Victor EzejaFormer Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, has kicked against the decision of the Federal Government to revert to the old national anthem, saying no one can force her to sing it.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), on Thursday, Dr Ezekwesili said she will never sing the old national anthem that began with “Nigeria we hail thee,” asserting that it was imposed on the citizens.
Prime Business Africa had reported that President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, had during a joint session of the National Assembly on Thursday morning, announced that President Tinubu has signed into law the bill seeking to revert to used of the old national anthem composed in the 1960 during Nigeria’s independence, instead of the current one that began with “Arise O compatriots…”
READ ALSO: Tinubu Signs Bill Returning Old National Anthem Into Law
The president in his short address during the sitting, also confirmed that he has signed the bill into law.
Both Senate and House of Representatives had hurriedly passed into law, the bill seeking to return to the old national anthem.
However, reacting to that, Ezekwesili said that whenever asked to sing the national anthem she would sing the current one, adding that no one can suppress her right in that regard.
Her post titled: “Public Service Announcement” read: “Let it be known to all and sundry that I, Obiageli ‘Oby’ Ezekwesili shall whenever asked to sing the Nigerian National Anthem sing:
“1. Arise, O compatriots, Nigeria’s call obey
“To serve our fatherland
‘“With love and strength and faith
“The labour of our heroes past
“Shall never be in vain
“To serve with heart and might
“One nation bound in freedom, peace and unity.”
Shw added: (The second stanza) “2. Oh God of creation, direct our noble cause
“Guide our leader’s right
Help our youth the truth to know
“In love and honesty to grow
“And living just and true
“Great lofty heights attain
“To build a nation where peace and justice reign.
“This is my own National Anthem and let it be known that no one can suppress my right to dissent an obnoxious ‘law’ that is repugnant to all that is of good conscience in Nigeria,” she stated.
In another tweet, the former minister said it is “Absolutely incredulous!” that the political leaders found a colonial anthem that has some words like “Native Land” and “Tribes” which she considered to be “pejorative” in the 21st century to “be admirable enough to foist on our Citizens without their consent.”
She added that “It is inevitable that there will be an ideological War between the Political Class and the Citizens of Nigeria.”
In another tweet, Ezekwesili, who is the founder of School of Politics, Policy and Governance (SPPG), wondered why making a law to revert to use of old national anthem became the priority of the executive and legislature among the thorny economic challenges in the country.
She wrote: “With all the horrible indicators on the state of governance?
“So, it is a new National Anthem that is their priority?
“I frankly thought it was a joke and gave it no attention.
“What an egregious case of “Majoring in the Minor” this is!”
She said the political leaders appear not to be interested in the welfare of the ordinary citizens, adding that the citizens must realise that “the Political Class is the biggest curse on this country” and should someday collectively decide to save themselves from the situation.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
