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Tag: Old National Anthem

  • Mixed reactions as Aisha Yesufu refuses to recite re-introduced old national anthem at event (video)

    Mixed reactions as Aisha Yesufu refuses to recite re-introduced old national anthem at event (video)

    A video of the co-founder of Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) movement Aisha Yesufu sitting during the recitation of the newly adopted national anthem at an event has stirred reactions on social media.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Yesufu had via the microblogging platform formerly Twitter publicly rejected the old national anthem.

    The 50-year-old posted a video of her protest with the caption “#NotMyNationalAnthem” on her X account on Friday.

    The activist’s resistence comes after President Bola Tinubu sign the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law, reinstating the anthem “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” composed just before independence in 1960 and used up until the 1970s.

    Yesufu’s action has stirred diverse reactions from netizens, while some accused her of disrespecting the country, others say it is her right to choose not to recite it.

    Watch video below;

    https://x.com/AishaYesufu/status/1796619141752730056

    @Mayordavid_9 wrote: “See the people that want good governance and a society where rule of law is respected.  We can clearly see that the Obidient movement is that of a Gbajue movement. They don’t hate disobeying rule of law.”

    Victor Onyibest wrote: “Tinubu leads we follow.”

    @Kellybonito_ wrote: “You all are criticizing her for not respecting the rule of law and disrespecting the nation. Meanwhile, your politicians who make the rules are stealing and embezzling, which is a greater disrespect, yet you still vote for them. Make una go find eba warm abeg.”

    Ghosthurt wrote: “This is a disrespect to the country though. Sorry to say.”

    VERIFIED homie wrote: “This is wrong no matter what you have to respect our nation anthem and the president order.”

    Pst Okezie wrote: “The National Anthem will outlive you…. You think you’re doing Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR?”

    jegede Jumoke wrote: “Imagine the way the people over there are looking at you…. those two women age the back were telling each other “are you sure that woman over there is alright?”

    @thebeeperfumery wrote: “Chapter 2. Section 24: Duties Of The Citizen of the Nigerian Constitution provides that every citizen regardless of political power/financial status respect, obey, & abide the national anthem of the federation. Failure leads to criminal charges, civil penalties, & govt response.”

     

  • How top Nigerian Celebrities react to return of old National Anthem

    How top Nigerian Celebrities react to return of old National Anthem

    Some Nigerian celebrities have taken to social media to react to the signing of the old National Anthem Bill 2024 into law.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio announced on Wednesday at a joint session of the National Assembly that President Bola Tinubu signed the bill into law.

    Akpabio further explained that the session’s main purpose is to launch the new national anthem, adding that the President will not be making a speech as he has to launch the Abuja metro line.

    The move by the lawmakers sparked mixed outrage amongst Nigerians and celebrities alike, as they queried the government for prioritizing the national anthem over the current hardship in the country.

    Amongst celebrities to react is Kate Henshaw, who slammed the government for thinking about the old anthem at a time of ‘excoriating hardship ‘ and ‘lack of good governance.’

    She wrote: “In the midst of excoriating hardship and lack of good governance on every level but not to worry, going back to colonial anthem will be a soothing balm and inject patriotism back into our veins, a much needed drug. The labour of our heroes past… o ti lo”

    Another celebrity who dived into the conversation is, Nigerian comedian and actor Otaghware Onod, better known as I Go Save.

    The media personality in reaction posed a question to the Federal Government, inquiring if the government can bring back old dollar prices, old fuel prices, old flight prompt operating price, old taxation, old security standards and more.

    He wrote; “Since una don bring back old national anthem, can you people bring back our old dollar price, old fuel price, old flight prompt operating style, old taxation, old security standards, etc.”.

    For popular stand-up comedian and on-air personality, Steve Onu popularly known as Yaw, he lamented bitterly over the high cost of food, after which queried the lawmakers for changing the National anthem to old anthem yet are unable to do same for food prices in the market

    He said, “How do people that earn 30k cope? A tuber of yam is now N5000, I bought this cucumber for N300. The prices of Foodstuff are increasing daily yet it is the National Anthem they are focusing on. Anyone that wants to visit me should please eat in their houses before coming.”

    Veteran singer and social activist, Charles Oputa, aka Charly Boy tackled the government in what he termed, ‘covered up by false propaganda.’ He further asked the public for need that is most important between hunger and old national anthem.

