By Fraben Agwu, JP
NB: Opinion expressed in this article are entirely that of the owner.
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In Igboland, names are used to immortalize persons. Parents names their children after their parents, members of their family and beloved ones. Others are events in a person’s, family, Community, clan, state and nation’s life. Names are used to immortalize distinguished hero’s. It is mark of honor, It is used to express appreciation of a person’s contributions to the society.
Names also raises value to be attached to institution so named. It influences personae and respect of individuals associated with such named body. Like Universities; University of Nigeria, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka. The names make them stand out distinctly.
At the International level, names like John F. Kennedy International Airport stands out. Here at our home we have Nnamdi Azikiwe Sports Stadium, Akanu Ibiam International Airport, just to name a few. Â 
On the other hand, where institutions are not named after individuals, choice words that
communicates inspiring message could be adopted. Just like the name the WHITE HOUSE, by the American. It means purity.
It is from this perception that l feel that our naming our own Enugu Government House after animal is out of place and misplaced in a democracy and Republican cultural background of Ndigbo. Hence l wish to suggest that the name be changed from LION BUILDING to WAWA BUILDING.
The name Lion Building has rather alienation influence to the citizenry psyche as it is suggestive of house of where a dangerous animal lives. A den kind of. It rather evokes sense of fear in the minds of the ordinary Enugu citizens. Stands the place a area to be afraid. Just like “ofia afuru agu” is normally dreaded.
Moreover it tends to puff the occupier of the building and gives him the feeling of a conqueror in the like of Lion. The king of forest. It tends to make the No 1 Citizen even as the Chief security officer of our state rather behold the rest of our people as small animals whom he can devour. Like lion he takes over our land from and treat us with impunity. This had been the lot of Enugu people since the present political dispensation in 1999.
For instance, under Governor Chimaroke Nnamani, every Enugu citizen got the Animal treatment from him. That is from Governor Jim Nwobodo to Governor Christian Onoh, Governor Okwesilieze Nwodo, Igwe Nathan Ogbu, Igwe Kingsley Chime, just to mention a few.
Even the Enugu State House of Assembly was subdued under him as well as the Church. Just like Lion bestrides the forest terrorizing the rest of animals, the various occupant of the Lion building made such treatment the lots of the people of Enugu.
Even subsequent Governor’s after Chimaroke also see themselves from the totem impression of Lion. They don’t hesitate in acting the way they like, never minds the feelings of our people.
Indeed, l am told by an elderstatesman that the WAWA natives was better treated under the Colonial masters. That they have a say in appointments of those who govern them. That our fate has become worst as a “free people” under our Lionized Governor’s who lives in Lion building. Now our Governor’s does what they like in making appointments and can contract our civil service to foreigners living out people unemployed.
Under Ugwuanyi, like lion takes over forests, he took over Enugu people’s ancestral homes. Many Enugu indigenes had to run away rather than stay to fight over their land and possibly suffer the fate of antelope who dare challenged the Lion. He arbitrary acquired private individual land and gives same out to his friends who are estate developers or used one Government agency or to the other to take over the land.
The Lion aura mentality reverberated in the psyche of the former Governor that he even changed his name and preferred to be called “WHITE LION”. A rare specie of the Lions.
Unfortunately to the Enugu People, the present struggle for who occupies the Lion Building is also throwing up the scenario of what happens in the animal world where MIGHT IS RIGHT”. In Enugu of today, might is right, not law. We are now living in animal farm.
This is why since the Governor got sworn into office he started treating the citizens as conquered people. He takes delight in making strategic appointments without observing the criteria of balancing the appointments to give various segments o a the society a sense of belonging. First in his Nkanuland where there are two clear socio political blocks which even the whites has always accommodated in their appointments even in appointment of judicial officers, the customary Court. He rather even arrogantly handed over our critical state assets and institution to none Enugu State indigenes as if it his personal company.
Without consultation he handed over the Enugu Water Corporation to a foreigner and now our prime communication institution, the Enugu State Broadcasting Service to another non Enugu State indigene. Infact these two appointments has shown that the Governor holds the people of Enugu in gross contempt.
For foreigners to be responsible for our drinkable water threatens our security. Also out sourcing the institution responsible for our national advocacy, the media to be in the hands of another non indigene is a serious misdemeanor done without human reflection, but with the brash mentality of a Lion.
These few recent actions of the Governor exhibits the mentality of a conqueror, behaviour common with animals and Lion in particular. The actions promptly evokes the thought for us as a people to demand that we humanize our Government house through change of name away from the blood ducking lion of a beady. This will alter the psyche of our Governor’s when in office. The change of the name to a more ideal name that promotes a spirit of community among ourselves has become compelling due to the negative effect the present name has rubbed on our Governor’s. Such new name will give every Enugu person a sense of ownership. Therefore l recommend that the name “WAWA HOUSE” should be adopted.
The name will evoke a sense of our struggle as a people that was once being looked down on as nobody. It will keep in our minds the spirit of our forefathers who fought for creation of Enugu State and were being ridiculed with the name WAWA . Such name will always remind the occupier of the house the fact that he is occupying our Palace and not a Lions den.
Finally, l honestly think that such change will go a long way in building a more egaliterian Enugu State and give every citizen a sense of belonging as against the present name that alienates.
