Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Professor Mike Ozekhome has commended President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly for the readoption of the old national anthem – “Nigeria, we hail thee.”
In a statement, Ozekhome argued that, although critics of the decision could be excused, it was a step in the right direction.
Ozekhome recalled that the readoption of the old national anthem was one of the recommendations of the 2014 national conference in which he participated.
Citing examples , Ozekhome argued, among others that Nigeria was not the first country to change its national anthem.
He said: “While I share these strong sentiments, many of them well-placed, I however disagree that changing to the old national anthem was not a step well taken.
“I give kudos to President Tinubu and the National Assembly for passing the bill into law.
“For historical purposes, what the President and the National Assembly just did on 29th May, 2024, was actually my idea 10 years ago, when on the floor of the 2014 National Confab which was headed by the now late Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi (JSC) Rtd, with his deputy as Prof Bolaji Akinyemi, and the Secretary as Dr. Mrs Valerie Azinge, SAN.
“Just like Nostradamus, the man who saw into the future, I had moved a motion on Wednesday, 2nd July, 2014, calling for the replacement of “Arise, O Compatriots” with “Nigeria, we hail thee.”
“Some of the reasons I gave, which I repeated on 27th May, 2024, at the public hearing organized by the Senate during my contribution to the debate, is that the old National anthem possesses more nationalistic fervor, more patriotic gravitas and more inclusive and aggregative tendencies for a country yearning for nationhood than the bland and colourless “Arise, O Compatriots” which did not and could not energise Nigerians to see themselves as one people under one God.
“When I moved the said motion at the 2014 Confab, it was hotly debated and unanimously and consensually carried by the 492 delegates to the National Confab that presented Nigerians from all strata of the society – Federal Government; States; LGAs; Elderstatesmen and women; youth; students; civil societies; Labour; Trade Unions; traditional rulers; professionals; technocrats; private and public sectors; the military; civilians; the Executive; the Legislature; the Judiciary; the disabled; the civil service; the academia; the foreign service; members of the diplomatic corps; the Police; the market men and women and more.
“Spontaneously, the entire venue at the National Judicial Institute, Abuja, erupted when all the delegates stood up and made a clear rendition of the said old National anthem of “Nigeria, we hail thee..”
“There was something unusual about the unconstrained reaction; something simply unspeakable.
“It was like the scene of a football field featuring Nigeria and another country where all Nigerians buy into our victory irrespective of tribe, language, religion or class.
“This reintroduced anthem will serve as a soothing balm to massage our bruised and fractured country still yearning for nationhood.
“The anthem, from the lyrics and composition, recognizes that Nigeria is our dear native land and that we do not have any other land to call ours.
“It recognizes Nigeria as our sovereign mother land so much so that though tribe and tongue may differ, we still bunch together in brotherhood.
“It recognizes that our flag should be seen as a symbol of the reign of truth and justice, whether in peace or battle times.
“The anthem desires that we must hand over this flag to our children as a banner without stain.
“The anthem did not forget God our Creator. It genuflects and pleads with God to grant us, even if it is only one request; and what is that request? – that as we strive hard to build, God should also help us build a nation where no man is oppressed – an egalitarian society where equality and equity reign supreme; where no man is regarded as commoners and the others as Emperors who trample upon them.
“All these so that with peace and plenty, Nigeria will be blessed. The anthem thus, encompasses the entire dreams and aspirations of Nigerians.
“Contrary to the argument of some people, who believe that the resuscitation of the old national anthem, which was done on 29th May, 2024, is a primordial reminder of our differences, the lyrics which are energising and effervescent, are simply saying the obvious.
“We are different, but our strength lies in our pluralism. The beauty of Nigeria lies in her Dolly Parton’s ‘Coat of Many Colours.’
“We call it unity-in-diversity. I, as a Nigerian, am from Iviukwe, near Agenebode, Edo State, Estako East Local Government Area. That is where it pleased God to bring me to life.
“I therefore neither crave to be Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Fulani, Ijaw, Efik, Ibibio, Kanuri, nor Tiv, Ankwei, Anang, Gbagyi, Esan, Andoni, Ebira, etc.
“It pleases God to give Nigeria about 374 ethnic groups that speak over 450 languages according to social scientist, Prof. Onigu Otite.
“Our strength as a nation therefore lies in our pluralistic nature which should be aggregated for national cohesion and rejuvenation.
“Section 24 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, provides for the essential duties of a citizen of Nigeria and specifically states that citizens should respect the National anthem and pledge amongst others.
“Nigeria is not the first country and will not be the last country to change its national anthem. For the avoidance of doubt, the following countries at one time or the other changed their national anthem for various reasons.
“Such countries are Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brasil, Bulgaria, Chile, Cape Verde, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, South Korea, Kuwait, Mozambique, Netherlands, Niger, Pakistan, Portugal, Russia, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Switzerland, Turkey, United States of America, Vatican City, Vietnam, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe, etc,” Ozekhome said.
