‘Pure sycophancy’ – Lawyer condemns renaming public facilities after Tinubu
Human Rights Lawyer Critiques Renaming Public Infrastructure After President Tinubu
Human rights attorney Inibehe Effiong has condemned the recent decision to rename public projects, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, after President Bola Tinubu. Speaking on Arise Television on Monday, Effiong labeled the action as “unbridled sycophancy” and argued that such renamings do not serve the public interest.
Effiong emphasized that public infrastructure should carry names that resonate with the communities they serve. “When public funds are used for public projects, it is commonsensical that the names should reflect public significance,” he said, pointing out that the original designation of the road indicated its role as a vital connection between Lagos and Calabar.
He expressed concern that renaming the road to the “Bola Tinubu Coastal Road” alters its intended public function. “If this road is now seen as connecting Lagos to Tinubu rather than Lagos to Calabar, a rationale must be provided,” he said. Effiong noted that this trend is part of a broader pattern, indicating a shift toward actions that appear more self-serving than beneficial to the public.
He cited several instances, including the renaming of the National Assembly library and various immigration facilities, as additional examples of this trend. “If you are a president who believes you have truly served the Nigerian public, you should allow history to be the judge of your contributions,” Effiong concluded.
