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The United African Republic - Nigeria's proposed new name
By Nduka Orjinmo
What is someone from the United African Republic called? Uranium or Urea?
The answer is keeping many Nigerians awake as they chew over a proposal to change the name of the country.
For two weeks, federal lawmakers have been traversing the country collating citizens' views to amend the constitution.
The idea was to gather suggestions for amendments such as electoral reforms and the system of government.
But citizen Adeleye Jokotoye, a tax consultant, dropped something of a bombshell at the hearing in Lagos.
He wants the name of the country changed as it was an imposition by Nigeria's past colonial masters.
The name Nigeria was suggested in the late 19th Century by British journalist Flora Shaw, who would later marry the British colonial administrator Lord Frederick Lugard.
It is derived from the River Niger which enters the country from the north-west and flows down to the Niger Delta where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean through its many tributaries.
But Mr Jokotoye wants the name changed and his choice of United African Republic - to reflect the hundreds of ethnic groups that comprise the country - has blown a storm.
These Twitter users have a theory where the idea for United African Republic, or UAR, ca
There is already a new anthem, which isn't entirely new but a remix of the "old" Nigeria's:
A new country needs a new currency, so:
Which made musician Timi Dakolo, famous for his patriotic Great Nation song which is a staple at some official events, wonder what becomes of his music. Maybe a remix, Mr Dakolo?:
And there was a reminder of the small matter of the loans Nigeria owes the World Bank, IMF and China. Some figured that a new name means a clean slate:
But not everyone saw the joke in Mr Jokotoye's proposal and some were quick to set the country's priorities right:
But what is someone from the UAR called?
A few chimed in:
And the small matter of radiation connected to Uranium:
As if he knew that some of his compatriots would not be impressed by his choice, Mr Jokotoye came armed with an alternative - the United Alkebulan Republic (meaning: United Mother of Mankind Republic), which quite frankly doesn't sound as pan-African as the first, but does have the same initials.
He also made other suggestions for the constitution, such as proposing amendments to the structure of governance, and taxation control - but for some reason these have not excited the popular imagination in the same way.
In the coming weeks as lawmakers sift through the bags of suggestions from Nigerians, no-one is sure what other ideas will bubble out.
But it is unlikely that we will see a United African Republic on these shores.
Which is a shame, as I quite like the idea of being addressed as a Uranium - it has a powerful ring to it.
BBC NEWS
Saturday
Nigeria a failed state pretending to be normal – Moghalu
CC™ Global News
Kingsley Moghalu, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and presidential candidate in the 2019 general election, has described Nigeria as a failed state.
Moghalu, who was recently appointed as an Academic Visitor to the University of Oxford, UK said Nigeria is a failed state pretending to be normal.
His reaction came days after terrorists attack the Abuja-Kaduna train.
The ex-presidential candidate lamented that the inaction of security agents who were aware of the attack ahead of time, indicated that Nigeria is a failed state.
In a series of tweets, Moghalu wrote: “After reading reports of the terrorist attacks on the Abuja-Kaduna train, and of how security networks were reportedly aware in advance of the attack but did nothing, we must tell ourselves the truth: Nigeria is a failed state pretending to be a normal country.
“Our state failure can be reversed. Britain suffered from “The Troubles” (terrorism by the Irish Republican Army) decades ago, but today it’s a different story.
“Afghanistan is not our destiny, but we must change our political direction in 2023 to make that outcome a false prophecy.”
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