Between the Old and the New: Nigerians Divided Over Adoption of Old National Anthem

Israel Adeleke 

A battle of preference has ensued among Nigerians, with a cacophony of opinions expressed among citizens of the populous African country following the adoption of the country's old national anthem, 'Nigeria We Hail Thee.'

OPEN TELEVISION Naija gathered that while some applaud the adoption, others have criticized it, expressing the view that the adoption amounts to misplaced priorities and a sheer calculated move to distract the citizenry from focusing on the score cards of the President Tinubu led government at a time the administration turned one year in office.

It would be recalled that after a fast-tracked passage of the bill for the amendment of the national anthem by the combine legislative arm of government, President Bola Tinubu had recently signed the National Anthem bill, seeking to return the old national anthem ‘Nigeria, We hail thee’ into law.

By this development, the 'Arise O Compatriots' anthem of the country gets replaced with the country's old national anthem, which was earlier disarde I978 by Olusegun Obasanjo who was the military ruler at that time.

The new decision, which was thereafter announced by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has been met with both applauses and sharp criticisms from various quarters.

OPEN TELEVISION Naija further gathered that a Human Right Activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof. Mike Ozekhome, has lauded the return to the old anthem, suggesting that the country's name and flag should also undergo a transformation to better represent its heritage and aspirations.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Ozekhome said he was elated by Nigeria’s return to the old national anthem, 10 years after he moved a motion for it at the 2014 National Conference.

He said “Bringing the old National Anthem back is well overdue. It has better lyrics in content and context, like the Senate President said. It is better than the other one.

“The name Nigeria and the flag should also be changed.”

Echoing this sentiment, House of Reps Deputy Spokesperson Philip Agbese believes that this change will help restore Nigeria's lost glory, harking back to a time of prosperity and national pride.

However, not all Nigerians share this enthusiasm. The former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili, has openly declared her intention to continue singing the former anthem, 'Arise, O Compatriots,' denouncing the new law as 'obnoxious.' 

She said “Let it be known to all and sundry that I, Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili will whenever be asked to sing the Nigerian National Anthem 

In her words, "I will continue to sing 'Arise, O compatriots, Nigeria’s call obey,” the former minister said, referring to the first lines of the former anthem.

“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.

Echoing her voice, a former senator representing Kaduna central, Shehu Sani, said that changing the national anthem should be done after consultations with Nigerians.

Sani further said that altering the national anthem without consulting widely would be seen as an attempt to dissolve Nigeria.

OPEN TELEVISION Naija had earlier moved to the streets of Nigeria to seek people's opinion on the old anthem proposed by the houses.

Some welcome the idea, saying the old song 'Nigeria we hail thee' has meaningful lyrics when compared to the current one 'Arise O Compatriots'.

However, many reject the idea, saying it is only those that have eaten that will create time to learn or sing the anthem as they made reference to the country's current harsh economic realities of inflation, food insecurity and hunger in the land as what should be the primary priority of government at this auspicious time.