Without Consultation, Sensitisation, Tinubu’s Govt Forces ‘Colonial’ Anthem On Nigerians

In less than a week, the Tinubu-led administration officially started and completed the process of changing Nigeria’s National Anthem, a national symbol that had lasted over 40 years.

West Africa Weekly reported the swift introduction and passing of a bill seeking to change Nigeria’s national anthem at both chambers of the National Assembly.

The Lawmakers preferred Nigeria’s old anthem, “Nigeria We Hail Thee,” which was handed over to her by her colonial master over the indigenous post-independence anthem, “Arise O Compatriots.”

With unprecedented speed, the bill passed the first, second, and third `readings in the House of Representatives in one sitting and the first and second readings the same day in the Senate.

Both chambers passed the bill approximately one week, between May 23 and 29, and President Bola Tinubu assented to it.

How The ‘Colonial’ Anthem Was Changed in 1978

The old national anthem was introduced on October 1, 1960, after Nigeria gained independence. It was written by a British expatriate, Lillian Jean Williams, in 1959. It served as the national anthem until 1978 when the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo replaced it with a new one titled “Arise O Compatriots.”

The old anthem was reportedly changed in 1978 to promote national ownership, as it was perceived to be colonial. The lyrics were taken from five of the best entries in a national contest. The winners were P. O. Aderibigbe, John A. Ilechukwu, Dr. Sota Omoigui, Eme Etim Akpan, and B.A. Ogunnaike. However, the anthem was composed by Benedict Odiase, who served in the Nigeria Police Force from 1954 to 1992.

The anthem, Arise O Compatriots, was written and composed by Nigerians and gave a sense of ownership to the Nigerian people.

Nigerians Reject Old (Now New) Anthem

It is noteworthy that the Tinubu-led administration’s process of changing the National Anthem was devoid of consultation with citizens or their representatives at state levels; the government also did not sensitise the public about the reasons for such change.

Nigerians have since reacted to the reinstatement of the old anthem on social media, with many criticising the rashness with which the government signed it into law.

Social critic and Executive Director of Budgit, Seun Onigbinde, criticised the change, saying it was devoid of popular demand.

Without any form of consultation or leaning into popular demand, that’s how a national anthem that stood for over 50 years was expunged.

Nigerians, stop playing games with your leadership choices.

— Olúṣeun Onígbindé (@seunonigbinde) May 29, 2024

Journalist Fola Folayan wrote: “Changing the national anthem by a Nigerian to the song written by colonisers is a st*pid decision, and it is shameful that nobody in the national assembly thought to stand against it.

@osi_Suave wrote, “You abandoned the national anthem written by a Nigerian to adopt one written by a foreigner. Make it make sense.”

Meanwhile, the national anthem change comes as the country still grapples with worsening insecurity, inflation, unemployment, and other economic hardships exacerbated by the federal government’s policies.

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Oluwatobi Odeyinka

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