President Jonathan’s renaming of UNILAG not ‘irreversible’ - Senator Ita Solomon Enang

President Jonathan’s renaming of UNILAG not ‘irreversible’ - Senator Ita Solomon Enang

President Goodluck Jonathan’s recent pronouncement that the 29th May renaming of the University of Lagos as Moshood Abiola University is irreversible, is itself not final, chairman, Senate committee on Business and Rules, Senator Ita Solomon Enang, has said.

Senator Enang was speaking with journalists in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, when he explained that the matter is open to change, as the president’s presentation to the National Assembly is still pending and will be deliberated upon.

“Well, the president made a presentation before the House and it is still pending. So many things will need to be considered during deliberations on the issue before the bill is passed for or against the renaming of Unilag,” he said.

“In such situations, Abiola’s contributions to the formation of the institution in question will be considered. We will call for contributions from authorities concerned then look at precedence on such issues and also consider alternatives. If after due considerations, the renaming is found unnecessary, an alternative structure will be named.”

Speaking on other issues, Enang called on the federal government to be proactive in confronting the security challenges of the country, saying that the problem of Boko Haram may be the result of resentment against inequality and government neglect.

“They may be responding to social neglect. The federal government should not always wait until people carry guns before responding,” he advised. “For example building schools for the Almajiris should have been done long ego. FG should not wait for other geopolitical zones to pick arms before corresponding projects are done.”

The Uyo Senatorial District lawmaker lamented that operations of the Islamic sect have gone beyond mere social security challenge and can be termed a Jihad. He explained that the constant molestation, bombing and killing of harmless Christian worshippers could not be considered a mere security problem.

“Diplomatically, I tried to avoid terming it a religious war, but when people constantly take guns and bombs to churches to kill armless worshippers, then there is something more to it,” he noted. “It is both a social and security problem but it is more of religious war and should be tackled as such. Again, northern leaders are not doing enough to condemn the activities of the sect, so it can be said to be religious war.”

Enang also argued that the sect has both local backing and foreign sponsorship, and suggested that security should be tightened at borders to curtail free movement of weapons in and out of the country.