The call on the House of Representatives’ Special Committee on Constitution Review to change Nigeria’s name to United African Republic is eliciting different reactions on social media.
Adeleye Jokotoye, a tax consultant, had in a proposal he submitted to the committee at the South West Zonal Public Hearing in Lagos on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, argued that Nigeria’s current name was an imposition by colonial masters and called for the name Nigeria to be changed.
Noting that a change of name would physically and psychologically reflect a new beginning for the country, Jokotoye said, “At this crossroads in our history, it is mandatory that we change our name to reflect a new beginning which will be ushered in with a new constitution.”
On why he came up with UAR as a suitable name for the country, he said that Nigeria as a country that is made up of hundreds of ethnic groups needed to be united.
Alternatively, he said Nigeria could also be called United Alkebulan Republic (meaning: United Mother of Mankind Republic).
Reacting to the new name is currently trending on social media handles.
Below are some of the reactions on Twitter:
@timidakolo: “Now that you people are planning to change Nigeria’s name to United African Republic, What will I do with My Great nation? song!”
@iSlimfit: “Renaming the country United African Republic will not change anything. People just want security, light, good roads and a working economy. Is that too much to ask for?”
@amba13_14: “Instead of just renaming, we can have a United Kingdoms or Regions with 4 to 5 nations like the Uk has Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland, maybe we have Northern Nigeria, southwest Nigeria, Niger Delta, Middle Belts n Eastern Nigeria all under UNITED NATIONS OF NIGERIA”
@unclePamilerin: “So our problem as a country is how to change name from Nigeria to United African Republic. This is the height of madness”
@LukiSwiss: “It’s reasonable bro.. The origin of Nigeria is depressing actually. The whole world calls us niggas legitimately because of that name. Nigeria was gotten from Nigger area.”
@Anifowoshey00022435: “Ohh they want to follow one of the Bible verse;
Therefore if Nigeria get renamed, he is a new creature:old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
“The debt will now go with the former name because old things shall pass away… They are a jokers”
@DavisAkuba: “United African Republic. ‘United’ for the most divided country in Africa, una dey joke. UAR kor VAR nii”
@De_COMMUNICATOR:
“-Changed NEPA to PHCN = Blackouts
– Changed police uniform = brutality
– Packaged #Buhari from CPC to APC = failure
– Changing Nigeria to United African Republic / Alkebulan (UAR) = same evils
– If your intention was to catch cruise with us, fvck y’all & Remi Tinubu
WE PIN #N500”
@scad_official: “Changing Nigeria to United African Republic without addressing the root cause bedevilling the country is simply dilly-dallying. SARS to SWAT, ECN changed name to NEPA, later to PHCN, now it’s DISCOs. Do we have stable power supply? Do we have security? These are few examples.”
@Symply_Tacha: “United African Republic?? Renaming Nigeria is not Nigerians PROBLEM!! Give us GOOD ROADS, SECURITY, ELECTRICITY, HEALTH CARE.. Just give us BASIC AMENITIES❕”
@firstladyship: “United African Republic (UAR).
“In their thinking, ‘United’ is the reason the United States of America is progressing? Nigeria have no business with a bicameral legislature. It’s too expensive, waste of scarce resources. The Senate is enough.”
@VOgunsuyi: “So that they can merge Niger, Chad and Mali. So, this was what their often closed-door meetings was based upon. UAR is the refurbished name for fulanization of Nigeria.”
@Divineze: “In Nigeria,
We asked for police reforms, they changed uniform.
We asked for endsars, they change name
Prison reforms, they change name to correctional facility
Country Dey boil, na to change name be the Koko.
United African Republic kor
Uranium ni”
@real_Adaking: “The problem of Nigeria is not the name but the foundation. Changing Nigeria’s name to United African Republic is like when NEPA changed its name to PHCN, still no light. It’s time we stop being Delusional and start facing reality that the only solution to Nigeria is separation.”
@Ogbeniprince: “Hope changing the name of Nigeria to United African Republic (UAR) won’t cost us $419Billion?”
@BraNard: “I keep saying it all those reps are clueless.
Nigeria needs a plebiscite for the betterment of this nation.
Change is one of their modules Operandi to deal with terrorists and chaos going on in the country.”
@benedictaee; “China: Nigeria we’ve come to collect our money.
World Bank: Nigerians arrange our money, we will be collecting it soon
IMF: Nigeria our money ooo
Nigerians: b…b…but we are United African Republic Na”