Nigerian Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has frayed National Orientation Agency for their circulation of adulterated lyrics of the Nigerian new National Anthem.
The country woke up to a demand from the Senate that the old National Anthem which was created by the colonial masters should be reintroduced as the country’s new National Anthem.
The legislation passed first and second reading the same day. The President of Nigeria, Bola Amed Tinubu signed into law the new National Anthem two weeks ago. Immediately after the Senate vote.
The legislation is one of the quickest legislations in the history of the country.
The Senate argued that the lyrics of the old National Anthem is more committed than the current one.
They further argued that the message of the old National Anthem is needed most in the country in this trying times.
The National Anthem raised dust among Nigerians, with some saying the government is clueless and only wants to keep them busy with trivial matter while the country burn.
Nigerians are not yet conversant with the reintroduced old Anthem. Most activists have kicked against it and insisted they won’t recite or honor Nigeria with a colonial master’s crafted National Anthem.
In the Senate Chamber, after the daily deliberations and executive session of the Senate plenary, Akpabio decided to remind the Senate what the lyrics of the National Anthem are.
He demanded of the Senate to recite the first stanza of the National Anthem- which they did, as he carefully glanced on the paper before him to ensure accuracy of the lyrics.
After reciting the first stanza, the Senate President drew their attention to the message he wanted to put across.
He informed them that the National Orientation Agency has been circulating fake National Anthem, thereby contradicting the very one they just recited.
His words pointed out the discrepancies in the National Anthem circulated by the NOA and urged them to desist from that.
“Take note of what we have here, what we have is different from what NOA have.
Where we have Nigerians ‘all’ are proud to say, they have Nigerians all and proud to say.
“Also, where we have ‘though’ tribe and tongue may differ, they have ‘though tribes and tongues.
“Also at the end where we have ‘Nigeria shall be blessed’, they have Nigeria ‘may’ be blessed.
“We are using ‘shall’ which is a compulsion that this country shall be blessed, so tell the National Orientation Agency to drop what they are circulating now”
The confusion means Nigerians will continue to find it hard to note down or recite offhand their National Anthem.
Last week when the Nigerian national team came out for a match against South Africa, the players all were mute as the new National Anthem was recited over a loudspeaker.
The second match since changing the National Anthem, the players recited the Arise O Compatriots version.
The new National Anthem has led to confusion across the country, with most people choosing to keep quiet than recite what they barely know.
Most have humorously said they are battling inflation and poor economy and have no chance to learn new National Anthem.
