The reintroduction of the old national anthem has generated debates since President Bola Tinubu assented to its bill.
The house of representatives gave accelerated passage to the
bill on May 23.
The bill passed the third reading after Julius Ihonvbere,
the majority leader of the house, who sponsored it, moved for its consideration
at the “committee of the whole,” where the clauses were voted on and approved.
Ihonvbere had urged his colleagues to support the bill,
noting that it would promote the unity of the country.
On Tuesday, the senate also passed the bill during a public
hearing, and on Wednesday, Tinubu signed it into law.
The move has sparked reactions among Nigerians, with many
expressing displeasure and describing it as a “misplaced priority”.
The old national anthem used from 1960 to 1988 has as its
theme ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’ while the version used from 1978 is titled
‘Arise, O Compatriots’.
The lyrics of the old anthem were written by Lillian Jean
Williams, a British expatriate, and composed by another Briton, Frances Berda.
Benedict Odiase, a Nigerian, composed the national anthem adopted in 1978.
CONFAB RECOMMENDED
RETURN TO OLD ANTHEM
In 2014, the national conference convened by former President Goodluck Jonathan adopted the recommendation of its committee on political restructuring and forms of government that Nigeria should revert to its old national anthem.
The former president inaugurated the 492-member confab,
headed by Idris Kutigi, a retired judge, to deliberate on the country’s
political system.
During a review of the committee’s report, delegates in
support of the resolution recited the anthem on the floor of plenary,
maintaining that it promotes a better symbol of unity, peace, and prosperity —
compared with the current one, composed by the late Odiase.
However, they rejected the proposal to change the national
flag and the name ‘Nigeria’.
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Very useless country with useless and selfish leaders. Taken quick actions on irrelevant issues. And intentionally given a blind eye to needifull
ReplyDeleteFor the first time, I wish I'm not a Nigerian.
ReplyDeleteA country that is happy losing it intelligent work force abroad because of selfishness and pretend all is well.
A country that cares only about politicians that don't even have university certificates and contribute nothing to growth of it economy and neglect the real workaholic.
There's no country in the world that hates it's own people like Nigeria.
Dear God, do not allow leaders of this country have a peaceful Dead, because this is what they have making our people pass through