    He wrote: “Misplaced Priorities, incompetence, greed and the almighty CORRUPTION can never be covered up by false propaganda. My people, Wetin dey worry us pass for dis country, HUNGER or NATIONAL ANTHEM?”

  • Reverting to the old National Anthem a “giant step backward.” – Reno Omokri

    Reverting to the old National Anthem a “giant step backward.” – Reno Omokri

    A sociopolitical activist and former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has described the return of the old national anthem as a “giant step backward.”

    It would be recalled that the  House of Representatives on May 23, the lower chamber passed a bill to adopt the old National Anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”

    In the same vein, the Senate on Tuesday passed the same bill despite opposition from concerned citizens.

    In the heat of the controversy surrounding the move, the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi on Monday urged the National Assembly to halt the bill, saying the law regarding the National Anthem should not be enacted through legislative debate alone.

    Nigeria’s President on Wednesday, May 29 signed the bill into law as announced by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

    However, in his reaction, Omokri said via his official X handle on Wednesday that the move, stressing that returning the old National Anthem was one of the most unnecessary acts of governance in Nigeria in recent times.

    According to the social commentator, the National Anthem, which was used from independence in 1960 until 1978, was composed by foreigners, stressing that abandoning the indigenous anthem, Arise, O Compatriots’ National Anthem, is taking the country backwards.

    He wrote, “If I look sad in the attached photo, it is for a reason. My heart is very heavy about Nigeria right now because, in my opinion, we just took a giant step backwards in our national journey.

    “One of the most unnecessary acts of governance in Nigeria in recent times is the law returning the old National Anthem. First of all, there was nothing wrong with the existing anthem. Secondly, with all of the multifaceted issues we face, it seems like we have a lack of priorities, when we major on such a settled issue as an anthem.

    “To me, it looks like a step backwards to discard the ‘Arise, O Compatriots’ National Anthem written by a collective of young Nigerians, including John A. Ilechukwu, Eme Etim Akpan, B. A. Ogunnaike, Sota Omoigui and P. O. Aderibigbe in 1978, for ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’, written by an English woman, Lillian Jean Williams.

    “Does it not sound preposterous that a foreigner should write our National Anthem? Are we that shallow and uninspired that we cannot come up with our own indigenous anthem? You can imagine the land of such music icons, like Fela Kuti, Osita Osadebe, Dan Maraya Jos, and contemporary stars, like Sade Adu, Burna Boy, Davido and Wizkid, importing music of national significance from Britain. As my Yoruba brethren will say, ‘O wrong now!’

    “Already, the name Nigeria was given to us by another English lady, Flora Shaw. And she named us in 1897 in much the same way you name a dog. She did it tongue in cheek, for an article she wrote for The Times of London.

    “We ought to have even changed that name to something indigenous, such as the Republic of Wazobia, as Ghana did in 1957 when she changed from Gold Coast to Ghana at Independence in 1957.

    “We should also have reverted to the original name for Lagos, Eko. Lagos is an imposed Portuguese name. The annoying thing is that the Portuguese who renamed Eko as Lagos were just opportunistic slave traders who did not set up any viable administrative structure.

    “Instead of undertaking these name changes, we are rather doubling down on another colonial relic by discarding the anthem written by our own citizens for one written by a foreigner.

    “I dare anyone reading this to name another country whose National Anthem was written by a foreigner. Even a Banana Republic would not do that!”.

  • ‘Incompetent lawbreakers’ – Former education minister, Ezekwesili says as she rejects old anthem

    ‘Incompetent lawbreakers’ – Former education minister, Ezekwesili says as she rejects old anthem

    Oby Ezekwesili, the former Minister of Education, has stated that she will not revert to the old national anthem signed into law by President Bola Tinubu.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the former minister made this known via the microblogging platform, X formerly Twitter on Wednesday, where she stressed that no one will suppress her right to dissent an obnoxious ‘law’ that is repugnant to all.

    Recall, several reactions have been trailing the signing of the National Anthem Bill 2024 into Law with many likening the old anthem to having colonial tags.

    Tagging the post, ‘Public Service Announcement’, Ezekwesili wrote, “Let it be known to all and sundry that I, Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili shall whenever asked to sing the Nigerian National Anthem sing:

    “I frankly thought it was a joke and gave it no attention. 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! Wow!.”

    She further urged Nigerians to rise up and fight for themselves as none of their leaders will fight for them.

    “Again, no one is coming to save us, Citizens of Nigeria. We’re all we have.

