Lagos (WorldStage Newsonline)-- Some students of the University of Lagos on Tuesday trooped to the street to protest  the Federal Government's decision to rename their institution after the late business mogul turned politician, Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

The name change was announced by President Goodluck Jonathan during his nationwide Democracy Day speech in the morning.

The aggrieved students first headed towards Alausa, the office of Lagos governor to register their displeasure, but later made a U- turn when they got information that the Gov Babatunde Fashola would be coming to Yaba to commission a project.

As at the time of filing this report, the protest had subsided, as vehicles were moving in and out of the school. 

Jonathan had in his Democracy Day speech said, “After very careful consideration, and in honour of Chief M.K.O. Abiola’s accomplishments and heroism, on this Democracy Day, the University of Lagos, is renamed by the Federal Government of Nigeria, Moshood Abiola University, Lagos. The Federal Government will also establish an Institute of Democratic Studies and Governance in the University.”

He said, the Federal Government decided that late Chief M.K.O. Abiola should “be honoured, for making the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of justice and truth. Destiny and circumstances conspired to place upon his shoulders a historic burden, and he rose to the occasion with character and courage.”

He said Abiola deserved recognition for his martyrdom, and public-spiritedness and for being the man of history that he was.

“We need in our land, more men and women who will stand up to defend their beliefs, and whose example will further enrich our democracy,” he said.