abiola while keeping Kanu in detention and disobeying his rights in the process.
Kanu is still being held in custody in defiance of court orders to be released. According to Dr. Akinyemi, Abiola battled and finally died in defense of democratic principles, which are in conflict with the continued incarceration.
In his words, "Whatever they want to name after Abiola can’t make up for Abiola. What was lost in Abiola was a free and fair election, the rule of law, and human rights."
"How can you say you are celebrating Abiola by naming the villa that held him down to incarceration till he died after him, while Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is still languishing in incarceration again?"
"What happened to his rights to freedom after the court freed him?"
"Are we waiting for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, a man held against the constitution and his right to justice, to die in a ‘democracy’ before we do the right thing? What a democracy."