ABUJA — Former federal lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reject the recent decision to rename the Abuja International Conference Centre (ICC) after him.
The renaming was announced on Tuesday by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, during the official inauguration of the refurbished facility. According to Wike, the centre will henceforth be known as the “Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre.”
In addition to the main facility, several halls within the complex were also renamed in honour of top government officials. These include Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Olukayode Ariwoola Kekere-Ekun.
However, Senator Shehu Sani, in a statement shared via his official Facebook page, expressed strong opposition to the move. He argued that the ICC was originally built by former Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), and should not be renamed after the current president.
“The International Conference Centre Abuja was built by IBB. The President should reject renaming the place with his name,” Sani stated.
The development has sparked conversations around the legacy of national monuments and the appropriateness of naming public infrastructure after sitting presidents.
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