Former Education Minister Dr. Oby Ezekwesili has sworn that she would never revert to singing the old national anthem ‘Nigeria We Hail Thee,’ but would stay with the just outphased one ‘Arise O Compatriots.’
Ezekwesili, who was also a former Minister of Solid Minerals made this known via her verified X handle on Wednesday [today].
Talking about the phased-out national anthem, the social activist said, “This is my own National Anthem and let it be known that no one can suppress my right to dissent an obnoxious “law” that is repugnant to all that is of good conscience in Nigeria. Whatever else is #NotMyNationalAnthem.”
See the tweet:
*Public Service Announcement*
Let it be known to all and sundry that I, Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili shall whenever asked to sing the Nigerian National Anthem sing:
1. Arise, O compatriots, Nigeria’s call obey⁰To serve our fatherland⁰With love and strength and faith⁰The…
— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) May 29, 2024
The Senate on Tuesday passed the bill seeking to return Nigeria to the old National Anthem.
This followed the adoption of the report of Senate Joint Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Legal Matters, Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs at plenary.
Presenting the report, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno) said the bill was first read at plenary on May 23.
He said the bill, among others, sought to provide a legal framework for an Act to reinvent the old National Anthem titled “Nigeria We Hail Thee” which was adopted at Independence in 1960.
He said the anthem was the official anthem of Nigeria until 1978, when it was replaced with the current ‘Arise O Compatriots.’
Monguno said the aim was to adopt the old national anthem through legislation because of its contextual connotations and relevance to the current state of the country.
“The bill is designed to promote national unity and cohesion through ideological and philosophical concepts of the rich historic and cultural heritage of Nigeria.
“It will engender and inculcate a deep sense of patriotism, togetherness and oneness amongst citizens.
“It is the first time the parliament is making a legal framework for a national anthem: all the steps of law making including public hearing have been undertaken,” he said.
Monguno said the passage of the bill would provide the needed platform for sensitisation of the citizenry on the nation’s core value system by the National Orientation Agency.
“Adopting the old national anthem will preserve and promote the country’s cultural heritage for future generations.
“The bill is significance, as changing the national anthem will symbolise Nigeria’s transition towards greater unity, inclusivness and progress as a nation.
“The adoption of the anthem certainly demonstrates Nigeria’s respect for its cultural traditions while also embracing positive changes within the society,” he said.
The senator added that by the passage of the bill, an arbitrary change on national anthem would be avoided as it would be subjected to legislative process, thus setting a precedent.
The President of Senate, Godswill Akpabio, thanked the committee for its input on the bill.
He also commended the various stakeholders’ that made inputes on the bill at the public hearing, saying that the bill was awaiting President Bola Tinubu’s assent.
On Wednesday [today], President Bola Tinubu has signed the National Anthem Bill, 2024 reverting to the old national anthem of “Nigeria We Hail thee”.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio announced this on Wednesday, during a joint session of the National Assembly to mark 25 years of uninterrupted democracy.
The joint session sang the new national anthem before the arrival of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima among other top government functionaries.
The Senate and the House of Representatives had previously passed the legislation to swap the national anthem from ‘Arise, O Compatriots’ to ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’ at separate sittings.
Following the signing of the bill by the President to reintroduce the old national anthem, the joint sitting jettisoned what has been in existence since 1978, to adopt the former (and newly signed) national anthem ‘Nigeria, we hail thee’.
The old anthem, “Nigeria, we hail thee”, composed when Nigeria gained independence on October 1, 1960, has replaced the ‘Arise, O Compatriots’ anthem.
