Ibadan Street. Etche Road. Ndoki Road. Port Harcourt Road. And many others. These are roads and streets that we grew up to know in Aba, Abia State. They are not names of Igbo cities, villages or communities, but those of cities and communities outside Igboland. They are names of cities and communities in today’s Oyo and Rivers states. As they were in the beginning, so they are today – no change of name, no change of identity, no controversy whatsoever.
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Living in Aba as little boys and girls then, Igbo children related with Ibadan Street, for instance, without knowing much about the ancient city of Ibadan. At that time and even now, you will hear Igbo people call it I-B-A-D-A-N Street and proudly too. It was only when some of us were privileged to travel to the Yoruba part of the country that we knew that Ibadan was actually pronounced as IBADO, more or less, with the last two letters together -AN – pronounced as “O.” Whether it is pronounced as “I-B-A-D-A-N Street” or “Ibado Street,” it is a road that stands as a historical monument in Aba, in Eastern Nigeria.
In Aba, and other South East cities and states, there are streets bearing names of places and individuals outside Igboland. The streets were so named in the past for a purpose. People relate with them. People cherish them. People are used to them. The streets so named are part of the states’ history. And history plays a crucial role in shaping our identities, informing our decision and fostering a sense of community and shared experiences.
With history and heritage at the back of our minds, it is understandable why there has been so much uproar about the recent renaming of streets bearing Igbo names, in the main, to Yoruba names in Lagos State. The controversy has been so intense that men of goodwill, including those of Yoruba extraction, have condemned the act. Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has threatened to go to court to challenge the action of the local and development area governments. Former Lagos State governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, despite promising to keep his “gunpower dry” advised that “the preservation of our history and the documentation of our progress should be taken seriously.” These men cannot be wrong.
Streets or monuments are named to recognise individuals who have made significant contributions to society, acknowledging the impact and influence of notable figures in history, culture, or community development, keeping the memory of important individuals alive for future generations, serving as a reminder of their accomplishments and values as well as providing role models and motivating others to follow in their footsteps, striving for similar achievements and positive impact. Renaming streets or substituting earlier names for new ones, therefore, amounts to erasing the memories of past heroes and trying to downplay their contributions to the development of society.
No matter the defence those who have singled out streets bearing Igbo names for renaming, their action is in bad taste. It is a show of resentment against Igbo people, who consider Lagos as their home and strive to contribute to its socio-economic and political development. Such an action is a mark of division and exclusion. It negates the national pledge, as enshrined in the country’s National Anthem, “though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand.” Renaming streets bearing Igbo names does not in any way show brotherhood. It is the hallmark of social isolation and disconnection, an indication of Igbophobia.
It is important to say that streets that bear Igbo names in Lagos are so because Igbo were the first settlers in the neighbourhoods or communities where the streets are located. An Igbo man would buy land in an isolated and undeveloped part of the city – most times inside the bush. He would build his house there. He would open up the street and maintain it.
He would live there alone with his family, with the attendant security risk. He would go to the local government area office to pay and register the street’s name. His presence in the area would attract other people. And, boom, the area would develop. It is only the street’s name that would underline the sacrifices of the first settler and tell the story of the community. It is a heritage that needs preservation.
Having many streets bearing Igbo names in Lagos, therefore, is simply a narration of the history of Lagos, in relation to the role Igbo have played in the socio-economic development of the state. History is the study of past events, people, and cultures. History helps us understand how the world came to be the way it is today and provides valuable lessons for the future. History also allows us to appreciate the achievements and contributions of individuals and groups who have shaped our world. It serves as a reminder of the struggles and triumphs of the past, helping us to learn from mistakes and build upon successes.
By preserving and interpreting the past, historians and cultural institutions help us to better understand ourselves and our place in the world. The history of Lagos will not be complete without the mention of the Igbo. Attempting to blot out the contributions of the Igbo, therefore, is an attempt in futility. Renaming streets that tell Lagos’ history about Igbo people and their contributions is an orchestrated attempt to erode history and an effort to obliterate the imprimatur of Igbo people in Lagos. It is an effort that would not succeed.
A time was in Lagos when Ajegunle, Orile, Ojo, Ejigbo, Ikotun, Bucknor, Amuwo Odofin, Ajao Estate and Okota areas of Lagos were thick bushes, uninhabited and desolate. It took the courage of some Igbo to buy land in these areas, to develop property therein and to live in these areas, as first settlers. The singular efforts of these Igbo contributed to the social development of these areas. That is why most of the streets bear Igbo names – named after the first settlers and officially registered. This is a history that should rather be preserved than erased.
At a time like this, what Nigeria needs is the celebration of its diversity and not taking actions that promote our differences and further cause division in the country. Having streets with names of people and places from different parts of the country and indeed different parts of the world tells a better story of a country with different people united in diversity.
Celebration of diversity in Nigeria is essential for promoting unity, cultural heritage and national identity. With over 371 ethnic groups and more than 250 languages spoken across the country, Nigeria’s diversity is a treasure trove of traditions, customs and festivals. Celebrating diversity helps to foster a sense of belonging and unity among Nigerians, despite their ethnic or linguistic differences. Celebrating diversity helps to promote national pride and identity, showcasing Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage to the world.
It is funny, therefore, that at a time when governments all over the world are making efforts to better the lives of their people, in the face of socio-economic quagmire, local government chairmen in Lagos consider the renaming of street and destruction of history as priority. Renaming of streets bearing Igbo names contributes nothing to the living standard of the people. Rather, it is a display of pettiness and little mindedness, a show of poverty – poverty of the mind. It is a minus rather than a gain.
Changing street names can cause confusion for residents, visitors and emergency services, potentially leading to difficulties in navigation and communication. It erases historical context and cultural heritage, potentially diminishing the understanding and appreciation of a community’s past. It can impact businesses, residents and property owners, potentially affecting their identity, branding and addresses. It can be a costly and time-consuming process, requiring updates to maps, signage and official documents.
There are many ways government can honour new heroes. Rather than eroding the history of past heroes, by changing street names, government can build new roads and erect monuments, which would be named after new achievers. This is an example shown by Canada recently when the country named a park in Bridgwater, in Winnipeg, after a Nigerian – Emeka Nnamdi – for his contributions to the development of the community. The Emeka Nnamdi Park at 119 Bridgeland Drive, in southwest Winnipeg, was so named not only to celebrate this Nigerian for his work with Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation for over two decades but also to celebrate the city’s multiculturalism.
It is indeed ironical that not long after a Nigerian of Igbo descent was celebrated in Canada, with the naming of a park after him, Lagos State officials are renaming streets bearing Igbo names. Such action can only drag Nigeria down. It is such an action, which makes it difficult for people from other places who have lived all their lives in Lagos not to freely aspire to elective positions and be elected. It is such an action that has left Nigeria where it is – backward in inclusiveness, dogged by pettiness and failing to break away from the shackles of ethnocentrism. It is such an action that is destroying Nigeria.
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