The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has cautioned the National Assembly against expeditiously passing a bill seeking to revert Nigeria to its old national anthem by legislative fiat
Speaking at a public hearing organized by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters, Fagbemi commended the move by both Chambers of the National Assembly but stressed that Nigerians must be carried along for their required “buy-in.”
He suggests that national anthems often emerge from open national competitions or are subjected to public scrutiny or referendums before adoption.
Fagbemi advocated for a wider process of citizen participation, including zonal public hearings, resolutions of the Federal Executive Council, Council of State, National and State Assemblies, to secure the people’s confidence and ensure the anthem meets their collective aspirations.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, represented by the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, recommended expanding the scope to include a robust discussion on national identity, rather than limiting it to changing the national anthem.
He noted that some lines in the old national anthem lack complete meaning and emphasized the need for a value-based national identity.
Constitutional lawyer Mike Ozekhome also cautioned against expedient passage, urging wider consultations for Nigerians to accept and buy into the proposed national anthem.
He supported replacing the current “Arise O Compatriots” national anthem with ” We Hail Thee” adopted in 1960, citing that over 20 countries have replaced their national anthems in the past.
Other stakeholders present at the hearing preferred the old national anthem to the current urging the National Assembly to engage in wider consultations and citizen participation before enacting a law on the national anthem, to ensure it reflects the wishes of the majority of Nigerians.”
Editor Paul Akhagbemhe
