President Bola Tinubu has signed a bill to revive Nigeria’s former national anthem. Senate President Godswill Akpabio revealed this announcement at a meeting with the Senate and House of Representatives.
On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu signed the National Anthem Bill 2024, which seeks to replace the currently recognised national anthem, “Arise, O Compatriots,” with the old anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.” This created reactions amongst Nigerians.
Some Nigerians took to their social media platforms, especially the social media platform “X” (formerly Twitter), to voice their opinions and reactions to this newly signed national anthem law, saying that the country is facing so many problems and the best they can do is change the national anthem.
An author, lawyer, and social media influencer, Reno Omokri, took to his “X” page, saying that one of the most unnecessary acts of governance in Nigeria in recent times is the law returning the old National Anthem.
“First of all, there was nothing wrong with the existing anthem. Secondly, with all of the multifaceted issues we face, it seems like we have a lack of priorities when we major on such a settled issue as an anthem,” he said.
A journalist and Media Relations and Communications Strategist at the Centre for Collaborative Investigative Journalism (CCIJ), Fola Folayan, said, “Changing the Nigerian national anthem written by a Nigerian to the song written by colonisers is a stupid decision, and it’s shameful that nobody in the National Assembly thought to stand against it.”
Other comments are:
“A new national anthem in 2024… a country without stable electricity in 2024?” one said.
“Without any form of consultation or leaning into popular demand, that’s how a national anthem that stood for over 50 years was expunged. Nigerians, stop playing games with your leadership choices,” another lamented.
“So, instead of debating the performance of the first year in office, they focused you on the old national anthem instead? Issoright! I sabi the scope. I commot cap for the person wey think am. From one consiglieri to another, you have my respect! Nigeria, we hail thee!”
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