There’s something deeply unsettling about the way we, as Yoruba people, often respond to efforts at honoring our own. It’s as though any attempt to immortalize a son or daughter of the soil is viewed first with suspicion, then with hostility. We are quick to forget that history isn’t only what we study — it’s what we choose to preserve.
Take, for example, the recent renaming of The Polytechnic, Ibadan to The Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan. Announced on June 26, 2025, by Governor Seyi Makinde, this wasn’t just another government decision. It was a deliberate, thoughtful act — a recognition of a man who has contributed significantly to the intellectual and political growth of Oyo State. Dr. Victor Omololu Olunloyo, the institution’s first rector, is a brilliant mathematician and elder statesman whose footprint in our educational and governance landscape is undeniable.
And yet, rather than collective applause, what followed was protest — primarily from students who seemed more moved by sentiments than by context.
Now, contrast this with similar actions up north. When the Federal Government renamed the University of Maiduguri to Muhammadu Buhari University, the response from the northern community was largely positive. There was no uproar, no street demonstrations. It was seen as an acknowledgment of legacy — not perfection, but contribution.
Even back in 2012, we saw a similar reaction when former President Goodluck Jonathan attempted to rename University of Lagos to M.K.O. Abiola University. The backlash was swift and unforgiving — again, largely from the Southwest.
So, the question remains: Why do we, as Yorubas, consistently resist the honoring of our own heroes?
Are we so fractured that we cannot celebrate ourselves without division? Is every move now filtered through politics, age-long rivalries, or generational mistrust?
Let’s be honest — this is not about Governor Makinde seeking political points. This is a governor who has proven himself over and over again through tangible transformation in education, infrastructure, healthcare, youth empowerment, and public accountability. This latest decision only reaffirms his understanding of legacy and his willingness to uplift those who have paved the way.
Honoring a man like Dr. Olunloyo should be uncontroversial. He is a symbol of academic brilliance, a statesman whose roots and reputation speak volumes. When students or members of the public push back against such acts, it raises a troubling reflection of how we understand value, history, and cultural pride.
We must ask ourselves: What message are we sending to the next generation when we tear down our own icons in the name of protest?
Legacy is not always about perfection — it’s about contribution. Honoring someone does not erase the past; it enriches the present and gives context to the future. Protest, while a democratic right, should be rooted in reason — not in reflex.
If we cannot celebrate our own, who will? When recognition is politicized, honor loses meaning. And when honor loses meaning, a society begins to forget what greatness looks like.
Let us learn to give flowers to those who planted the trees under which we now find shade. Let us understand that celebrating our heroes is not betrayal of progress — it is the foundation of it.
It’s time for the Yoruba nation to rise above sentiment and division. We must protect and promote our own — not just in death, but in life.
See you next time on CITY TALK WITH EGALITARIAN.
