Why National Assembly Is Seeking To Revert To Old Anthem Composed By Foreigners
Yesterday, May 23, 2024, Nigeria’s House of Representatives passed a bill for the country to revert to “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” the old national anthem.
Within minutes, after House Leader, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, highlighted the need for the national anthem to be seen by Nigerians as a symbol and sign of authority, the bill was passed after its first and third readings.
At the Senate floor, the bill while it being read by the Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, also received support and would scale through its first and second readings before the Upper Chamber referred it to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters for a report within two weeks.
“It is with a great sense of responsibility and patriotism that I rise to lead the debate on the general principles of the bill (National Anthem Bill, 2024) for an act to provide for the National Anthem of Nigeria and related matters,” Bamidele read on the Senate floor.
Written by Lillian Jean Williams, a British expatriate who was believed to work with the Federal Ministry of Labour, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” was adopted as the country’s official anthem on Independence Day. While Williams wrote the anthem’s lyrics, the music was composed by Frances Berda.
However, since ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’ was written and composed by two foreigners, one that would promote a sense of national ownership was sought. To address this, a national competition was opened, and over 1,400 Nigerians submitted lyrics for a new national anthem. Composing the lyrics of five finalists – Eme Etim Akpan, Sota Omoigui, P. O. Aderibigbe, B. A. Ogunnaike, and John A. Ilechukwu – Benedict Odiase, a former police officer, composed ‘Arise, O Compatriots,’ which was adopted in 1978.
46 years later, Nigerian lawmakers are seeking to revert to the old anthem composed by foreigners, arguing that the present anthem is not only a product of a military junta during the military administration of General Olusegun Obasanjo but also fails to capture democratic values and lacks the inclusivity that fosters commitment to nationhood, which was ingrained in the old anthem.
“The concept, philosophy, and ideological connotation of this anthem conveyed and epitomized the significant historical heritage of our country, Nigeria,” Bamidele said.
Here’s the lyrics of the old anthem.
Nigeria we hail thee,
Our own dear native land,
Though tribe and tongue may differ,
In brotherhood, we stand,
Nigerians all, and proud to serve,
Our sovereign Motherland.
Our flag shall be a symbol
That truth and justice reign,
In peace or battle honour’d,
And this we count as gain,
To hand on to our children
A banner without stain.
O God of all creation,
Grant this our one request,
Help us to build a nation
Where no man is oppressed,
And so with peace and plenty
Nigeria may be blessed.
