A bill proposing a return to the old national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” was passed by the House of Representatives on Thursday.
The bill swiftly passed through its first, second, and third readings within minutes and also cleared its second reading on the Senate floor.
While many question the urgency, others wonder what the move aims to achieve, especially given that the old anthem was composed by Lillian Jean Williams, a British expatriate in Nigeria at the time of independence, with music by Frances Berda.
This raises the question: What is wrong with the current anthem, “Arise, O Compatriots,” which was created by five Nigerians—P. O. Aderibigbe, John A. Ilechukwu, Dr. Sota Omoigui, Eme Etim Akpan, and B.A. Ogunnaike—and set to music by Benedict Odiase?
The lawmakers argue that the current anthem is unrealistic, prompting the move to revert to the old one. However, many Nigerians view the bill differently. Below are their reactions, as gathered from Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
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