What is in a name? A lot if you ask us. A name gives a sense of identity and belonging, more so when it refers to the name of a national landmark or monument, like an airport or a stadium. Such names not only immortalize, they also inspire and become reference points for generations to come.

Just like everyone else, we were shocked to see that the President has approved the renaming of 15 airports in Nigeria including the Port Harcourt International Airport which has now been renamed to Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo International Airport. 

We understand how “tribally charged” Nigeria has become following the elections, and this is caused mainly by evil politicians who used tribal sentiments to split and divide us, however, be rest assured that our request to the President has nothing to do with tribe or language. Here are three reasons why we are asking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to rename the Port Harcourt International Airport to Ken Saro-Wiwa International Airport: 

• To the Niger Delta, Ken Saro-Wiwa signifies Selfless Hope: Many decades before the global north began to throw around the term “climate change” and “environmental conservation”, Ken mobilized Ogoniland and the peoples of the Niger Delta to speak out against the degradation of their land and livelihood - at a time where freedom of speech came at a cost, and against an oil giant so powerful no one could speak to. It was a typical David vs Goliath, but sadly this time 'Goliath' and General Abacha ganged up to kill David. Ken’s defiant hope is something we can all identify with in Rivers State, and it serves as a lesson to the Nigerian State in how it treats minority tribes. It is only be-fitting that his bravery be immortalized this way.
• The Niger Delta is in dire need of positive role models: Unlike the Western region of Nigeria, where Chief Obafemi Awolowo is from, and Northern Nigeria where many stories account for role models to whom young people can aspire, positive role models are not uplifted as much here in the Niger Delta. Years of violence have created many “models” that should not be emulated and we believe the renaming of the Port Harcourt International Airport provides an opportunity to uplift a selfless role model for posterity to look to. 
• Ken-Saro Wiwa International Airport will be a reminder: A reminder to everyone flying into the Niger Delta that more than 40 years after, the environmental degradation of Ogoniland and other oil-producing communities in the Delta has not ended. It will be a reminder to the Federal Government to fulfill its promise to clean up the Niger Delta and restore the livelihood of community members who have been rendered poor while Nigeria feeds fat on the profits of crude oil sales. It will be a reminder to the world and the global community that indigenous people matter.

We do not in any way, through this petition, seek to belittle the strides and contributions of Chief Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo to Nigeria and its existence. We believe that the Federal Government can identify several landmarks and monuments to immortalize this great man, however for the sake of Rivers State and the Niger Delta we believe that Ken Saro-Wiwa will be a better fit. 

As a policy organization, we also want to recommend that the Federal Government develops a Guide or Convention for naming national monuments and landmarks ensuring that the wishes and thoughts of host communities are considered before final names are announced. A national monument/landmark title is sacred and should not be reduced to a handout for friends; careful thought and consultation must go into it. Here is an example from Texas

The last time we asked you to sign a petition, collectively we were able to drive a global change through the #ReformIELTS campaign that has now influenced policy changes in over 30 universities around the world and in the UK to exempt Nigerians and other Anglophone Africans from English language tests.

We can do it again. Sign and share our petition now!