From ‘Arise o compatriots’ to ‘Nigeria we hail thee’ - koko of why Senate reverse to old national anthem

Afta more dan 40 years, Nigeria National Assembly don pass bill wey go make di kontri make u-turn to return to her old national anthem.

Dis Bill push for Act wey go drop di current national anthem “Arise o compatriot” to go back to “Nigeria we hail thee” wey di kontri first adopt afta independence for 1960 but later drop for 1978, wen former President Olusegun Obasanjo bin be military leader for di kontri.

Although di Bill wey di senate dey push want make di kontri go back to “Nigeria we hail thee,” according to di Nigeria Constitution, afta di bill cross second reading, di kontri pipo must chook mouth to discuss weda dem want di particular anthem abi dem need new one all togeda.

Dis na why di Attorney General of di Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, for im contribution for di mata say make dia mata no just start and end wit lawmakers only but make dem also do wider consultation wey go reflect di wish of all Nigerians.

Di Nigerian Senate bin do di first reading of di Bill on Thursday 23 May 2024.

Dis bill wey no take up to one week to pass first and second reading dey make kontri pipo wonder wetin be di emergency wey make di senators dey push di mata hot hot.

Nigeria dey face plenty challenges now wey dey affect almost evri part of di national life from im economy, politics, to insecurity, poverty and high cost of living.

National anthem no follow for mata wey dey di mind of kontri pipo right now, but somehow, di kontri law makers feel say di mata dey very urgent and na sometin wey dem need to address sharply.

Why Senate wan change anthem

Senators bin present orishirishi arguments on why dem want make di kontri go back to her old anthem.

Senator Okechukwu Eze wey dey represent Enugu North Senatorial District say Nigerians no send di current national anthem as dem no accept am wit dia heart.

“National anthem suppose invoke emotions,” im tok come add say “dis days you no go see young pipo dey sing di national anthem wit emotion and wit acceptance.”

Senator Mohammed Tahir Mongono wey dey represent Borno North Senatorial District for Sokoto state, north west Nigeria argue say e go good to drop di current anthem since na military leaders sama am give di pipo through decree.

“Di national anthem wey we dey currently use na di product of a military junta and no be product wey di whole Nigerians agree to, and diafore, e no reflect di wish of Nigerians,” im tok.

Senator Yohanna Amos say wetin make am to vote make dis bill pass second reading be say, for di first time for di life of Nigeria, all di kontri pipo go follow choose wetin dem want as dia national anthem.

Di Senate majority leader Senator Michael Bamidele wey lead di debate for the reversal say di anthem bin play very important role for shaping Nigerians and e bin serve as “regular and constant reminder” of di sweet sweet memories for di yester years.

Bamidele believe say, wit di condition wey di kontri dey now, dis old anthem na wetin Nigeria need to unite her pipo.

Wetin dey for di old anthem?

Di old anthem “Nigeria we hail thee” get three stanza.

Some of di law makers wey speak for why dem dey market di old anthem to replace di new one na sake of say di old one make more sense pass di current one.

According to di Senator wey dey represent Benue North East Senatorial District, Emmanuel Udende, e get some kain quality wey di anthem get.

“Di anthem show our history, reveal our diversity, e dey encourage us to serve in honesty and in truth, come end wit prayer for God to bless us,” in tok.

How Nigerians dey react to di Bill

All di tok about di return to di old national anthem no dey go down well wit di Nigerian wey dey para for social media say di problem wey dey face di kontri pass anthem.

Different kain comment na im follow dis Bill: