A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, has backed the return to the old national anthem Wednesday.
PUNCH Online earlier reported that the National Anthem Bill was assented to today marking a shift from the now ‘Arise O Compatriots’ to former ‘Nigeria We Hail Thee’.
He also called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to consider a comprehensive rebranding of the nation by changing Nigeria’s name and national flag.
His appeal comes alongside praise for the government’s decision to revert to the old national anthem, which he described as a significant and positive development.
This is as he noted that a return to the old anthem was among the things that he proposed at the National Conference in 2014.
He said, “I, as a humble and patriotic pan-Nigerian, I have always looked at these issues from the Nigerian perspective – how we can make our country better than it is now.
“Which was why Mr President, sir, as far back as, Wednesday, July 2, 2014 – 10 years ago – at the plenary session of the National Conference, I moved the motion for the change of our national anthem back to the one of 1960, on our independence
“That motion was hotly debated by the 492 delegates at the national confab drawn from every spectrum of the Nigerian society and it was carried.
“And indeed nostalgically, the whole plenary session stood up and sang the old national anthem.”
Ozekhome, in a Wednesday viral video, said the change was long overdue.
“So, bringing it back is well overdue. It has better lyrics in context and content – like the Senate President said. It is better than the other one,” he added.
The lawyer noted that he wrote a book which he submitted at the end of the Confab where he cited his arguments as the need for change.
He demanded that recognition and appreciation be given to the 492 delegates at the national conference and its heads.
“Indeed I wrote a book titled, ‘Nigeria We Hail Thee’ and it was 421 pages. It was launched at that National Conference just before it ended in 2014.
“My arguments are on pages 268 to 271. So, it didn’t start together. I think that when we finally get to Canaanland, this body should give some recognition and appreciation to the National Conference of 2014 chaired by the late Justice Legbo Kutigi with Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi as the deputy.
“Let me also say that it was not the national anthem alone that I said should be brought back. The other two matters I argue should be brought back were – the flag and country name changes – the present green and white Nigerian flag is too bland.
“It’s not just in terms of lacking in colours. It is not inspirational – compare it to that of the US with its tribes and stars representing the fifty states.
“If you look at the flag of South Africa or the UK, you’ll see what I mean. The older flag has the rising sun in the centre which shoots to all the directions of Nigeria – North, South, East and West. Look at the Norfolk flag and the AU.
“At that conference, I also moved that we change the name of Nigeria which appears to be a burden because of the circumstances it came into being January 8, 1878, when Flora Shaw gave her the name ‘Nigeria’ named after ‘Niger Area’.
“Buy both my proposal for the flag change and the name Nigeria to Airegen (spelt backwards) but both were shut down and the one of the national anthem carried,” he added partly.
The readoption of the old anthem has sparked concerns among Nigerians.
Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, earlier on Wednesday, vowed not to revert to the old anthem, PUNCH Online reported.
The “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” anthem was used from 1960 when Nigeria gained independence, until it was replaced by “Arise, O Compatriots” in 1978.
Lilian Jean Williams wrote the lyrics for Nigeria’s previous national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” in 1959, while Frances Berda composed the music for the anthem during the same year.
The anthem’s lyrics, written by Lilian Jean Williams in 1959, evoke a sense of national pride and unity.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to read the anthem.(Punch)
