…Nigerians Crave for Economic Improvement Not Change of National Anthem

It was almost a non-event given the lack of enthusiasm heralding its re-introduction. A national anthem should invoke a sense of deep patriotism in its citizens but Nigerians are sharply polarised on the merits and demerits of this change in national anthem to the old colonial one, abandoned more than four decades ago, precisely 46 years ago. The switch was hurriedly passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly and signed with the speed of light by President Tinubu on his first anniversary in office. It became law immediately and was used at two state functions in Abuja on Wednesday.

First, was at the National Assembly, where the President had gone to commission a project but made a detour to give a seven-minute speech to a joint sitting of the National Assembly; the old anthem was sung. Second, was at the flag-off of the Abuja light rail project to commence its commercial operations.

But the reintroduction of the new anthem has thrown a lot of Nigerians into a state of confusion querying the rationale for the change. Some public relations experts have adduced it to a diversionary spin to keep the May 29 date relevant in the absence of a national celebration. There is also a conspiracy theory that it is to wipe away part of Obasanjo’s footprints and legacy. The now-abandoned anthem was introduced by Olusegun Obasanjo as a military Head of State in 1978. There is no love lost between former President Obasanjo and President Tinubu.

“We thank President Bola Tinubu for bringing back the National Anthem we grew up with” must have been a Freudian slip coming from the Speaker, House of Representatives of Nigeria, Tajudeen Abbas. It must have been said unconsciously because the Bill to change the National Anthem was not sponsored by the executive. The bill was sponsored by the House Leader Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo) and titled: “Act to Provide for the National Anthem of Nigeria, and for Matters Related,” was given a speedy passage during plenary. The two chambers passed the Bill expressly.

At the Senate, its Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele emphasised the anthem’s impact: “Upon rendition, it inspired deep patriotism among Nigerians. Those who lived through that era recognise its crucial role in our nation’s history, evoking nostalgia and fond memories of our early years.”

Reading the body movement and rigmarole on the matter, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, warned that the change should not come only by legislative fiat, but should be subjected to wider consultation. “The reversal was not out of place but should involve a wider process to ensure it is a true reflection of the generality of the wishes of all Nigerians”.

Responding to the Attorney General, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, noted that the AGF does not have a full understanding of how bills are passed. Senator Tahir Mongunu who is the Chairman Judiciary Committee of the Senate and Senator representing Borno North, while presenting the report of the Committee during plenary said the bill seeks to give a legal framework to the national anthem, “so that it can bite and bite with all the legal powers embedded in it.” He further noted that the bill does not need to be subjected to a wider process of citizen participation through zonal public hearings, resolutions of the Federal Executive Council, Council of State, and National and State Assemblies, among others.

From its content, the law now makes it mandatory that the National Anthem be sung at the opening and closing ceremonies of Federal Executive Council, and State Executives Council meetings; opening and closing of sittings of Legislative Houses in Nigeria, constitutional oath-swearing ceremonies; flag-raising ceremonies; major celebrations, major award ceremonies, major commemorative ceremonies, national memorial ceremonies and the like, which are organized by MDAs; major diplomatic activities; major sporting events; other occasions as may from time to time, be determined by the minister responsible for education with the consent of the president.

Clause 4 of the law forbids the alteration of the lyrics of the anthem. It reads: “The Performance and singing of the national anthem shall follow the lyrics prescribed by the Federal Government of Nigeria,”

The Speaker of the House of Representatives has admonished the younger generation who may not understand all the drama: “For the young ones, by the time you sit down and read it line by line and word by word, you will see why it is very important for Nigeria to revisit its former National Anthem. If we can follow it to its logical conclusion, Nigeria will be a much better nation”.

But some persons have publicly disagreed with the National Anthem change describing it as a misplaced priority. They are asking: How will the National Anthem address the problems of the country such as poverty, insecurity, inflation, power failure, and infrastructural decay in a country where Nigerians are groaning in pain due to some of these problems? Will it also change their suffering? Curiously on the eve of Tinubu’s first anniversary, the Naira on Tuesday, May 28, closed at – N1,173.88. It was hitherto hoovering around N1500 and economists are still in awe of what triggered the substantial appreciation.

In consternation of the anthem change, Ms Ayo Obe wrote: “Let’s see: we had the old/new National Anthem from 1960, and it worked so well for us that within seven years we were engaged in a fratricidal civil war”? In her reaction, in what she called a public announcement, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, former minister for Education said: “Let it be known to all and sundry that I, Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili shall whenever asked to sing the Nigerian National Anthem sing:

Arise, O compatriots, Nigeria’s call obey…. “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. Incredulous! Ezekwesili wrote.

President Tinubu had never hidden his desire to change the National Anthem. In an interview in 2022, he said on tape: “If I have my way, I will bring back the first national anthem that describes us much better, I don’t know why we changed it. It’s about service, it’s about diversity, commitment, to value addition building “. The change has also been described as part of Tinubu’s restructuring strategy that bypasses constitutional amendment.

He has backing in the 2014 Confab report which also recommended a change of the national anthem. Its delegates wanted a civilian-sounding national anthem. Their objective for the recommendation was “to reinforce national consciousness”. Mr Mike Ozekhome was at the National Assembly to argue the Confab’s position, after all, it was his motion. But in the same spirit, Nigerians would want the President and the National Assembly to go the full hog and throw away the 1999 constitution which was bequeathed by the military

And, since we are now revisiting and returning to Nigeria’s past, it has also been argued that Nigeria should return to the parliamentary system of government that came with the old national anthem while the two chambers of the National Assembly are collapsed into one. President Tinubu would then choose between the position of ceremonial President or that of Prime Minister. The debate has just started.

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