We Will Not Be Erased: The University of Abuja's Fight for Its Name

As we struggled to make do with our name, the only thread that bound us together, the enemy crept in, subtle as the white man in Chinua Achebe's timeless classic. We took them for fools, but they sowed division, exploiting the very fabric of our unity.

We, the students of the University of Abuja, have been treated like a cheap commodity, used and discarded by successive governments. Our demands for basic amenities like CNG buses and infrastructure fell on deaf ears. Instead, the presidency saw fit to strip us of our identity, the one thing that made us whole.

What happened to the principles of consultation and inclusivity in politics? Why did the presidency fail to engage with the management, students, and alumni before making this drastic decision? It's a stark reminder that our politicians are more interested in furthering their divide-and-rule agenda than in serving the people.

The irony isn't lost on us. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who once resisted the renaming of the University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University, now seeks to erase our identity. It's a betrayal of the trust we placed in him.

We, the students of the University of Abuja, will not go quietly into the night. We will resist this attempt to erase our history and identity. Our name is all we have, and we won't let it be taken away without a fight.

We will not be silenced by the presidency's attempts to body-shame us. We will not be intimidated by their divide-and-rule tactics. We will stand united, as one University of Abuja, and demand that our name be restored.

The presidency may think they can erase our identity with a stroke of a pen, but they are mistaken. Our name is not just a label; it is a symbol of our shared experiences, our struggles, and our triumphs. It is a reminder of the countless hours we spent studying, laughing, and growing together.

We urge the presidency to reconsider their decision and engage in meaningful dialogue with the university community. We demand that they respect our autonomy and our right to self-identification.

To our fellow students, alumni, and supporters, we call on you to join us in this fight. Let us stand together and defend our name, our identity, and our university. We will not be erased.

In the words of the great Nigerian writer, Chinua Achebe, "The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and let it come in." Let us show the presidency that we will not be divided, that we will not be silenced. Let us stand together and fight for our right to be called the University of Abuja.

We are the University of Abuja, and we will not be erased.