Following the haphazard alteration of the national anthem, a number of Nigerians have voiced their indignation.
On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu signed the bill into law that would bring back Nigeria’s former national anthem, which had been abandoned by a military regime in 1978.
Frances Berda composed the recently re-adopted anthem, which opens “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” and Lillian Jean Williams wrote it in 1959.
President Tinubu claimed that the anthem represented Nigeria’s diversity during his speech on his one anniversary in office.
However, in light of the rising expense of living, many have questioned his priorities.
Online, other Nigerians responded by claiming that the nation’s most urgent issues were foreign exchange crises, rising inflation, and insecurity.
“A new national anthem is the priority for Tinubu & Co at a time like this, When our people can’t eat, insecurity is rife & life is hell?,” wrote X user @Gospel_rxx on Facebook. What a disgusting prank. Let’s observe how they carry it out.
Fola Folayan, another X user, claimed that the bill’s hasty passage by parliament was disgraceful.
“It is a stupid decision to change the Nigerian national anthem, which was written by a Nigerian, to a song written by colonizers, and it is shameful that no one in the National Assembly thought to oppose it.”
Oby Ezekwesili, the former minister of education, declared on X that she would never perform the new-old hymn.
“Let everyone know that I, Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili, will sing the Nigerian National Anthem whenever requested to do so. I will sing:”
The lyrics to the anthem that has been played for the previous 46 years, “Arise O Compatriots,” were then posted by her.
Nigerians are still debating the matter on social media, and former presidential adviser Bashir Ahmad offered an intriguing perspective.
Some people are now demanding that the name Nigeria and the national flag be changed in addition to modifying our national anthem. How do you feel? Should Nigeria remain our name?
The head of the parliamentary committee that pushed the law through, Tahir Mongunu, however, downplayed the criticism, calling it “apt, timely, and important”.
“There’s no doubt that it will ignite a fervor for cooperation and patriotism. Cultural legacy will be promoted by it. Tahir stated, “Changing the national anthem will pave the way for greater unity.”
According to BBC, Habu Shamsu, a native of Kano, concurs, saying, “I think it more encompassing and I like the way it flows.”
