Danger of ethnic rhetoric over Charlie Boy Bus Stop in Lagos, by Aderemi Ogunpitan
People are free to disagree with the renaming of a bus stop in Lagos. That’s democracy. But what we’ve seen in response to the Charly Boy bus stop renaming isn’t just disagreement, it’s something far more dangerous. Individuals are using this civic decision as a cover to stoke ethnic divisions, inflame old prejudices, and whip up hostility between Nigerians who call the same city home.
Let’s be clear: the real issue here isn’t about the name of a bus stop. Lagos, like every other state, has the constitutional authority to name and rename public infrastructure. That’s not in dispute. What is in question is the tone and intent of those who’ve turned a naming decision into an opportunity to marginalize and insult entire ethnic groups.
When someone responds to a policy change by labeling dissenters as “invaders” or branding those who support inclusivity as “traitors,” they’re not defending heritage, they’re sowing division. And when cultural identity becomes a weapon to shame or silence others, it’s no longer about protecting tradition it becomes bigotry masquerading as pride.
Nigeria’s constitution guarantees freedom of movement and association. Citizens have the right to live, work, and be recognized in any part of the country, Lagos included. The attempt to define Lagos as the exclusive territory of one ethnic group ignores the city’s rich history and diverse reality. Lagos thrives because of its plurality. It is home to people of every tribe, faith, and background. That is not a weakness, it is Lagos’s greatest strength.
No one is denying the right of Lagosians to honor their heroes. What we are rejecting is the attempt to use that right as a license to vilify others, erase their contributions, or deny them recognition simply because of where they come from. The suggestion that anyone who supports Charly Boy or any non-Yoruba Nigerian being honored in Lagos is somehow “disloyal” or “unwelcome” is not just narrow-minded it is dangerous.
We must confront the true threat here: not renaming, but rhetoric. The kind that calls fellow citizens “beasts” or “criminals” based on hearsay. The kind that dismisses differing opinions as betrayal. The kind that feeds on ethnic insecurity and resentment. That’s not patriotism. That’s provocation.
Lagos doesn’t belong to a single tribe, just as other parts of Nigeria should not. We should be practicing inclusivity, where Nigeria belongs to everyone who contributes to its spirit, its economy, its culture, and its future. If we allow ethnic exceptionalism to dictate civic decisions, we chip away at the very idea of Nigeria.
Let’s not fall for the bait. Let’s rise above fear and hate. This moment demands that we protect Lagos’s inclusive spirit. not allow a bus stop renaming to derail our unity, and put us at each other’s throats, as some would like.
