Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, declared that he would reverse the naming of several public facilities after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other leaders. He made the statement during a recent public address as part of his campaign activities.
Sowore argued that such naming reflected poor governance priorities. He stated that leaders should earn lasting recognition through achievements rather than self promotion while in office.
Several public assets received new names linked to Tinubu since he took office in 2023. In March 2024, Niger State Governor Umar Bago renamed the Abubakar Imam International Airport in Minna as Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport.
In May 2024, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike named the Abuja Southern Parkway after Tinubu. Later that month, the National Assembly management renamed its library the Bola Tinubu Building.
Additional examples followed. The Nigeria Immigration Service named its technology complex the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex in December 2024.
In January 2025, authorities christened a new army barracks in Asokoro, Abuja, as Bola Ahmed Tinubu Barracks. Other projects, including roads and institutions, also adopted the name.
Sowore promised action if voters elected him in 2027. He said he would restore original names or assign neutral ones, such as those of trees or rivers, to honor natural and historical significance instead.
He described the current trend as a sign of insecurity. Sowore added that true contributions deserved recognition after leaders left office, not during their tenure.
The wave of renamings sparked debates across Nigeria. Critics viewed the moves as premature and focused on legacy-building amid economic challenges. Sowore positioned his pledge as part of a broader commitment to restore public dignity and focus on effective governance.
He emphasized that public facilities belonged to the people. Sowore called for respect for history and avoidance of practices that diminished national assets’ neutrality.
