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Nigerians React As Tinubu Sign Old National Anthem Composed By Foreigners Into Law(See Full Lyrics
Mixed Reactions As Tinubu Sign Old National Anthem Composed By Non-Nigerian Into Law(See Full Lyrics)
Eaglessightnews reports that NIGERIANS have started reacting to the approval by President Bola Tinubu to revert to the old national anthem, with many describing it as a misplaced priority.
The new law triggered reactions from citizens, who have criticised the government for paying attention to unnecessary issues in light of more pressing national challenges.
Eaglessightnews understand that in a legislative shift, President Bola Tinubu signed the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law on Wednesday, reinstating Nigeria’s original anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”
This development was announced by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during a joint session of the National Assembly.
The reinstatement of the original anthem, which served as Nigeria’s national song from independence in 1960 until 1978, marks a return to the country’s early post-independence era.
“Nigeria, We Hail Thee” was written by Lillian Jean Williams, a British expatriate, and composed by Frances Berda.
Despite its initial role in shaping national identity, the anthem faced criticism over the years, because its composer was not Nigerian.
The recent legislative change, spearheaded by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central), enjoyed robust support from lawmakers.
Advocates for the bill argued that the original anthem promotes a stronger symbol of unity, peace, and prosperity compared to its successor, “Arise, O Compatriots.”
Lawmakers emphasised that the current anthem was a product of the military regime and lacked the resonance of national values, ethics, and norms encapsulated in the independence anthem.
In a further reactions to the signing of the old national anthem ,notable Nigerians including former Minister of Education Obiageli Ezekwesili took to social media to express displeasure over the development.
“With all the horrible indicators on the state of governance? So, it is a new National Anthem that is their priority? I frankly thought it was a joke and gave it no attention. What an egregious case of “majoring in the minor” this is!
“Again, no one is coming to save us, citizens of Nigeria. We’re all we have. We all must someday decide to collectively save ourselves and this country from these overpaid, unethical, incompetent and incapable ‘lawbreakers’ in the @nassnigeria and their similarly characterised collaborators in the executive and judicial branches of government across this land,” she posted via X.
Former spokesperson to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, who in recent times has been an ardent defender of the current administration, also took to his Facebook page to criticise the new law, which he described as a backward step.
“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.
“To me, it looks like a step backwards to discard the ‘Arise, O Compatriots’ national anthem written by a collective of young Nigerians, including John A. Ilechukwu, Eme Etim Akpan, B. A. Ogunnaike, Sota Omoigui and P. O. Aderibigbe in 1978, for ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’, written by an English woman, Lillian Jean Williams,” he noted.
He also condemned returning to a national anthem composed by a foreigner and discarding the indigenous version.
“In my humble opinion, President Tinubu ought not to have assented to that bill. Instead, he should have written a strongly worded letter to communicate to the National Assembly the implications on our sovereignty and national psyche to revert to an anthem written by a foreigner, which would make us a free nation that willingly chose to return to the yoke of imperialism.
“Is it too late for the President to do what he ought to have done? No. He is our Head of State and has a duty to promote indigenous ideas over imperialistic ones,” Omokri noted.
The old anthem reads: “Nigeria, we hail thee, our dear native land…” But what are the lyrics to the rest of the old national anthem?
Here is the anthem below:
Nigeria we hail thee,
Our own dear native land,
Though tribe and tongue may differ,
In brotherhood, we stand,
Nigerians all, and proud to serve
Our sovereign Motherland.
Our flag shall be a symbol
That truth and justice reign,
In peace or battle honour’d,
And this we count as gain,
To hand on to our children
A banner without stain.
O God of all creation,
Grant this our one request,
Help us to build a nation
Where no man is oppressed,
And so with peace and plenty
Nigeria may be blessed.
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ICirnigeria, Tribune
