THE RENAMING OF NATIONAL MONUMENTS AFTER PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU – A Well-Earned Immortalization of a Living Legend… Or Premature Deification of a ‘Work-in-Progress’ President by overzealous Sycophants?

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THE RENAMING OF NATIONAL MONUMENTS AFTER PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU – A Well-Earned Immortalization of a Living Legend? Or Premature Deification of a Work-in-Progress President by overzealous Sycophants? [By Dr. Ope Banwo, The Mayor Of Fadeyi]

Ladies and gentlemen, fellow patriots, lovers of history, and witnesses to political theatre—what in the name of national dignity is really going on?

In barely two years of Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidency, we’ve seen an unprecedented wave of monuments, landmarks, and institutions renamed after him—as if Nigeria has already concluded its judgment on his leadership, sealed the verdict, and marched off to carve it into stone.

This is not satire. This is real. Let’s do a quick roll call, shall we?

  • The National Assembly Library and Resource Centre—rebaptized The Bola Tinubu Building.
  • The Nigeria Immigration Technology Complex in Abuja—now also bearing his name.
  • A brand-new army base named Bola Ahmed Tinubu Barracks.
  • A federal tertiary institution in Abuja, now Bola Ahmed Tinubu Polytechnic.
  • Minna International Airport—renamed Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport in Niger State.
  • And now, the icing on this premature celebration cake: The Abuja International Conference Centre, Nigeria’s iconic diplomatic venue, has been renamed by Minister Wike as the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre.

Are we naming the moon after him next?

Because if this pattern continues, we might soon find ourselves boarding the Tinubu Expressway, stopping at Asiwaju National Park, on our way to a meeting at Jagaban Towers.

In this latest canonization of a president who has only done 2 rocky years, When Minister Nyesom Wike recently announced the renaming of the Abuja International Conference Centre after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, reactions across the nation split faster than suya at a Lagos beer parlor.

For some, it was a noble gesture to honor a political titan who fought his way from the trenches of June 12 activism to the peak of Nigeria’s presidency. For others, it smacked of premature sainthood—a classic case of canonizing a general while the war is still raging and the canonization of a general who is yet to have a solid victory in battle much less winning the war.

So let’s talk plainly, shall we? let’s take a deep breath and confront a troubling development that deserves our collective pause:

IN this latest move, Minister Nyesom Wike, in his usual dramatic fashion, has decided to etch Tinubu’s name into Nigeria’s architectural skyline—just one year into his presidency. And my question is simple:

Is this a well-earned immortalization of a legendary political operator… or a premature deification of a work-in-progress president whose report card is, at best, still incomplete?

⚖️ First, Let’s Be Fair: Tinubu Is No Small Man

Now, before the BATists come for me with their hashtags and hyperbole, let me be clear: Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a political institution in his own right. The man didn’t just climb the ladder of power—he built the damn ladder, bolted it to the wall, and then sold the blueprint to other politicians.

His impact on Lagos State, his role in the merger that birthed the APC, and his mastery of political chess cannot be denied. Few men in Nigerian politics have played the long game better than Jagaban.

He deserves a seat at the table of Nigeria’s political heavyweights. That’s a fact.

But the question is not about legacy.

The question is about timing.

🛑 Why the Rush to Rename?

When did we become a nation that hands out statues before the final whistle?

With less than two years in office, and with Nigeria still in the ICU of inflation, insecurity, naira freefall, subsidy trauma, and mass disillusionment, this move feels less like a national honor… and more like political idol worship.

We are talking about a living, serving president—still navigating the minefield of economic reforms, still battling the ghosts of unemployment and infrastructural decay, still facing growing dissent from citizens who are paying more but earning less.

Yet somehow, we’ve decided that this is the tseason to crown him with immortality by renaming so many institutions he didn’t build after him in a rush to deify a man who has not yet performed in govt as a superman, much less an immortal gamechanger?

Come on now. Let’s not insult history.

🧨 A Dangerous Culture of Political Beatification

This is not about Tinubu alone. It’s about a dangerous pattern.

We did it with Obasanjo—praised him to high heavens until Odi happened.
We did it with Jonathan—called him a hero of democracy until the fuel subsidy crisis exposed the rot.
We even sang Buhari into office with drums and dances, only to discover that change sometimes means things getting worse.

So why are we so addicted to this bad habit of crowning our leaders too early, only to eat our words later with bitter soup?

Immortalization should come after a legacy is secured, not while it’s still under construction.

🏗️ Tinubu’s Performance: Still On Trial

Yes, he removed fuel subsidy—but the implementation was chaotic.
Yes, he unified the exchange rate—but the FX crisis hasn’t stabilized anything.
Yes, he speaks well of reforms—but what about the everyday Nigerian who cannot afford to buy bread, or fuel, or hope?

Let’s not mistake boldness for brilliance. Courageous moves don’t always mean competent outcomes. And so far, Tinubu’s administration is still juggling more questions than answers.

A president with this many knocks on his performance log should be scrutinized, not sanctified.

🧠 The Real Test of Greatness

You see, true greatness is not in the monuments that bear your name. It’s in the lives that changed because you led with vision, wisdom, and compassion.

If Tinubu delivers real transformation, history will celebrate him louder than any building name ever could.

But if he fails to tame inflation…
If insecurity keeps escalating…
If Nigerians continue drowning in poverty while political contractors rename our landmarks in gold letters…
Then this entire naming spree will look like a bad joke written by hungry praise singers.

🗣️ Final Word: Let Legacy Mature

We must respect history enough to let it happen.

President Tinubu is a man of immense political skill. That’s not in doubt. But we must resist this rush to enshrine him in marble before he earns it in full. Leadership is not about arrival; it’s about results.

So I say to the Federal Capital Territory Minister and all those itching to rename airports, highways, stadiums, and street corners after the man:

The President and his co-travelers in government should be calming down on this colonization craze. Cool down.

Let the president finish the race. Let his reforms work. Let the people testify. And then—if the results truly transform this nation—we will rename not just buildings… but our hearts.

Until then, Nigeria needs builders, not cheerleaders.

Let history breathe.

My name is Ope Banwo, Mayor Of Fadeyi and Founder of the Naija Lives Matter Organization, and I say we cannot Make Nigeria Great Again (MANGA) by focusing on celebrating unfinished work-in-progress leaders with very little national achievement to show in less than 2 years of occupying Aso Rock. Deification can wait. Right now the people of Fadeyi would like to see positive changes that affect their lives for good first.