This article is directed at three sections of the Nigerian society, particularly, the Local Government and all those responsible for preservation of history. It is unfortunate that ignorance and distortions are allowed to reign in Nigeria because of the tendency of the masses to bully government officials to submission even when the demand is far from reasonable. One important point in leadership discourse is that leaders should provide to people what is beneficial to them rather than what they want.

In this regard, one may want to illustrate the significance and validity of this point with that of a toddler seeking to hold an ember of fire while the mother is in attendance. Any attempt to prevent the child from self inflicted injury is bound to elicit resistance from the baby in terms of crying and kicking of legs.

Therefore, Nigerian leaders, particularly those who hold the ace cannot continue to look on while the uninformed among us render all that the country stands for in terms of history and culture impotent and obliterated.

Local Government Chairmen are becoming too lackadaisical to the potency of history and culture which at the end of the day benefits their political interest but endanger and obliterate the overall sweat of our forefathers and ancestors. This lack of patriotism shall be remembered by posterity because history will be at the receiving end of their indiscretion and naivety.

Instances of name bastardisation abounds in Lagos. Is it not right on the nose bridge of the Oba of Amuwo Odofin that the frontage of his courtyard was renamed “Mazamaza.” After all, that space had original indigenous occupants and a name tag before the advent of the immigrants.

If one may ask. Is Mile 2, the original name of the location on the Lagos – Badagry expressway? How did an important name like “Oko-Agungi” in Eti Osa become “Osapa London” without the local authority in the area flinching. How, for heaven’s sake did “Akangba” in Surulere become “Fountain”, How did “Afara-Edun” in Masha in Surulere become “ Onile-gogoro.” There are numerous names that have been changed and altered by inhabitants without the intervention of the local authorities.

In Lagos Island, right on the nose-bridge of the local government officials, names of important places such as “Ita- Akanni”, “Ita Alaagbaa”, Kota Ariyo, Amuto, “ Horo Agbero”, Horo Ebo, “Oke Aleji,” and so on are gradually going into oblivion to the extent that most indigeneous children rarely remember these locations and their significance.

All these important historical names have fizzled out because of uncontrolled urbanisation, which is not likely to stop anyway because Lagos has a lot of pull factors. However, it is important to note that this is where the Local Government and other indigeneous authorities have momentous role to play in ensuring that names are preserved for history and posterity.

Recent protests and angry resistance in some parts of Lagos is bringing to clear attention the need for the state assembly to give some clear and untainted guidelines on street naming in Lagos in particular and change of important names of places in general. In fact, there is need for complete review of the streets and places already renamed to recapture our history.

History is worse for it when an individual just walks into the Local Government Office, pay few naira notes and have his name label on an area irrespective of his profile and historical importance to that locality. Worse still is that majority of these street labels are bought by those who neither owe an iota of allegiance to the locality nor partake in its growth and development. The only credentials that they fling is that they built one “miserable” house on a plot of land in the locality.

There are numerous people who deserve to have streets named after them because of their unique contributions to the development of the state.

Street names are toponym surname originally designed for ease of transportation and direction. While its origin is unknown but it is known to have its root from the Latin word strata. In all countries of the world, street naming is an important ingredient for preserving history and appreciating the contributions of people to the society. It is not just another label as it is being treated at the moment.

Anyone passing through the Apogbon Street cannot but notice the Elephant House. The owner, Samuel Hebert Pearse, was one of the most prominent African merchants of international repute during his life time. Even the street he lived in Olowogbowo/Elegbata does not bear his name. Yet, an insignificant individual will walk into Lagos and leave with a street name for doing nothing.

Where in any part of Lagos Island is Oba Rilwan Akiolu Street? Which street on Lagos Island bears the name Amodu Tijani Oluwa, the nationalist and an Idejo chief who fought the British to a standstill at the privy council in England? Which street bears the name of Olofin Ogunfunminire, the progenitors of the Awori nation? Where is the street named after “Lateef Olufemi Okunnu”? Where is Gbolahan Mudashiru Street? Where is Justice Isiaka Oluwa Street? Where is T.O S Benson Street on Lagos Island.

Where in Surulere do you have a street named after “Alhaja Lateefa Olufunke Gbajabiamila”, the first female to be the Chairman of a Local Government in Nigeria?

Politics aside, it is time to act. Who in his right sense would contest a street named after Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe? Which Nigerian would probe a street named after Ozumba Mbadiwe?. By the way, where is Anthony Enahoro Street?

We can reel out thousands of names of those who deserve to be immortalised due to their influence and contributions to the development of the state but have been forgotten because those who should honour them are too busy seeking favour from the second-eleven of our society.

The Lagos State House of Assemble should use the current protests to right the wrong that has been done to those who left us with a good Lagos that all of us are proud of and thumb our chest to claim, We should not forget the Yoruba proverb that says “Eniti o lo sin oku egbon re ni ihoho, ti o mu aburo re dani, ti fi han bi aburo naa yio se sin ohun”literaly meaning that “ a man who goes to bury his elder brother naked and takes along his younger brother is already telling the young one how he wants to be buried.”

Ojikutu is a retired Professor of Statistics, University of Lagos.