'United States or Divided State of Nigeria'? - Reactions trail Adesina's call for change in nation's name

President of the African Development Bank Group and former Minister of Agriculture, Akinwumi Adesina has called for the renaming of Nigeria.

In a statement shared by his Special Adviser, Prof Banji Oelaran-Oyeyinka, on Saturday, March 31, 2024, Adesina suggested that the country change its name from the ‘Federal Republic of Nigeria to United States of Nigeria’.

According to him, changing the name to the United States of Nigeria would strengthen the relationship between the states and the government.

Making the appeal in a speech titled "Making a New Nigeria: Welfarist Policies and People-Centred Development,” having been awarded the winner of the 2024 Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership.

He said;

“To get out of the economic quagmire, there is a compelling need for the restructuring of Nigeria.

“Restructuring should not be driven by political expediency but by economic and financial viability. Economic and financial viability are the necessary and sufficient conditions for political viability.

“If there was one attribute that defined Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and there were many, it would be his visionary boldness.

“He went where others feared or failed to go. In the process, decades later, his footprints remain in the sands of time.

“Likewise today, in Nigeria, we need men and women with vision, who are willing to take bold decisions. Surgeries are tough. They are better done well, the first time.

“The resources found in each state or state groupings should belong to them. The constituent entities should pay federal taxes or royalties for those resources.

“But let’s be clear. The achievement of economically viable entities and the viability of the national entity requires constitutional changes to devolve more economic and fiscal powers to the states or regions. The stronger the states, or regions, the stronger the federated units.

“Instead of the Federal Government of Nigeria, we could think of The United States of Nigeria. The old would give way to the new.”

Nigerians took to social media to share their thoughts. Many dismissed the new name saying the problems in the country does not give room for such a change.

nohpheesat: Nigeria and the word "united" cannot share the same sentence.

tonia.gram_: United States abi Divided State of Nigeria?

endylight1: We are not United Sir, leave us like this bikonu

portharcourtinpictures: Change of name is good but nobody should come and tell me we used or borrowed Billions for Change of Name oooo

fluffy_bear143: As if there's anything united in this country

ujuminna__: Nothing about Nigeria is united, tribalism is too much.