What is a name?
A name is a word or set of words by which a person or thing is known, addressed, or referred to (Bings’ definition)
Really? “What’s a name?” Is that the best you can do?
Fine. I get that it’s a pretty basic question. But for the sake of this article, let’s start with that. Plus, I’m heading somewhere. So don’t judge too soon.
Okay. Back at it then
Thank you. A name is also defined as a famous person, a celebrity, an authority, a bigwig … It also means a reputation.
I still can’t wrap my head around this; why are we defining what a name is?
Patience, my friend. Patience.
What’s the number one name in Nigeria; as per, a famous person, an authority, a bigwig? You probably hear this name more times in a day than you hear yours. It’s on every Nigerians lips.
That’s easy – Buhari. Oooh! I see what you’re doing.
Aha! Finally. I mean my title is clue enough, I don’t know why it took you so long to grasp my flow.
True. About your title, are people naming their dogs, Buhari, after the president?
Apparently, they are. On Tuesday, 30 year old trader, Joe Chinakwe, was released after being held for four days in a police cell in Ogun state. His crime? He named his dog, Buhari, and his neighbour, a northerner ordered his arrest. According to reports, Mr Chinakwe was visibly upset when he was released around 5pm on Tuesday after the intervention of local leaders, the Serkin Hausa, and President-General of non-indigenes in the state.
Wait, I need you to backup. You’re telling me, a man was arrested for naming his dog after the president?
Yes.
But that’s not right…
What’s not right; naming your dog after the president, or getting arrested for it?
I mean it’s ridiculous that people will name their dog after the president, but why should they get arrested for it? What happened to the right to freedom of expression in this country?
I saw this coming. I knew you would quote the law. Theoretically, you are right, section 39 (1) of the Nigerian constitution provides that “Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference.” Going by what the law states, Mr Chinakwe is free to give his dog whatever name he chooses, and the police has no right to arrest him.
But before you start screaming police repression and all, it’s important that we put things in context and be pragmatic. However, before we do that, you should hear the rest of the story.
Alright, give me the rest of it. Did Chinakwe say why he named his dog after the president?
Yes, he did. “I named my beloved pet dog Buhari, who is my hero. My admiration for Buhari started far back when he was a military Head of State. It continued till date that he is a civilian President. After reading his dogged fight against corruption, which is like a canker worm eating into the very existence of this country, I solely decided to rename my beloved dog, Buhari, after him. I did not know that I was committing an offence for admiring Buhari.
Aww. See?
See what? I’m not done yet. Chinakwe did not just name his dog Buhari, he inscribed the name BOLDLY on either sides of the animal’s body. And according to a police source, Chinakwe was parading his neighbourhood dominated by northerners with it.
Oh no! He didn’t.
Oh yes, he did. His is a case of “Trouble sleep, yanga wake am” like Fela sang:
Nigerians are well aware of the deep seated ethnic conflicts that plague us. Whether it’s that between the Ijaw-Urhobo-Itsekiri people of Delta state, the occasional Hausa-Yoruba/Hausa-Igbo clash in Lagos, and Aba, or the 1966 pogroms that led to the birth of Biafra, this country has never been truly united, and tribalism is at the heart of this dissonance.
Surely, Chinakwe who is Igbo is not oblivious of this, especially at this very point in time when ongoing socio-political tensions are heightened in different parts of the country. If you ask me, I’d say Chinakwe’s action was deliberate, and intended to incite … well, maybe not a riot, but anger, and what do angry people do?
I guess you are right. Depending on the place, and/or circumstance, certain things should be avoided. But what are Nigerians saying?
Well, some just don’t get it, so they are out there screaming rights infringement and police repression. But quite a number of people do, people like these:
