President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday signed into law the bill to revert to Nigeria’s old national anthem ,” Nigeria we hail thee”, which was dropped by a military government in 1978.
The newly re-adopted anthem, was written by Lillian Jean Williams in 1959 and composed by Frances Berda.
Speaking on his first anniversary in office, President Tinubu said the anthem symbolised Nigeria’s diversity..
Tinubu
But many have questioned his priorities amid the cost-of-living crisis.
Reacting online, some Nigerians said the country had more pressing problems such as insecurity, rising inflation 8 a foreign exchange crisis.
X user @Gospel_rxx posted: “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? What a sordid joke!!. Lets see how they implement it…”
Another X user Fola Folayan said it was shameful that parliament had rushed through the bill.
Changing the Nigerian national anthem written by a Nigerian, to the song written by colonizers is a stupid decision and it’s shameful that nobody in the National Assembly thought to stand against it.”
Former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili posted on X that she would never sing the new-old anthem.
She then posted the words of “Arise O Compatriots” – the anthem which has been used for the past 46 years.
Former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad wrote, after the change of our national anthem, some people are now calling for the name Nigeria and the national flag to be changed as well. What do you think? Should we keep the name Nigeria?”
But Tahir Mongunu, chairman of the parliamentary committee which pushed the bill through, dismissed the widespread criticism, saying it was “apt, timely and important”.
It will undoubtedly inspire a zeal for patriotism and cooperation. It will promote cultural heritage. Changing the national anthem will chart a path to greater unity,” said.
Author; Maureen Ikpeama
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