    “We all must someday decide to collectively save ourselves and this country from these overpaid, unethical, incompetent and incapable “Lawbreakers” in the @nassnigeria and their similarly characterized collaborators in the Executive and Judicial branches of Government across this Land.

    “The Citizens of this country must understand this absolute truth by now that the Political Class is the biggest curse on this country,” she posted.

  • Five Important Things To Know About Old National Anthem Signed Into Law

    Five Important Things To Know About Old National Anthem Signed Into Law

    Nigeria’s president, Bola Tinubu on Wednesday signed the old National Anthem Bill 2024 into Law.

    TheNewsGuru.com understands that the Old Anthem, ‘’Nigeria We Hail’’  will be replacing the current one, “Arise, O Compatriots”.

    Although there have been trails of mixed reactions since this development, as many likened the old anthem to having colonial tags, below are some of the important things to know note about the new anthem.

    1, The old National Anthem was recited for the first time today during a joint session of the National Assembly after it was enacted into law by President Tinubu.

    2, The anthem which was written by Lillian Jean William in 1959 was adopted in October 1, 1960 and later replaced with “Arise, O Compatriots” in 1978.

    3, Frances Berda composed the music for “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”

    4, The anthem has three stanzas, below are the lyrics;

    Nigeria we hail thee,
    Our own dear native land,
    Though tribe and tongue may differ,
    In brotherhood we stand,
    Nigerians all, and proud to serve
    Our sovereign Motherland.

    Our flag shall be a symbol
    That truth and justice reign,
    In peace or battle honour’d,
    And this we count as gain,
    To hand on to our children
    A banner without stain.

    O God of all creation,
    Grant this our one request,
    Help us to build a nation
    Where no man is oppressed,
    And so with peace and plenty
    Nigeria may be blessed.

    And lastly, the Nigerian Senate had the first reading for the old National Anthem Bill on Thursday 23 May 2024.

  • Reactions Trail Tinubu’s Signing Old National Anthem Into Law

    Reactions Trail Tinubu’s Signing Old National Anthem Into Law

    Several reactions have trailed the signing of the National Anthem Bill 2024 into Law by President Bola Tinubu.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Senate President, Godswill Akpabio announced this on Wednesday at a joint session of the National Assembly marking the Silver Jubilee Of Nigeria’s 4th Republic.

    Explaining, Akpabio said the session’s main purpose is to launch the new national anthem, adding that the President will not be making a speech as he has to launch the Abuja metro line.

    The old anthem “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” was replaced with the current one “Arise, O Compatriots in 1978.

    Read the old anthem below:

    Nigeria we hail thee,
    Our own dear native land,
    Though tribe and tongue may differ,
    In brotherhood we stand,
    Nigerians all, and proud to serve
    Our sovereign Motherland.

    Our flag shall be a symbol
    That truth and justice reign,
    In peace or battle honour’d,
    And this we count as gain,
    To hand on to our children
    A banner without stain.

    O God of all creation,
    Grant this our one request,
    Help us to build a nation
    Where no man is oppressed,
    And so with peace and plenty
    Nigeria may be blessed.

    Reacting to the development, some Nigerians took to the micro-blogging platform, X, formerly known as Twitter, to express their views regarding the old anthem been signed into law.

    Below are some reactions;

    officialhemman wrote: “As if we need any other proof this guy and the entire NASS nor send anybody.”

    oseni rufai wrote: “Confusion everywhere, president neva sign national anthem dem dey sing old anthem.God save Nigeria.”

    Osi_Suave wrote: “Inflation is at 33% but na national anthem be your fucking priority. It’s insanity at this point.”

    Charly Boy Area Fada 1 wrote: “Misplaced Priorities, incompetence, greed and the almighty CORRUPTION can never be covered up by false propaganda. My people, Wetin dey worry us pass for dis country, HUNGER or NATIONAL ANTHEM?”

    oseni rufai reacting again wrote: “Tomato is scarce yet senate is passing bill on old national anthem. Can they talk about food inflation please and other issues that affect Nigerians.”

    Eniola Akinkuotu wrote: “Nigeria reverts to its old colonial era national anthem. The anthem was amended in 5 days. Another reminder how easy it is for Tinubu to pass a law through the National Assembly where his allies are fully in charge. Why not use this power to make investment-boosting laws?”

    FinPlanKaluAja2 wrote: “The national anthem change is to mock you.”