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SOWORE CONDEMNS LAGOS GOVT OVER ETHNIC, POLITICAL MOTIVES IN STREET RENAMING
Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has strongly condemned what he described as a “politically and ethnically motivated” renaming of streets and landmarks across Lagos State by the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration.
In a statement released on Saturday, Sowore criticised the state government for executing the renaming campaign in an “arrogant and vindictive” manner.
Sowore, also convener of #RevolutionNow movement and former flag bearer of the African Action Congress (AAC), said a recently circulated video footage showed government officials “garrulously” renaming streets without due consultation or transparency.
Sowore said the exercise was laced with ethnic undertones and targeted political opponents of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
“I have watched the video footage showing Lagos LGA officials arrogantly and garrulously renaming streets across the state,” Sowore said.
“The manner in which these actions are being carried out — vindictive, haphazard, and laced with ethnic undertones — leaves no doubt that this is not merely a matter of urban planning, but a calculated political vendetta.”
He added, “These street renaming appear to be part of a xenophobic and divisive agenda, orchestrated to target specific ethnic groups and punish political opponents of the ruling APC regime in Lagos.
“It is a blatant attempt to erase legacies, provoke communities, and lay the groundwork for a dangerous socio-political crisis in a state that prides itself on diversity and cosmopolitan identity.”
Sowore specifically denounced the renaming of the Charly Boy Bus Stop, a well-known cultural and activist landmark in Lagos.
In one of the videos Sowore posted on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, a local government official said, “Ilaje road will now be called King Sunny Ade road. Ajidagor Street will now be called Olamide Adedeji Bado Street. That means that Charly Boy Bus Stop will now be changed to Bado Bus Stop. No more Charly Boy.”
Sowore described the move as “spiteful” and an attempt to rewrite history and silence dissenting voices.
He said, “In particular, I strongly condemn the cynical renaming of the Charly Boy Bus Stop—an iconic landmark tied to decades of creative resistance and people-powered culture in Nigeria.
“This act is not just petty; it is a spiteful rewriting of history meant to silence dissent and discredit voices that have long challenged authoritarianism.”
He accused the Lagos government of undermining the state’s cosmopolitan identity and warned that such actions could provoke tension in Nigeria’s most populous city.
He urged Lagos residents and civil society organizations to resist what he termed a creeping form of “authoritarianism masked as civic order.”
“Lagos does not belong to a single party. Lagos does not belong to a single tribe. Lagos does not belong to any godfather,” Sowore said emphatically.
He called for an immediate reversal of the renaming campaign and encouraged public resistance against what he believes is a broader agenda to weaponize Lagos for tribal, political, or ideological cleansing.
“These actions must be reversed,” Sowore said, stressing, “The public must resist this creeping authoritarianism masked as civic order.
“We will not watch in silence as Lagos is weaponised for tribal, political, or ideological cleansing.”
The Lagos State government has recently embarked on a controversial initiative to rename several streets and bus stops, citing urban renewal and honoring “worthy citizens” as reasons.
However, critics argue that many of the new names reflect partisan interests and have sparked outrage among communities who see the move as an attempt to marginalize minority groups and erase historical and cultural identities in the state.
